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Best washable rugs that are easy to clean and look great

Spills, dust and mucky paws are no match for these durable designs

Ali Howard,Helen Wilson-Beevers
Wednesday 11 September 2024 09:33 BST
While not as plush as their wool counterparts, these rugs make up for it in affordability and freshness
While not as plush as their wool counterparts, these rugs make up for it in affordability and freshness (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

Rugs provide a quick and easy way of updating your living space, without overhauling the entire room. A runner or rug can add a pop of colour, pattern and a layer of texture to any room, should you be looking to refresh a bedroom, lounge, hallway or other area in the home.

The only downside can be that rugs often pick up dirt, and you may notice this even more if there are pets in your household. Even with the best intentions and strictest house rules, our cherished rugs and carpets will inevitably suffer the odd nasty stain from accidental spills and mishaps.

Not only that, deep-pile rugs in particular can gather dust, which can cause them to dull over time. Enter: washable rugs, which, thanks to increasingly clever technology and materials, are particularly popular among parents and pet owners.

By their very nature, washable rugs needs to be thin and malleable enough to gather up and throw into the washing machine, so, you’ll find most have a particularly slim profile with little depth. Some brands get around this by offering a separate base that the rug attaches too (also helping ensure it stays in place).

While washable rugs are rarely plush like their conventional counterparts, what they lack in texture they make up for in staying fresh. They’re also a much more affordable option than a traditional wool rug.

If you have wood or tiled flooring, look for a rug that comes complete with a non-slip, grippy backing. It’s worth noting, too, that while washable rugs can withstand a machine cycle, typically up to 40C, those with a rubbery backing cannot be tumble dried. With that in mind, we’ve sampled a selection, to help inspire your interiors shopping. Keep scrolling to see the practical picks on our list.

How we tested

We put a range of washable rugs to the test with two kids and a muddy-puddle-loving spaniel in the house, ensuring we followed the care instructions of each rug to the letter. All the options in our round-up washed well, with stains disappearing and their shape maintained after drying. Read on for our full review and verdict.

The best washable rugs for 2024 are:

  • Best overall – Ruggable kamran coral rug: £289, Ruggable.co.uk
  • Best budget buy – Dunelm Gabriella washable rug in red: £29, Dunelm.com
  • Best deep-pile rug – Buddy washable plain rug in ivory: From £38.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best washable runner – Next washable geo runner: £30, Next.co.uk

Ruggable kamran coral rug

Ruggable washable rug indybest
  • Best: Overall
  • Fabric: Chenille
  • Dimensions: From 60cm x 90cm to 275cm x 369cm
  • How to wash: Remove rug cover from pad, wash, dry, then reattach to pad
  • Why we love it
    • Durable
    • Comfortable to walk on
    • Two-part system
    • Water-resistant

This chic rug comes in an array of sizes and colours. We sampled the coral shade in 150cm x 215cm, which added plentiful rug coverage in a small lounge. The ornate pattern features a border and inner design with blue tones, and we found it added a luxurious-looking element to our living room.

All Ruggable buys cleverly come in two pieces: a base pad for grip and the rug cover. The separate components were simple to line up and arrange in situ, and we were suitably impressed by the zero-slip element. Because the rug is washable, the top layer isn’t very thick but it is durable and comfy to walk on. To wash it, we simply removed the top cover – it can be tumble dried, too, so gained extra practicality points. With a dog and two kids at home, we found the water-resistant, stain-resistant rug still looked spotless after several weeks’ use, and it’s easy to vacuum.

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Dunelm Gabriella washable rug in red

Dunelm practirug washable rug indybest
  • Best: Budget buy
  • Fabric: Polyester and cotton
  • Dimensions: 80cm x 150cm, 120cm x 170cm, 160cm x 230cm and 200cm x 290cm
  • How to wash: Wash on a 30C cycle and air dry flat
  • Why we love it
    • Available in five sizes
    • Super-soft

This cotton and polyester rug is available in red, sage, blue, multicolour, and natural versions, depending on your decor. There are five sizes, too – we plumped for the 160cm x 230cm size. We noticed immediately how soft the rug felt to touch, and the faded aesthetic of its print contributed a classic vibe to our lounge. We sampled the warm red shade, and we found any dirt or marks didn’t show up easily. It was simple to machine wash, and air dry, too. You can also buy a separate anti-slip mat (from £5, Dunelm.co.uk) to go underneath it.

  1.  £29 from Dunelm.com
Prices may vary
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Buddy washable plain rug in ivory

Buddy washable plain rug in ivory indybest
  • Best: Deep-pile rug
  • Fabric: 100 per cent polypropylene yarn
  • Dimensions: 60cm x 100cm, 80cm x 120cm, 100cm x 150cm and 140cm x 200cm
  • How to wash: Wash on a 40C cycle and line dry
  • Why we love it
    • Highly durable
    • Stain-resistant

This is a soft and fluffy deep-pile rug, made from 100 per cent polypropylene yarn, which is a man-made fibre that’s highly durable. In fact, the rug is both stain-resistant and doesn’t shed.

For a washable model, it’s surprisingly dense, but will happily take a 40C machine cycle. Its non-slip rubber backing means the tumble dryer needs to be avoided, but we found it dries in no time, thanks to its synthetic make-up. The plain rug comes in a huge range of sizes and colours, but we plumped for the least forgiving on stains – ivory – and were pleasantly surprised to find it washed really well.

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Next washable retro runner

Next Washable Runner
  • Best: Washable runner
  • Fabric: Nylon
  • Dimensions: 50cm x 150cm
  • How to wash: Machine wash at 30C and leave to dry
  • Why we love it
    • Thick pile
    • Hardwearing

This runner is an ideal washable option for small spaces and kids’ bedrooms. The pattern has a slightly thicker pile than some of the other washable rugs we tried, which makes for underfoot comfort. It looks and feels hardy, and we found the stain-resistant fabric practical. We tended to shake the rug outdoors, to remove any dust or dirt, but it can be spruced up easily with a vacuum cleaner, too. The only downside is this rug can bunch up, but, to keep the runner flat, we’d just smooth it out from time to time. Which, given the £30 price point, we were more than happy to do.

  1.  £30 from Next.co.uk
Prices may vary
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The verdict: Washable rugs

Ruggable’s kamran coral rug is our best buy overall, thanks to its clever two-part design, luxurious pattern and stain-resistant, water-resistant practicality. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a fluffy, deep-pile washable rug, we’d recommend Buddy’s washable plain rug. Finally, Next’s washable retro runner is an affordable buy for smaller spaces.

Want more recommendations? Check out our guide to the best bath mats

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