Ruggable review: these washable rugs are the perfect interiors solution for high-risk households
IF there is one thing that I love, it’s interior design.
I bought my first home in October of the first lockdown and have been interiors mad ever since.
My obsession is now at the stage where I need to hide any new rugs or lamps from my other half. My firm stance is that you need six to eight lamps and at least one rug per room if you want to create magic.
That makes me perfectly placed to do a Ruggable review.
A rug is an expense that people always forget about; it’s usually the very last piece of decor to go in a room, but it can often be the most impactful.
It zones the space, breaks up the flooring and can tie your colour scheme together beautifully.
If you’ve not seen Ruggable all over socials, then you must have been under a rock (or a less stylish rug).
The brand’s washable beauties have taken the interior world by storm, and it works on so many high-profile collaborations that you’re almost guaranteed to find a design you like.
Pros
- Beautiful designs
- Washable
- Personalisation option with standard or cushioned pads
- Huge array of designs including big-name collaborations
Cons
- Larger sizes don’t fit in a standard washing machine drum
- Can crease at corners
Rating: 5/5
Ruggable review: how I tested
For this review, I chose a couple of rugs from the Architectural Digest collaboration alongside a Jean Michel Basquiat doormat (but that didn’t stop me from cooing over the Morris & Co or Goop collections).
Other notable collaborations include Disney, Iris Apfel, Bridgerton, Arsenal, and Star Wars.
I tried to campaign to have a ‘Welcome to my Home AD’ video to go along with this review but my editor wouldn’t sign off the feature-film-sized budget pitched along with it.
Ruggable review: quick summary
If you are looking for beautiful designs and practical features for your home, then a Ruggable rug is the way to go.
They are not only stylish but also washable, making them a firm favourite for homes with children, pets, and high-traffic areas.
The ability to easily clean a rug is a game-changer. No longer do I fear red wine blunders or the sound of my dog retching in the distance, because it’s as easy as taking the rug off its Velcro pad and throwing it in the machine.
With a plethora of high-profile collaborations and the option to personalise your rug with a standard or cushioned pad, there is a Ruggable rug for every design style and need.
Whether you’re following your Architectural Digest dreams or Iris Apfel aspirations, you’ll find a gorgeous option.
The installation can be a little annoying for the larger sizes but the work is worth it ten times over when you take a step back and look at your space.
Rated 5/5, these rugs are worth the investment if you like a cosy but clean space.
Ruggable review: full review
Opening and first impressions
Ruggable’s rugs are made and shipped in the UK and each one is made to order.
My rug took 13 business days to arrive, which wasn’t a hardship, and Ruggable manages expectations well by stating that orders will take 2-4 weeks.
It came neatly rolled inside the box with the standard mat rolled and the rug cover folded.
Impressively, despite the rug cover being folded, there were no crease lines or indents on the fold — when it was unravelled you wouldn’t even notice that it had a long folded commute to my house.
One small thing I did notice was a very slight residue on the rug cover, almost like the slight tackiness you’re left with after using a bad hand sanitiser.
However, this wore off after a few days, and was completely gone after the first wash.
Predictably, the instant I unpacked the rug my dog got zoomies and scratched the rug; when I tried to rub the scratch off with my sock, I did notice a bit of colour transfer.
This was easily remedied after the first wash, though, and you could convincingly argue that I shouldn’t be using my white socks as a fabric brush.
To be safe, if you wear a lot of white or own a dog prone to fits of energy, I’d recommend washing the rug as soon as you take it out of the box.
Installation
Being a bit of a perfectionist, I found the installation of the larger rug to be a little tricky.
The process is a bit like putting on a tempered glass phone screen, where you have to push out any pesky air bubbles.
You roll out the standard mat, line up the rug cover with the corners and slowly roll down, pressing out any creases or bubbles as you go.
The larger the rug, the harder it was to get it perfectly aligned; after the first few rolls, I found that the rug was wonky by the time I got down to the tail end, and being Velcro, it’s a little fiddly to roll back up.
Patience is a virtue here and it pays to take your time.
Washing the doormat
I was pleasantly surprised by the doormat — they get grimy and dirty unbelievably quickly, so it was nice to be able to freshen them up.
After a few months outside my house, it was time for the first wash. As instructed, I peeled the rug off from the rubber mat, gave it a shake and put it in the washing machine on a cool wash.
Call me extra, but I also added scent boosters, so for a few days after washing, it released a little burst of gold orchid whenever someone stood on it.
I also wiped the rubber lining down with Zoflora for a bit of extra pizazz.
After the wash, I was impressed that it didn’t come out soaking wet, which can sometimes happen when washing rugs or blankets.
I left it in the garden to dry fully and put it back out front, good as new. It dried in about half a day in mild English weather.
Washing the rug
After the ease of washing the doormat, I was intrigued to see how a larger rug would compare.
After being down in my study for a few months, it was time for its first wash. My little dog likes to sit in the study with me while I work, so the rug has been used as a bed numerous times.
I was surprised by how thin the rug felt once separated from the base and folded to fit in the machine — it’s more comparable to washing a duvet set than anything else.
I put it on a cold wash with some scent boosters and patiently waited.
I did have to give it an extra spin once it was finished as it retained a bit of water, but I tend to do that with a normal load anyway, to minimise drying time.
It came out smelling divine, and with no noticeable colour loss; it was still the same vibrant floor tapestry as before the spin.
The material dried extremely quickly simply hung over a door (I considered putting it out on the line to dry but was concerned about the sun fading the beautiful colours).
FAQs
How to wash Ruggable rugs
For flat woven rugs, Ruggable recommends placing the rug design inside out in a standard drum washing machine and washing on a cold delicate cycle using a non-bleach-based mild detergent.
You can then tumble dry on a low heat or hang outside to line dry.
Ruggable recommends adding 118ml of white vinegar to your detergent in the fabric softener draw to help neutralise pet odours. There is also a separate set of tips for pre-wash stain removal here.
For roormats, Ruggable suggests the below technique for maintenance.
- Sweep: for everyday maintenance, sweep or shake the Doormat Cover to get rid of dirt, dust, and loose debris.
- Spray: you may also rinse the Doormat Cover with a garden hose.
- Machine wash: for thorough cleaning, machine-wash the Cover in cold water using a mild and non-bleach detergent.
- Machine or air dry: tumble-dry on air fluff mode or lay flat to air dry.
Cleaning the rubber part of the mat is also easy enough; simply hose it down with soap and water and leave to air dry.
Are Ruggable rugs good quality?
Yes, Ruggable rugs are excellent quality.
While they feel thin underfoot when separated from the mat, they feel substantial when put together, and you can also opt for a cushioned under-pad if you plan on using the rug in a playroom (or just fancy a little more comfort).
I opted for the standard pad as I wanted even clearance for a door to open over the top.
Can you buy Ruggable in stores?
Ruggable isn’t available in stores as all rugs are made to order.
However, as well as being available through Ruggable’s official site, you can purchase rugs from retailers including John Lewis.
Can you buy Ruggable without the pad?
Yes — If you already have a pad and just want to change the design, there’s an option to buy just the rug.
How long does Ruggable take to ship?
As all rugs are made to order, they can take 2-3 weeks to arrive. Mine came in 13 business days.
How to wash a large Ruggable rug
Ruggable recommends taking rugs sized 245 x 305 cm and above to a launderette with a large capacity washing machine as it won’t fit in a regular machine. Once you’re at the launderette, you simply wash the rug as normal.
For rugs 275 x 365 cm and smaller, a standard washing machine drum is fine.
The verdict: are Ruggable rugs worth it?
Do I think that a Ruggable rug is worth it? Absolutely.
If you have a high-traffic household, pets, or little ones then you’ll be grateful to be able to wash the rug after an accident.
The range of designs is also unparalleled so whether you’re minimalist or maximalist, Scandi or scary, there will be a design that you’ll fall in love with.
Yes, the price is high, but I can tell you from experience that the price of replacing a rug after spilling a (large) glass of red wine on it is pretty high as well.
Yes, the price is high, but I can tell you from experience that the price of replacing a rug after spilling a (large) glass of red wine on it is pretty high as well.