I Spent Months Testing Washable Rugs in My Apartment — These 7 Are Actually Worth Your Money

Historically, I’ve never been big on rugs because they’re usually a hassle (and expensive) to clean. But when I moved into my current apartment, rugs became an absolute must. The old hardwood floors are beyond creaky, with grooves and divots that feel awkward underfoot and make me feel like every step rattles through my downstairs neighbor’s ceiling. So I needed rugs to help buffer the sound and cushion my step, while holding up to everyday wear and tear (when you live in a small space, the whole thing is a “high-traffic” area). That’s when my search for the best washable rugs began. 

Why a washable rug, you ask? For starters, they’re more low-maintenance than traditional rugs — they can go straight into your washing machine for an easy clean. They’re also usually made using durable, high-performance materials that can withstand spills, messes, and even pet hair. Best of all, they now come in a variety of styles and textures that can pull a room together. To help you find the very best washable rugs, I spent months testing options in my own home. Keep reading to find out which ones impressed me the most.

It’s important to keep in mind that the larger your rug’s size, the more space it’ll take up in your washing machine. Take stock of your machine’s size to make sure using your washable rug to its fullest potential is feasible. If your rug is 6′ x 9′ or larger, you may need to utilize a 60-pound washing machine, like the ones found at laundromats or wash-and-folds. Home washing machines usually handle around 20 to 25 pounds.

The style of your rug can determine its thickness and density, which in turn affects its ability to clean and dry well — especially in a washing machine.

• Shag: Looped and raised long-fiber yarn gives this rug type its characteristically “shaggy” and plush surface. It’s comfortable for walking and sitting on and offers a high lift off the ground.
• Rag: These rugs are quite literally crafted from rags, usually of denim or cotton, so they have a unique weave and look and are some of the most durable washable cotton rugs.
• Flat-weave: Crafted without the use of knots, flat-weave rugs are woven with vertical and horizontal threads that create intricate designs and a thin profile. The lack of bulk makes them easier to move for machine washing.
• Hand-knotted: These rugs aren’t mass-produced, so they’re usually of higher value and come at a higher price. They also can come in intricate designs, but the texture of the weave can be seen and felt more than in flat-weave rugs.
• Hand-tufted: Tufted rugs, while still more valuable than mass-produced rugs, don’t involve the intricate process of hand-knotting. Threads are punched directly onto a rug base, creating a higher, fluffier profile and the possibility for more irregular, modern designs.
• Machine-made: Possibly the most reliable option when it comes to machine washability, these rugs are usually made of synthetic materials. While a machine-made rug isn’t synonymous with cheap, they do cost less to make.
• Faux hide: Faux hide rugs are made of synthetic fibers designed to mimic the look of natural hair and fur, so these rugs give you the benefit of a plush fleece feel or smooth hide finish without the delicate nature of real animal hides.

When it comes to finding the best washable rugs, the weave and materials are particularly important. Keep in mind that shopping for a washable rug will present you with materials you might not recognize or have been told to run away from (hi, polyester!). These rugs are built for wear and tear, so their materials will reflect what they’re designed to do. That said, you’re not sacrificing feel or look for functionality with any of our winners. We’ve broken down the more prevalent materials used to make washable rugs lighter in weight and easily washable.

• Cotton: Cotton and cotton rag rugs are easy to maintain, usually rather lightweight, and soft. Because cotton is a natural fiber, it might not last as long through years of washing as synthetic fibers do.
• Polypropylene or olefin: One of the more environmentally friendly plastics, polypropylene (known generically as olefin) is recyclable and widely used — you probably have multiple items in your home now with the main fiber being polypropylene. It’s designed to look like sisal and other natural rug fibers, so you get the look of a natural rug with added durability and resilience.
• Wool: While wool rugs can be washable, they take a very long time to dry and it’s advised that you don’t use laundry detergent, as it can leave residue on the rugs’ natural fibers and cause changes in texture and discoloration.
• Viscose or rayon: Not ideal materials for washable rugs, viscose and rayon have a beautiful shine but don’t hold dye well, so soaking or machine washing isn’t advised. Even spilled water can leave a permanent stain.
• Polyester: This synthetic material is budget-friendly, stain- and fade-resistant, can be very soft to the touch, and is totally machine-washable. A little gentle detergent on the cold cycle and your polyester rug will be good as new.

Because I didn’t have the space to store 10+ rugs in my apartment, I tested options in a range of sizes in various spots around my home. I put one in my kitchen, hallway, bedroom, entryway, and home office — and tested each for about two weeks before swapping them out for another style. The majority of the ones I tested come in an extensive size range, including a 5’x7′ or similar, so you should have no problem finding one to fit your space.

As I lived with the rugs in my space, I took notes on the set-up process, my first impressions of its look and feel, and whether it bunched up at the corners while testing. To gauge whether they adequately buffered sound and had enough cushion, my husband and I walked normally across them — instead of our usual tip-toeing so as not to bug our downstairs neighbor. The creaking in our apartment is honestly so bad I can feel my husband’s footsteps reverberating through the apartment. 

I also performed a mini stain test on the rugs to see how well they spot cleaned, and packed them up to see how well they fit in the washing machine at my local laundromat (I don’t have in-unit laundry, sadly). 

Throughout the whole process, I took note of which rugs I felt myself wanting to go back to, or the ones I was hesitant to switch out to test another style. That told me I had a winner on my hands!

Cozey’s washable rug is technically a two-piece system: a thin, lightweight upper layer that easily fits in the washing machine, and modular rug pad tiles that connect like a jigsaw puzzle. Setting it up was simple; I just attached the tiles and tucked the corners into the pockets of the rug layer. It took all of five minutes, and once it was set up I didn’t have to mess with it again. The rug never slipped, the corners never curled, and it never caught in my vacuum while cleaning, even after months of testing. 

The thick, padded tiles give the rug a substantial cushion, which helps dampen the sound of my noisy wood floors. I feel like I can finally walk in my apartment freely, and I’m sure my downstairs neighbor appreciates the extra buffer, too. Cozey has washable rugs in a wide variety of styles, but I was immediately drawn to the modern, bubblegum-pink gradient design on the Troy (which also comes in brown if you prefer something more neutral). I tested the Troy as a runner in my apartment’s hallway, and it held up so amazingly; I’d recommend it for any high-traffic area.

Specifications: 

• Materials: Polyester 
• Pile: Flat/Low 
• Sizes: Available in 5 sizes

If you want the charm of an antique find but not the upkeep, Revival’s Petal Rug is for you. The Turkish folk art-inspired design looks like a vintage treasure with its beautiful floral motif and geometric border — and it’s made of a durable polyester chenille that’s easy to spot clean. 

The Petal rug’s flat, low pile feels velvety soft underfoot, and has a subtle sheen that gives it a luxurious vibe. It feels quite thick and rigid for a washable rug, so fitting it inside a standard washing machine might be tricky if you opt for a larger size. That’s partly why I’d recommend this rug for a formal living space or bedroom, where it’ll face less wear and tear. Another thing to keep in mind is that Revival rugs don’t include a rug pad, and if you decide to add one to your order, the brand has plush and low-pile options to choose from (but it’ll need to be cut down to the size of your rug). 

Specifications: 

• Materials: Polyester 
• Pile: Flatweave 
• Sizes: Available in 5 sizes

I’m naming Tumble’s washable rug as the best option for families because not only is it one of the softest options I tried (great for kids’ playtime on the floor!), but it’s also one of the thinnest, so it’s super easy to toss in the washing machine (no matter the size) for regular maintenance. I put mine in my kitchen, where spills are essentially guaranteed, and I was pretty impressed with how easily I was able to spot-clean errant sauce stains … and an unfortunate fruit juice explosion that leaked out of my fridge. Liquids linger on top of the rug, giving me plenty of time to wipe them up and prevent staining. Plus, the cushiony, ¼-inch-thick foam rug pad tiles offer comfortable padding underfoot while I wash dishes and prepare meals. 

And how cute is the checkerboard design? It gave my kitchen an old-school vibe and helped cheat the look of checkerboard tiles. However, because the rug is so thin, it does bubble away from the rug pad on occasion (but smooths out with a little help), and catches in my vacuum, so I have to stretch it taut to keep it from getting sucked up. It’s a small price to pay for being able to fit it in the wash, if you ask me. I also appreciate that Tumble includes rug grips to keep the corners of the rug securely adhered to the floor. 

Specifications: 

• Materials: Polyester 
• Pile: Low 
• Sizes: Available in 7 sizes

Out of all the washable rugs I tested,this Annie Selke rug is uniquely suited to foyers or entryways due to its low pile that handles constant foot traffic and crusty shoes. It’s just thin enough to make machine-washing a breeze, and even though it doesn’t include a rug pad I didn’t experience any slipping or sliding. Granted, it’s not the most cushiony rug I’ve ever tried at only 1/7th of an inch thick, but you can always buy a pad separately if you want to. 

This isn’t a rug you’re buying to cozy up a room, in other words. It’s a durable option that I’d choose again and again to make a stylish first impression. The boho design features a geometric diamond pattern in a palette of lavender, pink, brown, and a golden-hour orange — it’s like a Southwestern sunset in rug form. And the color palette offers plenty of opportunities to coordinate with other decorative accents in my apartment. 

Specifications: 

• Materials: Polyester 
• Pile: Low 
• Sizes: Available in 7 sizes

I’ll admit, I didn’t think “washable” and “shag” could exist in the same sentence — especially at a price point this affordable. But this Rugs USA optionmade me a believer. Power-loomed into a plush medium pile, it’s the perfect level of fluffiness at only 0.65 inches thick. The shorter polyester fibers give me all the luxe softness of a high-pile shag without the matting or shedding. And unlike a regular shag rug, this one is just thin and pliable enough to fit in the washing machine without any coaxing. 

I keep a runner version of this rug in my bedroom, and have adored setting my feet on its plush, ultra-soft texture first thing upon waking. But I’m convinced you could put this rug almost anywhere (even your bathroom!) because it’s so stain-resistant and easy to clean. The only thing is it doesn’t include a rug pad, but I find that the rug grips my floor just fine without sliding, and feels plenty comfortable underfoot without one. 

Specifications: 

• Materials: Polyester 
• Pile: Low 
• Sizes: Available in 13 sizes

This Lorena Canals rug is pure coziness in a fluffy mid-pile and stylish tartan pattern. Made by hand using a cotton-fiber blend, it feels plush and toasty underfoot, so it’s the perfect way to warm up a cold-feeling bedroom, home office, or living room. I was dubious about how washable it really is, but was delighted to find that the 4.5’x6.5’-size rug I tested fits seamlessly into the washing machine. While the longer fibers do take a bit longer to dry, it only took a few cycles to finish the job. 

I also can’t get enough of the red tartan motif. Arranged in my home office, it’s the most beautiful “unexpected red,” and gives the space a cozy, almost academic feel. And if the red isn’t for you, Urban Outfitters carries the rug in a soft neutral pink color and a beige-blue combo that are both just as gorgeous.

Specifications: 

• Materials: Cotton, Fiber 
• Pile: Mid  
• Sizes: Available in 2 sizes

Take one look at the All-In-One Tufted Rug from Ruggable’s collaboration with London-based fashion brand RIXO, and you’ll see why it’s the statement pick on my list. Its eye-catching tapestry print features a fabulous cast of characters — like lions, flowers, butterflies, and woodland creatures — that pop against the rug’s dark base color, while a contrasting jewel-toned border gives it a unique vintage flair. 

Looks aside, this washable rug is one of the more convenient options on this list because there’s zero assembly required. A non-slip backing is already built into the 7mm-thick design, so there’s no need to buy any separate padding. What’s more, the polyester material feels comfortable underfoot but still heavy-duty enough for high-traffic areas like my kitchen, and it’s treated with a waterproof barrier for extra protection against spills.

Specifications: 

• Materials: Polyester 
• Pile: Low   
• Sizes: Available in 11 sizes

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