“That rug really tied the room together!” the Dude laments in The Big Lebowski after assailants break into his apartment and destroy his rug. If only he’d had a washable rug! Now—thank goodness—we have choices at our fingertips when it comes to machine-washable floorscapes. But how to choose? Ruggable and Revival are both e-commerce companies that sell an array of washable classic and trendy rugs direct to consumers. Their price points are comparable (and quite reasonable), so what’s the difference? Ruggable vs. Revival? I tested machine-washable rugs from both brands—here are my reviews and ultimate takeaways.
Ruggable vs. Revival: Which Machine-Washable Rug Is the Better Investment?
An honest review
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Published Oct 7, 2023
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Dara Katz/Revival
What’s the Difference Between Ruggable and Revival?
The main difference between the two brands is that Ruggable sells only machine-washable rugs (with literally more than a thousand options, including many collaborations, to boot) using a unique two-piece “system” composed of a rug pad and a cover. The cover is the rug part, or the design that you see and stand/lay/roll around on—this is the machine-washable portion. The pad goes beneath it, offering the necessary non-slip traction and, depending on which thickness you purchase, some ergonomic support. The cover must be rolled out and spread evenly onto the pad, which has a Velcro effect. When you wash your rug, you peel the cover from the pad and then reconnect when clean and dry. Though there is the option to purchase these parts separately, the rug pad and rug cover come together as a unit when purchased and are meant to function together as a two-part system.
Revival, on the other hand, does sell machine-washable rugs, (as of publication, 54 design options), but that’s in addition to non-machine washable options like jute, vintage, Turkish, Moroccan, kilim and more. Their machine-washable rugs are just like regular rugs, no special pad or Velcro-ing action involved (although a regular rug pad is recommended for non-slip safety).
How I Tested the Rugs
I’ve had a Ruggable runner for a couple years already in my kitchen where we spend a lot of time cooking, prepping and cleaning at the sink, so I placed the Revival machine-washable rug in an equally high-traffic area in my home: the foyer. Anyone who walks into our home trods over it with their dirty shoes. I gave the Revival three months of testing time, plus three washes, to see how it fared compared to the Ruggable. My considerations were focused on how the rugs held up to washes and spot cleanings and the quality, appearance and feel of the rugs.
Dara Katz
My Ruggable Review
Ruggable
- Appearance: 18/20
- Comfort: 15/20
- Washability: 20/20
- Value: 19/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Total: 90/100
In 2019, we ordered a Ruggable runner with an indigo shibori design. It’s a bohemian style and bright color that I hadn’t really seen before at such an affordable price point—win-win—and I still love the design. Though it’s no longer available, a very comparable one is the Diamond Shibori in Navy ($149 for a 2.5’x7’ standard flatwoven runner). The brand currently offers a lot more options to toggle between than when I purchased mine. Not only are there a bajillion patterns and styles, but you can also choose the shape and size (area, round or runner), the rug cover (flatwoven 2mm or tufted 7mm) and rug pad (standard or cushioned). The 2mm flatwoven cover—like the one I have—is a low-profile, chenille texture designed for under doorways, rolling furniture and dining room tables. The 7mm indoor-only pad tufted is thicker and nonslip and offers “extra padding for playrooms, living spaces and kitchens.”
Reading about the rug cover and pad is probably confusing, no? And the thing with Ruggable is that the two-part system is a bit tedious and definitely imperfect. It can be challenging (and frustrating) to roll the cover over the pad so that it perfectly lines up on all sides and corners. If you’re a perfectionist who’d be bothered by a rolled-up corner here or a rug pad line there, you might want to pop a Xanax.
If you opt for a low-pile design with the standard 1/8-thick pad like I did, you might look at it as more of a cute mat than a rug-rug. If I were to purchase one again, I’d go for the cushioned pad. At only 1/8-inches thick, my current pad doesn’t offer much support or comfort while standing at the sink doing dishes night after night. My friend who has a Ruggable in her living room, however, opted for the cushioned pad, and walking on that thing, even with the flatwoven design, is far more supportive and comfortable.
But I’d argue that the point of a Ruggable is really its washability, and very washable my Ruggable is. There is nothing quite like the peace of mind I get knowing that I can spill turmeric-orange curry or ruby red tomato sauce on it, and then spot clean or toss it in the wash. And for the most part, despite taking quite the beating, it’s come through stain-free—likely thanks to its Polyester material with a polyurethane water-resistant barrier. Though the brand offers a whole instruction package for every type of rug, the gist for the flatwovens is that you can really just toss ‘em in the machine on delicate and cold with a non-bleach detergent. Hang or machine dry based on your preference. Yes, the bright indigo color has faded quite a bit over the years (I dry mine until it’s nice and toasty because I’m lazy), but considering I can rip it off the floor like a Band-Aid and toss it in the wash, I’ll take it.
Finally, knowing how affordable the rugs are compared to other major area rug retailers (West Elm, Crate & Barrel, CB2) and how many more customizable options—from design to shape and size to cushion thickness—I think I’ll definitely be a returning customer when I’m ready for a new kitchen runner.
Dara Katz
My Revival Review
Revival
- Appearance: 20/20
- Comfort: 19/20
- Washability: 16/20
- Value: 19/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Total: 94/100
The Revival washable rugs are definitely more “ruggy” than the standard Ruggable cover + pad. There’s no two-part system to get used to. I ordered the Maru round in Bone Beige (from $199). Made of 100 percent recycled polyester (and OEKO-TEX certified, which means they’ve been tested for harmful substances to protect your health.), the rug is considerably plush and cushioned. It doesn’t look like it, but it’s shockingly washable. The brand recommends techniques for different sizes. For example, for rugs over 5’x8’, they suggest using one of those 60-pound machines you see at a laundromat, or even dry cleaning it. But for under 5’x8’, their directions follow to machine wash with like colors on delicate with a gentle detergent.
Before we fully washed the rug, though, we just vacuumed it regularly. It was placed in a high-traffic area of our home—and you could tell. The rug color tells no lies. Every time I saw a dirt track, my heart stopped. “I shouldn’t have gone with ‘Bone Beige’!” I’d lament. But a simple vacuum sweep truly brought the piece back to life. When I finally did wash the rug in the machine, I was a bit nervous. While I have no problem drying the Ruggable cover, I opted to line dry the Revival to keep its texture integrity. Revival is certainly washable, but it’s not water-resistant, so I fear if I spilled a drop of curry on it, I’d have to live with the remnants of that mistake for the rest of my life.
The trade-off, however, is that the Revival rug looks and feels more luxe. I don’t look at it and immediately clock it for a washable area rug solution. Instead, it’s like a really chic piece of interior design. And that goes for the entire Revival collection—the offerings are more curated. Overall, the designs are smart, subtle, modern and stylish. Plus, the affordable price point for its quality, an aspect built into the company’s ethos, is very attractive.
Ruggable vs. Revival Bottom Line
When it comes to washability and customizable options, Ruggable is the clear winner. The two-part system is annoying but serves a function. The brand offers countless designs for any type of room, including fun collabs like Barbie, The Home Edit and Disney. Nearly every design comes with the options of several sizes and shapes, thickness and rug pad. Plus, it’s convenient. Orders (made-to-order) take between one and two weeks with free shipping.
As for appearance, quality and comfort, it’s Revival. The overall design edit is more sophisticated. So if you’re a paradox-of-choice sufferer, the brand is definitely offering less–is-more when it comes to selection. And while Ruggable was created with a washable-first model, Revival opened shop to be an answer to the general lack of transparency, unreasonable prices, and poor-quality replicas in the rug market, and I think they’re living up to that goal. That also means that they offer fewer pieces with longer shipping periods (mine took about three weeks, for example)—that said, shipping is also free. (Definitely check to see when your rug of choice would actually ship, because it varies). Both brands offers returns. Revival offers free returns up to the 30 days for store credit or refunds with a $20 restock fee. Ruggable’s policy is the same with a $25 processing fee per item.
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