I Finally Tried Ruggable’s New All-in-One Washable Rug – Here’s My Honest Opinion as a Devoted Wool Snob
I tried Ruggable’s new single-piece, machine-washable rug in my own living room to see if it could convert a skeptic
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I’d flirted with the idea of a Ruggable for years – largely for the designer cachet, if I’m being honest. You're telling me that I can have a 6’ x 9’ living room anchor designed by Jonathan Adler, the Hiltons – even the late, great Iris Apfel – for $599? Tempting. And as a New Yorker, I’ll take any excuse to wage war on the layer of city grime that insists on making itself at home in my apartment.
Still, I never pulled the trigger. As a bit of a wool-or-nothing rug snob, I was dubious about polyester earning any inch of real estate on my charming pre-war floors. Besides, the task-averse Aquarius in me was deeply uninterested in the idea of a two-piece system.
As a longtime washable-rug skeptic, here’s what actually happened once it hit my floors.
Like the original two-part system, the new All-in-One Rug is water-resistant, stain-resistant, and machine-washable – just without the assembly. The whimsical zebra rug style I chose, like the majority on the Ruggable site, is tufted, which gives the design structure and clarity. But if you prefer something softer underfoot, a small selection of Plush All-in-One Rugs is available in a denser, cushiony pile, which is a great option for bedrooms.
First Impressions
The mostly black background does wonders anchoring my apartment living room.
When I spotted the box in my building’s package area, my first thought was: that’s it? I’d mentally prepared for a hulking roll – the sort of 'investment piece' that might require me to phone a friend for assistance. Instead, it arrived in a box not much larger than one of my standard online shopping hauls. It was light enough that I stacked two other packages on top and carried everything upstairs in one trip.
As someone who equates heft with quality, I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
My wool-or-nothing bias was flaring, but I persisted, rolled up my old harlequin diamond rug, and unfurled the moody parade of prancing Zebras (Scalamandré’s 1945 motif originally drawn for Gino’s of Capri). The swap took minutes, and as I had hoped, the look of my living room massively shifted.
With a pattern this offbeat, the visual impact wasn’t exactly shocking. What was unexpected, though, was the feel. For something so slim in profile, it felt unexpectedly plush – not shaggy, but softly cushioned in a way that read far more luxe than I’d anticipated. The only tell of its thinness, really, is that crumbs and lint don’t vanish into a forgiving wool pile. You see what’s there, which means I vacuum more often now.
Objectively, that’s not a flaw – just a different maintenance rhythm than I was used to.
Washing Experience
Up close, she still holds her own. No, it doesn't feel like an ultra-high-pile, Nordicly-knotted treasure – but it certainly doesn’t scream flimsy machine-made either.
Washing is already a sore subject for me. I don’t have an in-unit washer. I don’t even have an in-building washer. The only fluff-and-fold I trust is three flights down and three blocks away, meaning anything that needs laundering becomes no small form of cardio.
Still, the rug’s lightness made this unremarkably easy. I folded it back down to roughly the size it arrived in, slid it into my usual laundry bag, and carried it over. I genuinely didn’t notice the weight.
At the counter, I handed the rug to my favorite laundry lady and said, ‘This is a rug.’ Then I recited the Tufted All-in-One care instructions: machine wash cold with mild, non-bleach detergent. No bleach. No fabric softener. Tumble dry low. Possibly twice – or even thrice at this size (Ruggable does say smaller sizes can air-dry flat, but mine required the full cycle.)
When I came back later that evening, I asked how it went. Easier than washing my bedding, she said. Duly noted.
I brought it home, sprawled it back across the floor, and it looked exactly the same. No warping. No curling. Just zebras, calmly continuing their parade.
How Did it Wear?
Not much to report here. Even with a steady stream of city shoes crossing it daily (plus one field trip to the cleaners), the surface looks unchanged. No fading from the sun or noticeable thinning of any kind.
Earlier, I mentioned vacuuming more often to keep this area rug clean. That’s still true. Ruggable advises against high suction or aggressive attachments if you want to preserve the softness, so I kept mine fairly gentle. I suspect that has a lot to do with why it still looks so impressively… the same.
And in this case, no news is very good news.
Final Thoughts
Ruggable's All-in-One rugs are surprisingly lightweight, so even at 6’ x 9’, I had no trouble laying it down solo.
Before this rug, I was actively budgeting for a New Zealand hand-tufted wool rug that would’ve swallowed half a month’s paycheck. This Ruggable satisfied that craving – and then some. Not just because it looks good (though I, and every guest, have grown quite fond of those little leaping zebras), but because it’s proven itself borderline indestructible. Even after a minor match mishap (a lit one briefly hit the floor), the rug emerged entirely unscathed. Fire-resistant, apparently.
Would I buy another? Absolutely. I still have my eye on the Tigre Gold – perhaps for my stairs – but more importantly, this experience cured me of my washable-rug skepticism. If Ruggable’s All-in-One system can convert a wool-or-nothing snob like me, I suspect it might surprise you, too.
More Ruggable x Scalamandré
Even if you’re sure about Ruggable at this point, you still might be unsure about sizing – I know I was. Before ordering, I cross-checked Homes & Gardens' Ultimate Rug Size Guide and realized my previous rug was actually underscaled. I sized up, and the difference is dramatic.
