Best Washable Rugs (2024)

In the realm of interior design, rugs serve as the foundation for creating inviting and comfortable spaces. However, maintaining the cleanliness of rugs can often be a daunting task. Enter washable rugs – the perfect solution for busy households and high-traffic areas. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of washable rugs, exploring their materials, thickness, construction, washing methods, and price points to help you find the perfect rug that combines style with practicality.

Washable Rugs Must Fit Inside A Home Washing Machine

What really distinguishes machine washable rugs from traditional rugs is not quite the material, but rather the fact that washable rugs will actually fit inside a washing machine!

Traditional luxury rugs are tipically 1" thick and can only be rolled, making it impossible to fit them inside the washer.

The poor's man solution to this dilemma is to completely remove the rigid backing out of the rug, which is what makes a rug a rug rather than a throw blanket...and use a thick padding between the floor and the actual rug.

This is exactly what Ruggable rugs are - a combination of a pad and a blanket. In the quest to to make rugs washable, with this approach the "rug" no longer retains those key features that make a rug a rug. Users have complained of Ruggable rugs being too thin, impossible to vacuum and constantly needing repositioning. What we think it's worse is that they look so cheap.

Thickness and Construction

A more ingenious solution to the problem of fitting a rug inside a washer is to retain most of its thickness - and with that the luxury appearance that comes with traditional rugs - but make the backing flexible rather than rigid.

Lorena Canals rugs, designed in Spain and made in India, are constructed via a patented manufacturing method that is based on selecting a flexible base fabric which is composed of an open weave that allows the passage of the wool threads via traditional "tufting".

With this approach the rug can retain thicknesses up to 0.6", on par with luxury rugs.

Materials Matter

Wool Rugs: Wool rugs offer a luxurious feel and superior durability. The Rolls Royce of rugs, The Rug Company, makes exquisite rugs  tufted from Tibetan wool. Tibetan wool is the most luxurious type of wool on the planet because of its softness owing to the temperature at which the sheeps are grown. These rugs are not only not washable but the price will set you back - costing over $10,000 for a standard 6'x8' piece. These are statement pieces to buy only if two conditions are true: not only you are very wealthy but you don't have pets or kids in the house.

One step down from Tibetan wool is the highly prized New Zealand wool. New Zealand wool is softer and longer lasting than regular wool and you can find washable wool rugs that contain 20% of this finer wool made by Lorena Canals as part her home collection.

For the kids line, Lorena Canals Woolable (wool + washable) collection uses wool sourced from Indian sheep. A statement to these rugs quality are the numerous collections released in collaborations with artistis who have achieved celebrity status such as ....

Cotton Rugs: Hypoallergenic, does not cause skin irritation, suitable for asthmatics, as a natural fiber, it does not generate static electricity.
Good moisture absorption + heat conductor - breathable.
With proper care, cotton has a long life. Plus, cotton rugs can withstand wash after wash and are perfect for high traffic areas where frequent washing is warranted.

For a kids bedroom or play area, you may want to incorporate a rug that only is machine washable, but that also contributes with a playful decor function. We love Lorena Canals play rug, which come with embedded toys and endless option for matching with coordinating poufs and baskets for toy storage!

Synthetic Rugs: Synthetic rugs are the most stain resistant and can often be spot cleaned with a simple wipe. Due to the type of material, while these rugs do bring warmth and appeal to a room, they are likely a better choice for a space like a kitchen, an outdoor area, or a hallway rather than a bedroom. If you are looking for the very best among synthetic rugs, thickness remains a key factor and cheaper often means thinner.

We love Pappelina's 0.2" plastic rugs because of their unique manufacturing method that uses non toxic PVC and their stunning designs as well as beautiful texture. Unless you walked on these rugs barefeet, you would not be able to tell that they are plastic rugs. Importantly these rugs will easily fold and fit a standard washer.

How to Wash Washable Rugs

Washing washable rugs is a straightforward process that varies depending on the rug's material and size. In general, most washable rugs can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle with mild detergent and cold water. It's essential to avoid using bleach, brightening agents, or harsh chemicals, as they can damage the rug's fibers. After washing, do not tumble and allow the rug to air dry completely before placing it back in its designated space.

Patterns and Colors Galore

The choice of the best rug pattern and color for your space depends on the style of your home and specific room you are trying to decorate. For a kids nursery or play area we cannot recommend enough to choose a rug as the basis for a theme to further develop the space with coordinating pouffes, cushions, and storage baskets to keep toys out of sight.

For a living room or common area, we think that neutrals work best to keep the space peaceful and elegant.

Pricing

We've rounded up the top 5 brands of washable rugs that rank high on search engines to see how they compare to our beloved Lorena Canals and Pappelina in terms of pricing calculated on a square foot basis. Because larger rugs are cheaper on a sqf basis, all calculations are based on a standard 4'x6' rug: 

• Lorena Canals (Cotton): $12.5/sqf
• Lorena Canals (Wool, 0.6"): $15/sqf
• Pappelina (PVC, 0.2" thick):
• Ruggable

Conclusions