I finally caved. After years of seeing ads for Ruggable machine washable rugs, I broke down and bought one for our San Francisco apartment dining area.
That was two years ago. I’ve now washed it at least five times, I’ve rolled a standing desk over it basically every day, and I’ve had plenty of time to form real opinions. So here’s my very honest Ruggable review, updated after two full years of living with this thing.
Is it worth the hype and the expensive price tag? Keep reading because my answer has gotten more nuanced.
What Is Ruggable and How Does It Work
What makes Ruggable different from more affordable brands, like Rugs USA, is the whole concept behind it. Ruggable sells machine washable rugs built around a two-piece system: one rug pad you keep forever, and swappable rug covers that attach to it using their Cling Effect technology.
The cover pulls off easily when you need to wash it, and snaps back down when it’s clean.
It’s actually a clever solution for modern life. If you love to decorate for Christmas, you could put down a fun red and green rug cover in December and swap it out in January without buying a whole new rug. If you have pets or kids, you can toss the cover in the washing machine instead of hiring a rug cleaner. And if you own an Airbnb, like we do, this is honestly a no-brainer for your cleaning team.
The rug covers come in two textures:
- Flatwoven (2mm, low-profile) and Tufted (7mm, thicker and softer).
- The pads come in two options: Standard (best for rolling furniture and high-traffic areas) or Cushioned (better for comfort).
- You can mix and match based on what your space needs.
Machine washable rug by Ruggable in a fun retro 1970's pattern. Remove the Rug Cover to wash anytime. I have this in my apartment dining area and it's great for high traffic areas, but not something to have as your cozy living room rug.
- Unique patterns
- Easy to wash / move
- Ships fast
- Can swap out top covers
- Shows dirt quickly
- Wrinkles / curls up
- Very thin
I bought the Faye Natural Pop Rug in Round with the Tufted Standard pad (quick note, this style is now discontined but I linked a similar style for you!) I was in the middle of a kitchen makeover, I needed something with a retro mid-century modern vibe, and this rug was IT.
I bought it on a Black Friday sale (which was only 5% more than their standard welcome discount, lol) and couldn’t wait to get rid of our old gross rug and finally finish that dining room refresh.
My Honest Ruggable Review After Two Years
How Ruggable Rugs Look In Person
Pretty true to the photos, which I appreciated. I’ve ordered things online that look wildly different in real life, but when we unpacked the Faye Natural Pop Rug, the colors matched what I saw on screen.
What I did NOT expect was how thin it would feel. Ruggable calls it a low-pile rug. I would call it a no-pile rug. It feels like paper underfoot. And two years in? That hasn’t changed.
Setting Up The Rug Cover and Rug Pad
Putting the rug cover down the first time was kind of a pain, not gonna lie. It kept folding over and curling up instead of laying flat, and it took a full week of walking on it to get the shipping wrinkles out. I’ve washed it about five times now, and every single time it comes out of the machine I have to walk the wrinkles back out again.
It goes a little lumpy for a few days post-wash. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
The good part is that when it’s time to clean, one person can handle it alone. Roll the desk out of the way, peel up the cover, toss it in the washing machine. Super easy. That part actually works exactly as advertised.
After Two Years of Real Use: The Honest Update
Here’s where I have to be real with you. The color on our rug has faded. I’m gonna be honest with you though, some of that is my fault. We didn’t wash it for the first seven months (oops), and by the time we got into a regular washing rhythm the damage was already done.
High traffic zone plus a long stretch of not cleaning it correctly? Not a great combo. So fair to say that user error played a role there.
The other thing that’s happened after two years is the rug rides up when the desk chair wheels catch it. Because it’s so thin and flat, it doesn’t have much grip against the chair movement. It’s not a safety issue but it is a little annoying to smooth it back down every couple of days.
Here’s what I’ve learned: the flatwoven rug I bought is not the right product for everyone. It’s great under rolling furniture, yes, but if you want something that actually feels like a rug and holds up to daily use in a high-traffic area over time, you want the Tufted version.
Why I’m Upgrading to the Ruggable Tufted Rug
I’m actually in the process of getting a new Ruggable right now and this time it’s going to be a tufted rug. I picked out this round rug that has a similar retro vibe as our first one, but has darker colors to hopefully combat discoloration from high use better.
The tufted covers are 7mm thick, which is three times the thickness of the flatwoven. They’re softer, hold up better to daily foot traffic, and reviewers consistently note the texture stays intact even after machine washing.
Tufted rugs with the cushioned pad start around $339 for smaller sizes and go up from there depending on size. Yes, it’s pricey.
But I’ve seen what happens when you buy cheap rugs for high-traffic kitchen and dining areas (spoiler: they get foul fast) and the ability to toss this in a washing machine is a premium worth paying for the right spot in your home.
Pro-tip: if you’re putting this under rolling furniture like I am, pair the tufted cover with the Standard pad, not the Cushioned one. The Standard pad is thinner and plays nicer with desk chairs and office setups.
Where To Use Ruggable Washable Rugs (And Where To Skip Them)
I want to be clear: these are NOT the rugs you want in a bedroom or a cozy reading nook. The flatwoven option especially feels like paper under your feet, and no one wants that vibe in a space where softness matters.
Where they make total sense: dining rooms, kitchens, entryways, home offices, outdoor patios. Basically anywhere you’re going to spill things, track in dirt, or roll furniture over the top of them. The machine washable rug concept was built for these zones.
If you own an Airbnb like we do, Ruggable rugs are a legitimate game changer for cleaning. Your team can manage them without a professional rug service to keep everything tiddy.
One thing I will say: these rugs show dirt quickly because there’s zero pile to hide it. Flatwoven especially means everything is visible. Cat fur, shoe dirt, crumbs. We vacuum ours basically every day to keep it looking decent.
The upside is that vacuuming is super easy because there’s no pile to fight with. Our robot vacuum handles it no problem.
Is Ruggable a Legit Company Worth Your Money
Yes. With a big caveat: buy the right rug for the right room.
If you want a plush, cushioned rug for your living room where you walk around barefoot and want it to feel cozy? The flatwoven Ruggable is going to disappoint you. If you want a washable rug for a kitchen, dining room, or entryway where practicality matters more than plushness? This is a really solid choice.
And if you want something that feels actually soft AND is still machine washable? Go straight to the tufted option. That’s what I’d recommend to everyone starting fresh today.
The Best Ruggable Artist Collaborations Worth Knowing About
Okay this is where Ruggable gets fun because they have an incredible track record of collaborating with designers and artists to create rugs you cannot get anywhere else. This is honestly one of my favorite things about the brand.
They’ve worked with Jonathan Adler (bold, maximalist, kind of perfect), Iris Apfel (the late fashion icon has three full collections with Ruggable and her prints are SO good), Goop, Kathy and Nicky Hilton, Disney, Barbie, Star Wars, Bridgerton, and most recently Anthropologie.
The Anthropologie collab dropped in late 2025 and includes seven tufted All-in-One rugs plus three doormats with the most beautiful Scandinavian floral and painterly prints.
I personally love the Iris Apfel collection and I’ve been eyeing the zebra doormat for our Whimsy Homes cabin. Her rugs have this maximalist, unapologetically bold energy that is just so different from everything else on the market. If you want a rug that looks like actual art, this is your section of the Ruggable website.
The collab collection is hands down where I send people first when they’re shopping Ruggable. The original designs are worth the premium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruggable Rugs
How do you wash Ruggable rugs?
Wash the rug cover in cold water on a delicate cycle and either tumble dry on low heat or hang to air dry. Check the specific care instructions for your cover style before the first wash since it can vary slightly.
Do NOT put the rug pad in the washing machine. You can spot clean the pad with water only.
One important note: wash your rug regularly from the start. I made the mistake of waiting seven months before washing mine for the first time, and the color faded faster than it should have. Get into a washing rhythm every couple of months and your rug will hold up much better over time.
Are Ruggable rugs soft?
The flatwoven rug covers are not soft. Real talk, they feel a little bit like paper. If you want softness, you need the tufted cover option, which is 7mm thick and noticeably softer underfoot. Pair it with the cushioned pad for maximum comfort.
Do Ruggable rugs work with a robot vacuum?
Yes! Because the flatwoven covers have zero pile, a robot vacuum handles them really well. No tangling, no struggle. This is one of my favorite things about having a low-pile washable rug in a high-traffic area.
Do Ruggable rugs curl up?
Yes, they do curl and wrinkle right after washing or when you first lay them down. It takes a few days of walking on the rug to smooth everything back out. For larger rugs, you may need two people to lay the cover back down on the pad correctly after washing.
What are the main Ruggable complaints?
The biggest complaints I’ve seen (and personally experienced): the rugs are thin and feel like paper, the color can fade over time especially in high-traffic zones if you’re not washing regularly, the covers wrinkle after washing, and they show dirt quickly because there’s no pile to hide anything. Some customers have also had frustrating experiences with customer service, though I personally never needed to contact them.
Does Ruggable offer returns?
The Ruggable website states that each customer is entitled to one free exchange per item within 30 days of purchase. Test your rug as soon as it arrives so you know if it’s the right fit before that window closes.
Is Ruggable worth it?
For the right use case, yes. A machine washable rug for a dining room, kitchen, or entryway is a practical choice and the collab designs are some of the coolest patterns on the market. Just go tufted if you want it to feel like an actual rug, and get into a regular washing routine from day one.
Have you tried Ruggable rugs? Drop a comment below with your own Ruggable rug reviews! I’d love to hear which styles you’re loving and whether you went flatwoven or tufted.
2 comments
I have three Ruggable rugs – all different combinations.
The first one is like the one in the article – woven flat with the original pad. I wash it according to the instructions that came with it and it has shrunk some. If you get the original pad it is indeed very flat. The pad has shed the little nodules that hold the rug to the pad – it still works but each time I take the rug off the pad more black nodules come off and I have to vacuum the floor to remove all the stuff.
The second one was flat woven like the first but I had the option to get a thicker pad which I did. This rug lives in my kitchen and is a joy to stand on. The pad is much better quality and does not shed. This combination is very good. This one also shrank some in the wash.
The third one was a new style – a plush rug. Granted plush is just a few millimeters of pile but it is much more elegant. Again I elected to get the thick pad. I think this is a wonderful combination. I haven’t washed this one yet.
I recommend the thicker pad. I have found that the colors in the rug are not as vibrant as what is shown on your computer screen but you do get the pattern as shown. Styles change frequently so if you want matching rugs be sure to order them within months of each other (or sooner).
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