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Living with Washable Rugs: Tips, Tricks, and Everything Else to Know

December 17, 2021 by Elizabeth Wieck

You finally pulled the trigger and bought yourself a washable rug—congrats! Welcome to a brand new world of worry-free rugs. Washable rugs are becoming more and more a part of everyday life—and all for the better. Now all you have to do is learn to live alongside them! You may be wondering: What’s the best way to roll one out? How do I wash them? How often do I wash them? We’ve got all your answers here. Keep reading to learn all about living with washable rugs, and how it couldn’t be easier! 

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living with washable rugs
Our Mona Pinstriped Sunset Wool Washable rug. Photo by @fitz_thedood.

Rolling Out Your Washable Rug

Here’s one of the (many!) great things about Rugs USA washable rugs: They’re ready to roll out right out of the box! Our washables come in one piece, meaning there’s no need to painstakingly attach and align them with a pesky bottom layer. 

If you’re wanting to add a little extra cushion, feel free to layer one of our rug pads underneath—although it’s not essential if you don’t want to deal with the extra layer. And speaking of, our washable rugs make great layering pieces too. Try them layered over an existing rug, like a woven jute style, or on top of installed carpet, for a fresh new look. 

Your washable rug may initially have some slight bumps or creases in it when you first roll it out. And that’s totally ok! These will all flatten out over time. If you want to speed up the process, try placing a couple heavy books on top.

tips for living with washable rugs
Our Timeworn Tribal Washable rug. Image by @simplyedgewood.

Living Alongside Washable Rugs

Everything you do on a regular rug, you can do on a washable rug! Their durability makes them an especially great choice for entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, kids’ spaces, rooms where your pet hangs out, and any area that sees a high level of foot traffic. 

So once you’ve rolled out your washable rug, you can go ahead and live life like you normally would. You can walk on them with shoes (even muddy ones!), run around and have playtime with kids, do a messy craft project, or serve a crumbly snack. The only difference is that you don’t have to worry. And what’s not to like about that?

washable rugs
Our Hazy Heraldry Washable rug. Photo by @sincerelysophie.

Rolling Up Your Washable Rug

You’ve made a mess on your washable rug—now what? It’s time to roll it up! And truly: It couldn’t be easier. Carefully move any furniture sitting on top, then roll or pull up the rug. That’s it! Because Rugs USA washable rugs have a unique one-piece design, you don’t have to mess with detaching the rug from a base layer (and reattaching once it’s clean!).

Our Cartouche Medallion Washable rug. Photo by @lacasasunrise.

How to Clean Your Washable Rug

No matter how you’re cleaning your washable rug, it’s going to be easy. We’ll walk you through how to clean it—both on a regular basis, and when it gets messy! 

How to Vacuum a Washable Rug

When it comes to regular maintenance and living with washable rugs, your vacuum is your best bet for keeping yours clean and in good condition. So include your washable rug in your regular vacuuming rotation, whether it’s every few days or once a week. Just be sure to switch your vacuum to the lowest power setting when going over your washable. They’re slightly thinner than regular rugs, so the highest setting can be a little too powerful. 

Have a robot vacuum? That works too! Robot vacuums are totally safe to use with your washable rug. Talk about being easy to clean!

Washing a Washable Rug

When your kids, pets, or guests (or you!) make the inevitable mess on your rug, that means it’s time to throw it in the wash. Before doing that, get up any larger pieces of food, dirt, or whatever was spilled on the rug. Be careful NOT to rub the mess in! This will push the debris further into the fibers, and make it harder for the washing machine to do its job.

Then, simply place the rug in your washing machine with a mild detergent (no bleach!), and wash in cold water on a gentle cycle. We know it may be hard to believe, but yes: Rugs USA washable rugs will fit in your washer—they’re designed to be washed in standard, non-commercial-sized washers and dryers.

Drying a Washable Rug

Your rug is clean, and now it’s time to dry it. You have two options: First, you can tumble dry the rug in your dryer without heat or on an air-only cycle. Or, you can hang it to dry by draping it over railing or elevating it between two surfaces. Either way, be sure your rug is completely dry before laying it back down. Any dampness that remains in the rug can cause damage to your floors or furniture. If you have a thicker washable rug, like one made of wool or a shag style, allow a little extra time for drying.

Our Crystalline Medallion Washable rug. Photo by @fitz_thedood.

How Often to Wash Your Rug

How often should you wash your washable rug? Well, that depends on how dirty it gets! Whenever something is spilled on the rug, don’t hesitate to throw it in the wash. But if your rug is kept relatively clean, feel free to vacuum it routinely to keep it looking fresh. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to wash it in your machine once a month or so to really get it clean. 

Either way, there’s no need to worry about over-washing your rug. Rugs USA washable rugs are designed to be regularly run through the washing machine, and will maintain their bright colors and patterns no matter how often you wash them.

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Filed Under: Advice & Experts, All Articles Tagged With: Family-Friendly, Shopping Advice, Washable Rugs

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