Cassandra Brooklyn is a freelance writer with bylines in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and National Geographic, among others. When she's not writing product reviews, travel features, and deep dives into the intersection of technology and culture, you can find her hiking, cycling, and scuba diving pretty much anywhere in the world.
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Ruggable makes two-piece rugs that include a top layer that can be laundered in traditional washers and dryers
The rugs are available as runners, door mats, and area rugs in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors
I chose an 8 x 10-foot floral rug because I thought it would bring together my otherwise mismatching bedroom
I’ve lived in my apartment for four years but it still looks like I just moved in last month. Aside from my queen-size bed, which I purchased new when I moved in, everything else is fairly makeshift and was acquired by chance. I bought a green end table from a neighbor, and then found a blue end table, a lamp, a cherry drafting desk and a black bookshelf in the hallway during my first year living here. The blonde wooden dresser I have was made by my grandfather and it is now topped with a somewhat-matching blonde wooden mirror that I found on the street. Can you tell that I’m blessed to live in a building and neighborhood saturated with people who love to throw out perfectly good furniture?
While I like each of these individual pieces, none of them match together very well and since I’m horrible at designing and decorating, I’ve never been able to come up with a good solution. I’d like the room to feel more like an adult’s bedroom instead of a deluxe dorm room but I’m pretty sure that would involve getting a headboard and painting the walls (which also involves choosing colors – something else I don’t want to do).
I decided that getting a colorful area rug would be a great way to pull together some of the colors in my room while also giving me the flexibility to add a colorful headboard and/or coat of paint should I ever get my act together. As such, I was thrilled at the opportunity to review a Ruggable rug. I chose the Frida Floral Natural Rug because the pattern contained many of the colors found in my room currently and it seemed flexible enough to match the colors I might want on my walls and headboard in the future: gray, rust, orange, pink, or green (I know, I’m the worst, I’m never going to decide!)
Ruggable's Frida Floral Natural Rug
What Makes Ruggable Stand Out vs. Traditional Rugs
Ruggable makes lightweight, washable rugs that are actually a two-piece rug system. The rug “topper” (the designed rug portion that can go in the washer) clings to the lower portion, the pad, which does not go in the washer and is available in either Classic or Cushioned. The Classic pad can be used either outdoors or indoors but the Cushioned version can only be used indoors. If you want a very thin rug and don’t care about padding, the Classic is a good option, as it’s only 0.125 inches thick, whereas the Cushioned pad measures 0.4 inches and is much more comfortable to walk on (it’s also more expensive).
Once you have the rug pad, you can purchase different rug toppers if you decide to switch up your space in the future, which is far more affordable than purchasing an entirely new rug. All of the rugs are made from high-quality fibers that are both stain- and water-resistant. Outdoor rugs are also fade-resistant while somehow also managing to avoid the rough feel of most outdoor rugs so it’s a highly practical solution for patios, porches, and decks. Also note that while, technically, you could just purchase a rug topper, purchasing it without the rug pad could make the rug a seriously slippery situation.
Rug toppers are available in five different categories: plush, shag, outdoor, chenille (the most popular), and Re-jute (Ruggable’s washable version of classic jute rugs) and there are nearly 800 designs to choose from. To narrow down your search, you can look up rugs by size, color scheme, or curated collection (Persian, bohemian, traditional, nautical, geometric, novelty, stripes, floral, folk heritage, etc.).
You’ll also find partnerships with brands like Star Wars and Disney and artists like Jonathan Adler and Keith Harrington. Sizes range from 22” x 33” inch bathmats and 3’ x 2’ doormats to runners and rugs ranging from 2’ x 3’ to 9’ x 12’. While most rugs are rectangular, there are also many rugs available round or hyde-shaped.
Ruggable Review: The Details
Delivery and Unboxing
As soon as the order was placed, I received a tracking code, which let me know when the rug was expected to arrive and when it was actually delivered. Considering the tremendous delays that most furniture, appliance, and home goods manufacturers are experiencing right now, I was very surprised (and pleased) that my rug arrived in just over two weeks.
Both the Ruggable rug and non-slip rug pad shipped in the same box. My 8 x 10-foot rug box was heavy enough that I had to push it but it was not at all difficult to move. The neighbor whose rug I accidentally stole had ordered a 3 x 5-foot rug so it came in a much smaller box, which I found very easy to carry up to her.
Because I got a larger rug, I received two smaller rug pads that needed to be lined up next to each other (this is only the case with the 8’ x 10’ and 9’ x 12’ rugs). Getting the two pads to line up did take a little bit of coordination but it was a fairly easy task and having two smaller pads has made it much easier to transfer the rugs between rooms.
While it only took a few minutes to align the two rug pads, it took about 15 minutes to get the rug topper down and properly aligned with the rug pad. Ruggable offers instructions for how to set up rug systems (including instructions specifically for the larger 8’ x 10’ and 9’ x 12’ rugs) but, despite these instructions, I still find the process to be a bit clunky and cumbersome.
Getting any rug top to align with any rug pad is going to require some trial and error but the sticky-nature of the rug pad (which is necessary and awesome because that’s how the rug topper stays in place), means that the rug often gets stuck to the pad before it’s perfectly aligned. Even with a second person helping, it was hard to get the rug topper in place without it getting stuck on the pad in the wrong place. But in the end it only took about 15-20 minutes to get it properly aligned so it’s not as though it was a major time investment.
Ruggable provides some basic, easy-to-interpret instructions with their rugs, along with a QR code that links to more detailed, product-specific information, videos, and tutorials. I found the instructions on the two cards inside my box sufficient to install the rug but the additional information the QR code links to is also very helpful.
Living with Ruggable
I LOVE THIS RUG so let me just start with that. I’d put one in every room of my house if I could. I first set it up in my living room since I thought it would look good there (and it did) and then decided to move it to my bedroom. While it was up in the living room, I practiced yoga on it, my mother walked over it with her walker (without her wheels getting caught on the edges), and my 6-year-old niece ran, jumped, and played endlessly. We experienced no issue with the rug slipping, sliding, or curling and I laundered it before installing it under my bed, where I knew it would be harder to remove.
Ruggable's 2-piece rug system
Moving the rug to my bedroom proved slightly more challenging, not because of the rug, but because my bed has an adjustable frame that is ridiculously heavy. Thanks to a surprisingly strong friend of mine, we were able to move the bed out of the way, lay the rug down, then move the bed back. I am so glad that I went with the cushioned rug pad because it feels so comfortable to step onto when I get out of bed in the morning.
I’m also very pleased with how the rug looks underneath my bed. The 8 x 10-foot rug fits beautifully underneath my queen-sized bed. I considered getting a 9 x 12-foot and I think I could have made it work since my bedroom is pretty large but the 8 x 10-foot version allows about 2 feet of rug on all sides of the bed, which I think is absolutely perfect.
I’ve now had the rug in my room for several weeks and have experienced no issues with the rug slipping, sliding, shifting, or causing any other problems.
I’ve now had the rug in my room for several weeks and have experienced no issues with the rug slipping, sliding, shifting, or causing any other problems. Despite being washed several times, I also haven’t had any problems with the edges curling up, which may be because I hang dry the rug and there aren’t a million people walking all over it every day. While corner curling was a more rampant problem in the past, Ruggable introduced “silicone reinforcement” pads to its chenille rug corners in 2019 to help prevent them from curling up and, in 2021, they also added a new fiber structure to limit edges from rolling up.
Though I haven’t experienced any actual curling of the rug corners, I have seen some ripples across some sections when I walk on it and there have been occasions where the sides of the rug do raise up a bit. The side raising has been minimal so in those instances, I just put a chair or a box on the rug, which flattens it out fairly quickly.
My Ruggable rug under my bed
As mentioned, it can be a bit challenging to get the rug cover perfectly aligned with the pad. I find that it usually takes me 3-4 attempts to get the rug cover on right if someone is helping me. Because the rug topper clings to the pad via its proprietary Cling Effect™ technology (similar to Velcro), as soon as you start laying down the rug, it immediately clings to the pad, which can be a little challenging if it clings in a position that isn’t perfectly aligned. The large-sized rug definitely requires a second person to roll it out but even then, I sometimes find it a bit difficult to roll it out perfectly evenly but I suspect this would be less of a problem on smaller rugs.
Since I’m obsessed with clean floors (and rugs), my house is a no-shoes household so having the ability to clean the rug easily (and affordably) is a huge benefit for me. The rug appears to be high-quality and highly-functional, meaning it could probably fit well into just about any home. Aside from my mother visiting, who certainly doesn’t cause a lot of commotion with her walker, I usually live alone and I still love this rug. If you have pets and/or kids, however, this rug could be an even bigger game changer, as kids and pets tend to produce the sort of messes that require far more frequent cleaning.
Pros
The rugs are available in a tremendous variety of sizes, colors, and patterns
Rugs ship quickly and arrive in boxes that are manageable for one person to move
The rugs can be laundered in standard washing machines and dryers
There are two types of rug pads to choose from
Some rug models can be used outdoors
Cons
Because of the rug’s quality and flexibility, the rugs are somewhat expensive
Some people have had issues with the rug corners curling up
It can be difficult to evenly roll out the rug, especially large ones
Because Ruggable rugs are made from polyester with a polyurethane coating, they repel water better and experience less shrinkage when compared to cotton. The rugs are low-pile and lightweight and they can be easily vacuumed or even swept (well, perhaps not the shag rugs!). The company also offers some tips on how to properly vacuum your rug to keep it in good shape.
I have a Tineco S11 cordless vacuum that is designed for both hard wood floors and carpet so when I vacuum, I do the entire house in one fell swoop. Even with the thicker cushioned pad, the rug is less than a ½ inch thick so the vacuum seamlessly glides from the floor to the rug and back to the floor. Though I generally try to avoid eating in the living room, I did manage to spill chips (and sour cream-based dip) on the rug before I moved it into my bedroom. The chips were easily sucked up by the vacuum and the stain-resistant design of the rug meant that I was able wipe off the sour cream up with just a wet rag. After a few spillages, I’m confident you’ll be able to keep your rug clean — even in high-traffic areas.
While Ruggable pads are much less likely to get dirty than the rug toppers, you’ll still want to clean them from time to time to help maintain their grip to the rug topper. This can be achieved by simply vacuuming the rug pad every once in a while to remove dirt and debris. Ruggable notes that when it comes to cleaning the rug pad, spot cleaning is the best way.
Is it really Machine Washable?
Considering that Ruggable’s main claim to fame is that their machine washable rugs, I felt that the washing machine test was the most important part of the testing and review process. There’s a million rugs on the market that are soft, beautiful, interesting, unique, and all that jazz but virtually all of them can only be cleaned by a dry cleaner or a professional carpet cleaning service. Pass.
I was a little nervous before the first wash, but having washed the rug several times, I can confidently say that Ruggable rugs can absolutely stand up to standard washing machines. Since my building doesn’t have a laundry room (and I can only dream of ever having machines inside my own apartment!), I have to wash all my laundry at my local laundromat. The 8 x 10-foot rug that I went with fits inside a standard washing machine and dryer but a bigger version (9 x 12-foot is the largest size offered) would need to go in one of the larger “premium” machines at my laundromat.
If you’re lucky enough to have a washing machine at home, you should be able to fit any of the Ruggable rugs under 8 x 10-foot inside but whether or not a 9 x 12-foot rug could go in there would depend on the size of your machine. If your machine has a capacity over 4.2 cubic feet, it would probably be fine.
Ruggable also offers a guide to cleaning your rug, which includes tips and tricks for different styles of rugs. In general, you’ll want to wash the rugs with cold water and/or on a delicate cycle and use a gentle detergent (it should go without saying to avoid bleach).
While Ruggable rugs can, technically, go in the dryer and I did test it once in a proper dryer (just make sure the pattern is facing inward), it should only be run on lower heat settings in order to maintain the rug’s high quality. Hang drying fabrics dramatically extends their life so I’m already in the habit of hang drying about 80% of my clothes. As such, it was absolutely no hassle for me to hang dry the Ruggable. Since my small New York City apartment has no back yard and certainly has no laundry line, I just make sure the washing machine spins most of the water out and then I drape it over a few chairs to finish drying.
Ruggable was founded by Jeneva Bell after her dog ruined a new, expensive rug. Bell thought: " I should be able to clean my rugs like I clean my beddings and towel." And that's how the idea for Ruggable came about.
The first Ruggable design was created using off the shelf fabric from a local store. Now, the brand has a patented washable 2-piece rug system and hundreds of designs to match the needs of every home — each made to withstand whatever life throws at them: dirt, dust, spills, and even pet accidents.
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Giving Back to People, Pets, and Planet
Ruggable's People, Pets, & Planet initiative works with a range of organizations to help improve the lives of people and pets in need, while also championing more sustainable and responsible business practices.
People: Ruggable works with organizations to donate its usable returns, and furnish homes for individuals who are aging out of the foster care system.
Pets: The brand sponsors life-saving surgeries and critical care treatment for pets whose families cannot afford it.
Planet: Ruggable champions ethical and eco-friendly manufacturing and strives to minimize its carbon footprint using recycled materials whenever possible, and by sponsoring reforestation efforts all around the world.
The Ruggable rug has been a lifesaver in my home. Not only has it helped me easily maintain my obsession with clean floors, but it’s been an easy way for me to finally start pulling my home decor together without having to invest in paint or expensive furniture that may or may not look right.
Cassandra Brooklyn is a freelance writer with bylines in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and National Geographic, among others. When she's not writing product reviews, travel features, and deep dives into the intersection of technology and culture, you can find her hiking, cycling, and scuba diving pretty much anywhere in the world.
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