My New Rug Made My Bedroom Way Cozier — And Easier to Clean!

Since I moved into my one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn two years ago, I (and probably my downstairs neighbors,  too) have been dying to replace the thin, boring rug in my bedroom. Until recently, I had been using an 8×10’ flatweave carpet, borrowed  from my mom’s house, which was only meant to be a temporary fix. While I actually liked the rug’s warm beige tone, it was not at all soft, stylish, or particularly sound reducing. It also ended up being an awkward size for the space. 

However, my search stalled time and time again. The problem? My cat spends most of her time in my bedroom, which means it’s full of fur, tracked litter, and the occasional midnight hairball. So I knew whichever rug I ended up with would have to be easy to clean, too; And ideally, that would mean something washable. But I just didn’t love the look or feel of most of the traditional washable rugs I came across. 

So when I learned that one of my favorite sources for vintage rugs, Revival, was now making washable, high-pile, hand-woven wool rugs — I knew I had to jump on the opportunity to try one. 

• A soft, high-pile washable wool rug (yes, it can go straight into the washing machine!) 
• A subtle geometric design available in three gorgeous colors
• Flexible silicone backing that helps it fit more easily in the washer
• Woven from New Zealand wool, a durable natural fiber
• Sustainable and handmade

What made Revival’s washable wool rugs stand out is the fact that they’re some of the most plush — and most stylish — washable rugs on the market. Higher pile rugs can be trickier to clean, but using a natural fiber like wool makes these ones super easy to just toss in the wash. After a lot of deliberation, I eventually decided on the Gearhart in Taupe for my bedroom. I loved the neutral dark beige shade, and knew it would look good with my darker, neutral wood floors and floral patterned headboard. 

On top of that, I fell in love with the geometric cut-pile design of the rug. My apartment and design style is an ever-evolving combination of modern and vintage influences, and this one felt like the perfect blend of the two. It almost looks like an old Moroccan rug, but the monochrome tonal geometric pattern has a bit of a modern edge. It also keeps the overall design feeling simple, but adds a bit more visual intrigue than a solid rug might have.

While I could’ve gone with a much larger rug, I made the potentially controversial choice to order a smaller size, 5×8’ — though I think it works well in the space, as it’s perfectly aligned with my queen bed. This was mostly because I wanted to be absolutely sure that I could fit the rug into my building’s ancient laundry machines. The pliable backing Revival uses (which feels pretty unique in the washable rug market) makes the rugs “supple” enough to “easily squish” into a washing machine. This is especially ideal if you live in an apartment, use a laundromat, or have a smaller washing machine at home.. 

As I said above, I’ve stayed away from high pile rugs so far since they so easily trap cat fur, loose litter, claws, etc. — none of which are pleasant to step on with bare feet first thing in the morning. Still, I needed something thick to muffle my creaky floorboards and be softer under my feet. Right out of the box, the Gearhart was plush and perfect-looking; though it did start to pick up that dirt and detritus pretty quickly. 

For the sake of science, I let the rug get fairly dirty before washing it for the first time. I vacuumed it a few times since it shed a bit initially (as expected), but I waited until my cat Phoebe had one of her lovely hairballs (gross) before finally putting it in the wash. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous to wash the rug; if you’ve ever accidentally shrunk a wool sweater, you probably understand. But I didn’t notice any shrinkage at all. According to the brand, the rugs aren’t any more shrink-prone than the average synthetic washable rug.

When at long last it was time to wash my new rug, unfortunately, all of the large machines in my building were taken… for hours. So I did end up taking it down to the laundromat just this once. (However, it looks like it’ll fit just fine into those larger machines in the future.) Revival recommends washing on a delicate setting with just about a tablespoon of unscented detergent. I used my go-to from Trader Joe’s. The brand does warn that when wet, the rug may smell slightly of sheep (a scent I’m admittedly not very familiar with), but if it did I didn’t notice. 

The wash cycle got the hairball stains out easily after about 30 minutes — then, I simply popped it in the dryer on low for about an hour. Then I tossed it in the dryer for about 60 minutes on low, et voilà! Once dry, my rug looked good as new; Better, even. It’s noticeably softer, and the shedding has lightened up a bit. As with any rug made from natural fibers, some shedding should be expected, but a quick weekly vacuum will keep the woolen dust bunnies at bay. 

Based on my experience so far with the Gearhart, absolutely. Any of Revival’s washable wool rugs would make a great choice for a lot of different homes, styles, and situations. The designs are versatile, as is the rug itself, being so easy to clean! I’d recommend Revival’s wool rugs to anyone looking for: 

• The style and quality of a vintage rug, but easier to clean
• An actually plush and pet-friendly rug
• Something safe and comfortable for kids
• A timeless modern touch
• A budget-friendly, durable rug that will stand the test of time

Buy:  Revival’s Gearhart Washable Wool Rug, 5×8’: $449