Honest Ruggable Review 2023

It’s been four months since we’ve been using Ruggable’s washable rugs, and we have just one complaint: We wish we’d discovered them sooner. Here’s the backstory: I help care for my mother who has Parkinson’s, so I’m constantly rotating between her house in Wisconsin (where she lives with my sister, her husband, their two active kids and a dog that’s constantly getting in trouble) and my apartment in New York City. Both of our lives are hectic and full, which is why we’re always on the hunt for solutions that make our days easier. If something ends up working well in one household, we usually get it for the other house as well (cue: the exact same cookware, bed sheets, hot water kettle…you get the drift). This is exactly what happened with our recent rug purchase—and why I’m excited to share an honest Ruggable rug review with you.

I first discovered the brand when I helped assemble an 8-by-10-foot area rug my mom bought for her living room. I was so impressed with the design and functionality that I actually ended up getting her a doormat, too…followed by a hallway runner and, eventually, an area rug for my own city apartment. (I sublease it every time I travel, and you’d be surprised at how careless and messy short-term renters can get.) It’s safe to say we’ve got tons of first-hand experience with the brand and its rugs in many of their shapes and sizes.

How Does Ruggable Work?

Ruggable’s rugs are sold as a two-layer system: a rug pad and a rug cover. The pad is lightweight and non-slip, and it’s made from a foam-like low-pile material that can be thrown in the washer. You can choose between a classic option (great for going under doorways, in outdoor spaces and beneath rolling furniture) or a cushioned version (perfect for indoors), depending on where you’re placing the rug. As for the rug cover, it’s a fabric layer that’s meant to be laid down over the pad, clinging to it like velcro. But together, the two pieces look and feel an awful lot like the low-pile rugs you know and love. You’d never know they were washable.

When it comes to choosing the style, size and texture of your rug, the brand offers a huge variety of options, with prices starting at $89. Sizes range from 2 x 3-foot to 9 x 12-foot, and textures include plush, Chenille, shag and re-jute. There are more than 10 curated collections (each consisting of hundreds styles and patterns) and countless color choices. While this might sound overwhelming, once you have the rug pad, you can pair it with just about any Ruggable rug cover you fancy to switch up your décor.

Once you’ve made your selection, the associated combination is then neatly delivered to your doorstep along with detailed assembly instructions. I did find that it was easier to have a second pair of hands helping out here: Together, my nephew and I started by rolling out the pad and attaching the cover to the four corner tabs, which have a little velcro part that keeps them together. It took us less than 10 minutes to set up the 8-by-10-foot area rug in our living room. Next, I attempted to set up the 3-by-5-foot hall runner by myself and quickly got frustrated trying to line up the corners perfectly. Once again, my nephew stepped in, and we were able to get the job done in a few minutes.

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How Do Ruggable’s Rugs Compare To Regular Rugs?

One of my concerns with using a rug with two distinct layers was that they would separate from each other or get bunched up when the kids and dog would wrestle on it…or when my mom would push her walker or roll her wheelchair over it. But so far, we haven’t had any issues with that. Another concern we’ve had with rugs in the past is that they tend to slip around, which can be dangerous, given my mom’s health condition. To preempt that issue, I purchased large non-slip rug mats from a hardware store before our Ruggable rugs arrived. But it turned out not to be necessary: The base of the pad turned out to be so secure that I ended up returning the mats.

Another major pro to Ruggable is that unlike most single-layer rugs that require expensive trips to the dry cleaners or an investment in special upholstery cleaning equipment, the brand’s unique, two-layered system allows you to launder the rug at home in your regular washing machine. (More on the cleaning process in a bit.) The rugs also respond beautifully to spot-remover treatments if you’re in a pinch and don’t have enough time to completely wash and dry them. My niece had an accident involving bright blue ink, and we were quickly able to tackle it with a little spray and and gentle rubbing.

How Do You Care For Ruggable’s Washable Rugs?

One of the biggest selling points for investing in a Ruggable is just how convenient it is to wash the rugs in the comfort of your own home. Considering our doormat and runner are constantly subjected to messy shoes that track in snow, salt and mud, we frequently toss them in the washing machine to keep them neat and clean.

As for our area rug, we went nearly two months without washing it, since we are diligent with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning. But when we finally moved our couch and discovered that the area under the sofa was several shades lighter than the area that had been exposed, we knew the time had come to peel off our rug cover and give it a wash. Since my mom’s older machine is a lot smaller than newer options, an 8 x 10-foot rug just barely fit in there. We added some mild detergent and ran the wash on a cold cycle. Then, we tossed it in the dryer on a low heat setting. (Depending on the texture of the rug you buy, the brand recommends specific dryer settings to ensure the longevity of your purchase.)

If you opt for the bigger size (9 x 12-foot) or live in an apartment building without a washer and dryer (like I do), chances are you’ll have to lug your rug to your closest laundromat. I still find that to be a lot cheaper (it costs me $8 to wash and dry my area rug) than sending it to the dry cleaners.

Is Ruggable Worth It?

My final verdict: Yes, Ruggable is absolutely worth the money. Whether my renters choose to wear their shoes indoors or the kids (or dog) happen to have an accident, it’s a relief knowing that I can just toss the rugs in the washer and they’ll be back to looking brand-new in a few hours. The brand offers such a great solution for dressing up your space with a stylish rug without the hassle of worrying about stains, paying dry cleaner bills or investing in excessive cleaning tools.