Is Ruggable Sustainable? We Review The Internet’s Favorite Rugs

This review is not sponsored and contains the author’s personal experience. The Good Trade was gifted this product.

Key Takeaways: (Read our full review below!)

Ruggable’s washable rugs are an ideal option if you have pets, kids, or are looking to place a rug in a high-traffic area of your home.
The rug is easy to wash—it fits nicely in a standard washing machine and comes out looking brand new.
Ruggable’s rug pads & cushions (made from recycled materials) provide nice underfoot padding if you want some extra squish under your toes.
Because of the washability feature, we like that you can hang onto these rugs for years to come (keeping products out of landfills is a huge sustainability plus). That said, there are concerns about the polyurethane coating and microplastics shedding into waterways—something we’re keeping a close eye on.
Ruggable rugs also have a Prop 65 warning (as do most things in CA) for trace amounts of Methylene Chloride. While not entirely nontoxic or sustainable, the brand is making steps in the right direction and we’re excited to see how they evolve in the future.

Why We Found Ruggable Truly Lovable

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a bit of a rug obsession (compulsion?). Currently, there are *cough* seven fairly large rugs strewn about my one-bedroom apartment—and that’s not counting the rug that serves as a bathmat because, well, it just doesn’t count.

There is seemingly a rug for every corner of my home, from the 11×13 vintage silk rug that I thrifted (!!!) to the fluffy Berber rug that peeks out at the foot of my bed for an extra cozy turndown service.

All this to say, I take my rugs—and my rug shopping—seriously. So call me suspicious when a brand claims affordable and washable rugs.

If you know anything about quality rugs, you know they aren’t cheap. Sure, you can pick one up from Target or Ikea for a reasonable cost, but it likely won’t last more than a few seasons, especially with heavy foot traffic, kids, or pets. As for washable, well, that just isn’t a thing—or at least it hasn’t been until now. Traditionally, rugs have to be professionally cleaned or, if you’re lucky enough to own a steam cleaner, those can also do the trick.

“Ruggable promises both affordability and washable, stain-resistant rugs.”

But Ruggable promises both affordability and washable, stain-resistant rugs. “Need a Rug You Can Spill On? You’ve Found It” is a signature tagline on the site. Not only that, the brand touts style, comfort, no-fuss assembly, and nonslip rug pads.

The brand makes some impressive sustainability claims, too. Ruggable does not chemically treat rugs (more on this below), and they use recycled materials for the rug pads—though we’d like to see them move towards sustainable and recycled materials for the rugs themselves. The company also gives back through OneTreePlanted and is a Made in the USA business, with manufacturing facilities in California and Illinois. (P.S. Ruggable is available in the UK, too.)

So when the brand offered to send me a rug to test out, there was no way I could refuse the invitation to see what all the hype was about.

When browsing Ruggable’s site, there are seemingly hundreds of design and size options, whether you’re looking for a traditional area rug, a Persian-inspired runner, a “jute-like” circular rug, or a bright outdoor rug. I particularly love that the website is so user-friendly and gives you the option to shop by size, color, or style. Plus, each listing includes reviews and photos of the rugs in other people’s homes—and let’s be honest, we all just read the reviews and look at those photos anyway.

I opted for the Zareen Scarlet Red Rug with the Cushioned Pad System ($249) in size 2.5’x7′. The cushioned pad is 2/5″, compared to the classic pad at 1/8″ thick. The rug cover itself is also only 1/8″ thick.

When the rug arrived, it was packaged in a cardboard box with plastic wrap, which was not ideal (when I purchase authentic vintage rugs, they are generally folded and never wrapped in plastic). I personally think Ruggable could figure out some way to roll the rug and tie it with burlap string or something other than saran wrap, so I’ll be taking that up with corporate.

“The brand [claims] they are actively working to make the rugs as nontoxic as possible—but it’s worth taking into consideration as I wouldn’t consider the rugs entirely ‘nontoxic.’”

I’ll be honest: Rolling the rug out, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. The colors were vibrant and the material velvety soft. In my experience, there was no off-gassing or any of the strange smells that are often common with box store rugs. But it’s also worth noting that Ruggable has had some controversy in the past surrounding trace amounts of chemicals in the rugs (mainly Methylene Chloride, which is why they have a Prop 65 warning). Customers have posted emails from the brand in online forums where Ruggable claims they are actively working to make the rugs as nontoxic as possible—but it’s worth taking into consideration as I wouldn’t consider the rugs entirely “nontoxic.”

As for putting Ruggable together: Attaching the rug cover to the pad was simple. In fact, my husband and I were running out the door to meet a friend for dinner, but I just couldn’t wait to put the rug in place. It took mere seconds to roll the runner out and attach it to its respective pad (via the velcro corners)—it truly was a “no-fuss” process. The brand also has assembly tutorials to help with the large area rugs.

I’ve owned my Ruggable rug for about two months now, and for the first few weeks, we used it as a runner in front of the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, the nonslip promise was no match for our slick tile floors—I had to reposition it almost every evening after we finished cooking and cleaning dishes. Keep in mind, it’s just my husband and me, so I can’t imagine using this runner in a place with even more foot traffic or (if/when) we have littles running around. Rug tape is an easy fix for this though, and something that most rugs require anyway.

I’ve since moved the rug to a corner of our home with less foot traffic, and I will say, it looks quite gorgeous, even up next to authentic vintage rugs. It’s super soft underfoot, and I love that I can lie down on it to stretch, read, or cuddle with my pup—and all without coughing up dog hair, something that can’t be said for my other rugs that I literally have to “comb.”

But the real test: washing the rug. I’m here to profess it as magical as the brand makes it out to be. You only wash the cover (the pad can be spot washed with soap or household cleaner), and it soaks and spins just like any blanket or load of garments. I washed it by itself with mild detergent, and drying was also a breeze too. I tossed mine in on a gentle tumble cycle, though it’s so thin it would quickly line dry in the sun as well. No pilling or damage to be seen!

It should be noted that polyurethane (the waterproof coating on these rugs) has been linked to microplastics shedding into waterways—something we’re keeping a close eye on in the sustainability sphere, as many sustainable and ethical brands use polyurethane for athleticwear and waterproof garments. For that reason, I recommend spot cleaning the rug more often than running it through the wash.

“The real test: washing the rug. I’m here to profess it as magical as the brand makes it out to be.”

So what’s the verdict? Well, this rug snob is impressed. And I genuinely didn’t think I would be. While I prefer secondhand or vintage rugs when I can afford them, Ruggable is a sustainable-ish option with room for improvement. Because you can wash the rug and it’s easy to spot clean, it’s something you can hang onto for years to come. I would also recommend this brand for anyone who has a smaller budget (rug costs are no joke!) or is looking for something beautiful yet easy to clean—i.e. if you have kids, pets, or lots of foot traffic in your home.

For more sustainable and nontoxic rug options, check out our comprehensive rug guide.

Kayti Christian (she/her) is a Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She’s a rug aficionado and has tested dozens of vintage and sustainable rugs. She has a Master’s in Nonfiction Writing from the University of London and is the creator of Feelings Not Aside, a newsletter for sensitive people.