The 12 Best Washable Rugs, According To Our Testing

Best Overall

Tumble Tabor Washable Rug

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The Tumble Tabor Washable Rug lives up to its name—in our testing, we found that all stains, including wine and coffee, removed without a trace. Plus, it looks elegant and comes in a chic neutral tone that matches most decor styles. (Tumble also sells a variety of other styles.)

The rug consists of two parts: a jigsaw foam pad that you have to put together yourself, and the fabric rug, which you’ll lay on top. The foam bottom is necessary because the fabric is thin, and the pad adds a little cushioning and prevents it from slipping on the floor. While it’s not plush like your average rug, it’s still soft to walk on.

To check the rug’s stain resistance, we spilled things like coffee, dirt, and wine on it. We were seriously impressed by how well the rug seemed to repel the substances, with them simply beading on the top instead of being absorbed. When we blotted the stains with a paper towel, the liquids were absorbed so much that it was hard to tell that we spilled anything in the first place. Ditto for the potting soil we poured on it: There was nothing left when we vacuumed the rug. 

After two months, the rug remained stain-free despite multiple spills and other messes. We could remove all stains by wiping the rug or washing it in the washing machine. Although the rug looked big, we were able to fit it in our washer by folding it up.

We were impressed that the rug looked brand new after six months of use and regular washes in our washer. It was by far the easiest-to-clean rug we’ve ever owned. Overall, this rug is incredibly durable and a good choice for pet owners. It comes in standard rectangle and runner sizes, so you could fit in hallways, dining rooms, living rooms, and more. Our only wish is that this particular design came in more colors.

Material: Polyester rug; EVA foam with TPR (thermoplastic resin) rug pad | Size Range: 7 sizes ranging from 3 x 5 feet to 9 x 12 feet | Pile Height: 0.25 inches

Best Budget

NuLoom Brielle Machine Washable Area Rug

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While many rugs are too thick to fit under entryway doors, you won’t have that problem with the Nuloom Brielle Machine Washable Rug because it’s thin enough to fit under most doors. We observed that it stayed firmly in place, thanks to a non-skid backing, and didn’t curl up around the edges. 

Despite it having low to no cushioning, it felt incredibly soft and silky—but it might be a good idea to get a rug pad for it if you want more softness underfoot. This lack of pile also means you likely won’t have to deal with any shedding fibers.

We placed the rug in our busy front entryway during our tests. The rug performed well and we found it to be tough, and it was easy to clean debris like dirt. But removing wet stains was quite hard—we could hardly remove the coffee and wine we spilled on it in our mess tests.

Six months later the rug was as soft as ever, and it did not incur any stains, although it was light colored. Overall, it is a simple, inexpensive rug that doesn’t look or feel cheap. Just take care where you put it, and don’t plan on putting it in areas where drinks are likely to spill, if you can help it.

Material: Polyester | Size Range: 15 sizes ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet | Pile Height: Less than 0.5 inches

Best Plush

Ruggable Sarrah Blue Quartz Tufted Rug

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Design and function typically carry the most weight when it comes to rugs. But plushness is an overlooked, yet equally important quality to consider, and the Ruggable Sarrah Blue Quartz Tufted Rug stole the show thanks to its dense, plush texture, premium construction, and overall durability. 

We placed the rug on hardwood floors in a dining room, which typically has a fair amount of traffic from people and pets. The rug comes with a non-slip, ⅛-inch polyester rug pad to keep it in place, and we found that it worked especially well for when our tester's cats playfully ran around on it. 

While the pad is effective at preventing the rug from slipping, we did experience some difficulty lining it up underneath the rug due to its generous size, so we recommend having at least another person present to help smoothen wrinkles or bubbles to ensure it properly lays flat. 

What we found most impressive about the rug is how luxuriously plush it is. It features a dense, tufted texture and has a 0.28-inch pile thickness, which yields an incredibly soft and cushioned feel. The rug’s overall texture makes it smooth on bare feet, and we’d even argue it's comfortable enough to sit on by itself. Plush textures can sometimes be less durable than rougher ones, but the texture of this rug remained the same throughout texting. 

Laundering the rug came with a few challenges. In the washer, the rug retained water after the washing cycle finished, which led to our machine becoming unbalanced and not spinning effectively. Because of this, drying the rug was difficult, and it ultimately took three hours, multiple drying cycles, and time to air dry for the rug to dry completely. We found that spot cleaning with an upholstery cleaner is more time and energy efficient. With that said, the rug held up exceptionally well after laundering, and stains were removed completely. 

All in all, this rug is excellent for areas that have moderate traffic, like a living room or dining room, as it adds sophisticated style and comforting cushioning to any space.

Material: Polyester with a polyurethane barrier | Size Range: 8 sizes, ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 10 x 14 feet  | Pile Height: 0.28 inches

Best for Pet Owners

Ruggable Burlap Solid Sand Re-Jute Rug

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If you’re a pet owner, you likely share the universal struggle of keeping your rugs free from pet hair, muddy paws, and messy accidents. Doing so is virtually impossible to avoid, which is why having a pet-friendly rug like Ruggable’s Burlap Solid Sand Re-Jute Rug is always a good idea.

The rug is constructed with recycled and virgin polyester that is intricately woven together for a durable, burlap-style look. It leans more on the rough side in terms of texture, which ultimately held up great with our tester's cats who typically use rugs as scratching pads. While the rug has a coarser texture, we found it to be softer than traditional burlap, so walking on it with bare feet is no issue. It is worth nothing, though, that the pile is very thin, so the rug doesn’t offer much cushioning or comfort as you walk on it. 

We placed the rug in an office, which garners a high amount of traffic from both people and two pets. The office has linoleum flooring, and the provided non-slip polyester rug pad prevented it from sliding around and kept it secure in place.

Generally speaking, the rug was easy to launder. During the wash cycle, the rug didn’t cause the washer to become unbalanced, and only required one wash and dry cycle to be efficiently cleaned. With that said, one of our cats got sick on the rug, and after using our go-to stain spray, there was noticeable discoloration left behind. After using an upholstery cleaner, the rug looked brand new again.

Despite this, we recommend the rug for any pet-owning households looking for a durable and stylish rug that’s easy to throw in the washer when pet messes, dirt, spills, and more are too much to tackle on your own. 

Material: Recycled and virgin polyester | Size Range: 3 sizes, ranging from 3 x 5 feet to 6 x 9 feet | Pile Height: Not listed

Best for High-Traffic Areas

Annie Selke Malta Machine Washable Rug

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Rugs are more vulnerable to wear and tear, especially if they’re placed in front of doors, in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where people frequent the most. For those seeking a rug that can withstand high foot traffic, look no further than the Annie Selke Malta Blue Machine Washable Rug. Its durability, premium quality, and easy-to-clean material made it stand out above all the rest in this category.

We tested it in a home with two people and a dog and placed the rug in a half bathroom/half laundry room that typically has a fair share of foot traffic and activity. The room has a tile floor, which can sometimes be a nightmare for rugs in terms of slippage, but since the rug is constructed with a convenient anti-slip backing, it didn’t slide once during testing.

Unlike other options on our list, the rug is not plush and lacks a cushiony feel that you might typically expect with an area or accent rug. This quality doesn’t make it comfortable to stand or sit on for extended periods of time, so we believe it’s best for practical use. 

We were highly impressed by the premium construction and overall quality of the rug as we used it. Even with heavy foot traffic, the rug didn’t show signs of matting, damage, staining, or fading, and this also applied to after laundering it as well. It was one of the easiest washable rugs to clean in our opinion—it fit in the washer with no trouble and didn’t retain water after the spin cycle. We strayed from the care instructions, which recommends air drying the rug, and opted for the dryer because of inclement weather, and still, the rug kept its original quality. 

High traffic areas require a rug that can hold up against wear and tear, and we believe this rug does exactly that. Though we think it’s slightly overpriced, the overall durability and high quality construction makes it a worthy investment. 

Material: Polyester | Size Range: 7 sizes, ranging from 2x3 feet to 8x10 feet | Pile Height: 0.15 inches

Best for Kitchens & Dining Rooms

World Market Iman Washable Area Rug

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This polyester area rug from World Market is a fraction of the cost of Persian rugs you’ll find at other retailers, yet feels like walking on fine silk. However, it’s very thin, with little pile to speak of, so it’s not a good option if you want something thick and plush. On the other hand, we didn’t expect to take out much fiber when we brushed it. True to form, other than the rug becoming a little wispy, hardly any carpet fibers came out. 

Additionally, the rug’s thinness made it easy to vacuum, using both a robot and a regular vacuum, and the dirt we poured on came out immediately. We also spilled coffee and wine on the rug to see if the stains could be removed—the coffee stains took a little longer to come out, but in the end, we were successfully able to remove both. 

Throughout our six-month testing period, we saw no signs of deterioration in terms of staining or in texture. The rug was mostly in the same condition as when it first arrived. This rug is a deal as well as a prime choice if you want to buy additional rugs for other areas of your home. The downside is that there isn’t a wide design selection and you’ll have to buy a rug pad separately. Just note that although it’s machine washable, your washer needs to be at least 4 cubic feet for it to fit.

Material: Polyester | Size Range: 5 sizes ranging from 2 feet 6 inches x 8 feet to 5 x 7 feet | Pile Height: Not listed

Best for Bathrooms

Uphome Pom Pom Floral Rug

$66 at Amazon

Nonslip and super soft, the Uphome Round Washable Rug is a good pick to go in the bathroom, or any room where you want a kitschy look. We liked that the rug felt grippy with a rubber latex backing, which is perfect for when you’re stepping out of the tub or shower with wet feet. And while it features a tufted fiber weave, it's not that thick, making it less likely to harbor mildew. 

We found this rug to be fairly stain resistant, so you don’t have to worry about leftover residue or traces if accidents happen. It’s small and easy to fit in the washing machine, but vacuuming could pose some issues because of the fringe detailing. The pompoms have held up after six months, although they too tend to collect dust.

Six months of washing and vacuuming the rug did not reduce this rug’s quality, and it felt just as clean and soft as when first we got it. We were impressed that the rug’s rubber backing was also dryer safe.

This rug is also inexpensive, which is a bonus if you need an affordable option. It comes in multiple sizes and five cheerful colorways that would alternatively look great in a nursery or kid’s room. Just watch out for the tassels—they tend to pick up dirt and need a little extra TLC to keep them spotless.

Material: Polyester | Size Range: 4 sizes ranging from 2 feet to 5.3 feet | Pile Height: Not listed

Best for Entryways

Threshold Washable Checkerboard Plush Accent Rug

$35 at Target

Entryways are one of the first things to greet you or your houseguests upon entering your home, so having an stylish and comfortable accent rug, like the Threshold Washable Checkerboard Plush Accent Rug, can go a long way. 

Immediately, the plush texture of the rug caught our attention. It features a medium, 0.75-inch pile, and has fluffy fibers that provide a buttery-soft feel and plush cushioning, so it’s a great option to walk, stand, or even sit on for lengthy periods of time. It’s designed with a non-slip, latex backing, which held it safely in place on our floor. Though we placed the rug on a carpeted surface, we believe it’s suitable for use on hard floor surfaces like hardwood, linoleum, tile, etc., thanks to the grippy, woven backing. It’s worth mentioning that this rug isn’t designed to repel water, and when we spot tested an area and poured a tablespoon of water on it, it absorbed right away. 

Despite its delicate, soft material, the rug held up well during testing, and even with frequent foot traffic, the original fluffy texture never matted or showed signs of wear.

Washing it is simple and straightforward, too. It fit well in our washer with plenty of room to spare, and didn’t require an extra spin cycle or drying cycle to be ready for use again. One thing to note, however, is that we did notice a select number of frays on some of the rug’s fibers and felt that it lost some of its initial softness after laundering. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it may suggest that the rug could degrade with regular use and laundering over time.

With a chic checkerboard design, fluffy texture, and an easy-to-clean construction, this rug makes a great statement piece in any entryway, living room, bedroom, or home office. 

Material: Knitted polyester | Size Range: One size, 2.6 feet x 4 feet | Pile Height: 0.75 inches

Best Indoor-Outdoor

Rugs.com Washable Eco Plaid Rug

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This rug gets brownie points from us because it doubles as an outdoor rug, plus features a chic, reversible pattern so you can use it on both sides. It’s also quite plush and has a surprisingly soft texture that feels nice to stand on—not typical for an outdoor rug. 

Although we found the rug’s quality to be nicer compared to other rugs we tested, it tends to absorb stains easily, which makes us wary of making it a kitchen rug or bathroom. But it is machine washable, so you can always throw it in the washer if it gets too dirty. We also found that vacuuming was easy because we were able to suck tiny particles from all the nooks and crannies in the rug. 

A rug pad is included with the rug, which we felt didn’t do enough to keep the rug in pace. The rug often slipped around as we walked on it, so be prepared to readjust it if it’s going in a high-traffic spot. There’s no pile to speak of on the rug, as it features a braided rope texture. Due to the texture, it is recommended that you air dry it rather than place it in a dryer to keep the rug in good condition. 

Overall, the rug was durable throughout months of testing. It was low maintenance and easy for us to clean by vacuuming or washing. However, we noticed that it has a propensity to collect lint, so you’ll have to vacuum frequently for it to stay looking its best. The rug comes in rectangle, runner, and square sizes.

Material: Recycled Material | Size Range: 11 sizes, ranging 2 feet 2 inches x 3 feet to 10 x 14 feet | Pile Height: 0.75 inches

Best Shag

Ruggable Shag Rug

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It might sound risky to throw a shag rug in the washer, but with Ruggable’s Shag Rug, it’s doable. We tested this rug in every kind of way: stain tests, abrasion tests, wash tests, and more to see how well it would fare. The result? Despite a little shedding after brushing the rug, it maintained its appearance. And considering it’s a white rug, the fact that there were no visible wine or coffee stains is pretty amazing.

This rug feels soft and buttery to the touch, making it the perfect choice for anyone who wants a plush rug. Like the other Ruggable rug on our list, this shag rug has a grippy bottom thanks to the rug pad that comes with it, and you can choose a standard rug pad or a cushioned rug pad. To make sure it didn’t slide we did a Hank Aaron-inspired short-stop jump, and to our delight, it stayed put. 

While the rug did lose some softness after we washed it, its long shag hairs still felt pliable enough to move in all directions. After two months of use in a home with pets, we did find that it trapped hair (which isn’t unusual for shag rugs) and showed some discoloration. Although a simple vacuum was all it took to clean off the hair and dirt, we weren’t able to do much about the gray discoloration. 

Overall, we think this rug would be best placed in bedrooms or pet-free homes. However, if you need it for a high-traffic area of your home, we strongly suggest choosing another color besides white.

Material: Polyester with a polyurethane barrier | Size Range: 7 sizes ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 6 x 9 feet | Pile Height: 2.13-2.4 inches depending on rug pad

Best Stain-Resistant

Safavieh Easy Care Cross Area Rug

$139 at Amazon $64 at Walmart

If you’re looking for a sturdy, nonslip rug at a decent price, we recommend this area rug from Safavieh. Even though it isn’t thick, we were impressed with how soft it felt under our bare feet. It was also stain resistant: The coffee and wine we poured on it during testing easily came out with a cleaning solution. We were also able to suck all the dirt out of it with a vacuum. 

We loved its neutral yet attractive pattern which instantly brightened up our entryway. Throughout our six-month testing process, the rug stayed surprisingly clean, despite its light color. 

Debris did not stick to the fibers, and it seemed like it repelled dirt, so it was easy for us to vacuum the rug regularly. Despite experiencing its fair share of wear and tear from wet shoes, mud, dirt, and machine washes, it still looked brand-new six months later. We experienced no pilling, shedding loose threads, or fraying.

The only downside with this rug is that you have to keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent fading, so it may not work if you want to put it in a sunny spot. Nevertheless, we would definitely recommend buying it, as it's stylish and well made. 

Material: Polypropylene, jute | Size Range: 8 sizes, ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 6 x 9 feet | Pile Height: 0.25 inches

Softest

Better Homes & Gardens Blue Persian Machine Washable Faux Fur Indoor Area Rug

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A soft rug, regardless of its thickness or density, is often underrated. Sometimes spaces like dining rooms, living rooms, or bedrooms don’t require area rugs that are super plush, so if you’re looking for an option that delivers exceptional softness without being too dense or heavy, this rug from the Better Homes and Gardens Walmart line does the job, and does it well. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Southern Living’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.)

Right away, we were taken back by the luxurious feel of the rug. Despite being made from polyester, the rug has a velvety soft texture that’s comparable to faux fur, which feels wonderful on bare feet and much more premium than its price tag.

It has a 0.5-inch pile height and is very lightweight, so it’s easy to set up and launder, though we did find it difficult to vacuum it. When we attempted to vacuum the rug, it got sucked up and stuck in the vacuum for a moment, so shaking it outdoors is likely the best way to clean off mild debris due to its thin pile. 

The rug fit perfectly fine in our washer, and we didn’t experience any problems with excess water absorbency or spinning as we washed it. The rug also dried with no issue, though we did run it on an additional air fluff cycle to ensure it was fully dry. That said, the rug did lose its initial premium soft quality after laundering, but it still remained plush to the touch, so it didn’t degrade significantly. We also noticed that the rug puckered slightly, so it may be worth flattening it with a heavy object or two to help it stay flush with the floor.

Overall, we recommend this Better Homes & Gardens rug to those seeking a budget-friendly option that doesn’t sacrifice on style or quality, as we believe it’s great for decorative spaces in need of extra flair. 

Material: Polyester | Size Range: One size, 5 feet x 7 feet | Pile Height: 0.5 inches