Who Has The Better Washable Rugs: IKEA Vs Ruggable

If you have an active home with children or pets, or love to throw the occasional red wine-laden dinner party, you may live in constant fear of dirt and spills on your area rugs. While the combo of spot-cleaning and vacuuming works for a while to maintain your rug, after time, it just needs a good cleaning. This means investing in a steam cleaner or calling in the professionals — both of which may cost more than buying a new rug. 

Around a decade ago, online retailer Ruggable forever changed the game by offering a wide range of machine washable rugs. IKEA has also gotten into the mix, including some washable options in its rug line. If you are looking for an entryway runner, or bath mat-sized rug to go next to your bed, IKEA's washable rugs — such as the GATUSEKTION — will work great for your needs, as they are highly rated, easy to wash, and extremely affordable. But if you need a washable rug that covers more space, you might be out of luck at IKEA. While it's not hard to find washable small rugs, bigger rugs that you can pop in the machine are far less common.

Sure, IKEA carries a small handful of washable large area rugs, but Ruggable has a huge selection of washable rugs that come in various sizes and styles. The company's two-piece system of thick, sturdy rug pad and removable decorative cover makes washing even the largest rugs surprisingly easy. 

While IKEA is one of the brands to consider when shopping for washable rugs, the range is incredibly limited. There are only two large machine washable rugs: the STARREKLINTE  and TIPHEDE. The TIPHEDE comes in two colors and three different sizes. The light brown version is either 4 by 6 feet for $12.99, or around 7 by 9 feet for $29.99; the black and white version is around 5 by 7 feet for $19.99. However, only the smaller two sizes are machine washable; the larger size is hand wash only. At $70, STARREKLINTE's 6-by-9 rug is more expensive, but it is actually machine washable. Unlike Ruggable rugs, they are not recommended for the dryer.

These rugs are thin and tend to slide around when on their own, therefore the STOPP FILT rug underlay is necessary. However, none of its four sizes line up with the rugs mentioned above, so the pad will either be too small or too large. Reviewers say the IKEA rugs come folded with creases that are very difficult to remove, and they can bunch up on top of the rug pad. Customers love that they can be thrown in the wash, but do note that shrinkage can occur. 

In today's market, price can't be ignored, and IKEA really does offer affordable washable rugs. Most customers felt the rugs were good value for the money, and were pleased they could be replaced easily if necessary. 

It's simple to wash a Ruggable rug, thanks to the removable cover. Every cover comes with a rug pad that lines up perfectly, and you can choose between a standard sized pad or thick cushioned pad. The thin decorative cover is held firmly in place with a sort of Velcro-like material and can easily be removed for washing. As for drying, most are able to tumble dry on a low heat setting, but check the individual care instructions for best results. There are 16 different size options, including door mats, runners, round rugs, and a selection of area rugs up to 10 by 14 feet. Ruggable has hundreds of beautiful prints and styles, and the company has even teamed up with Goop, Justina Blakeney, and the late Iris Apfel on designs.

There are some downsides of washable rugs, such as fading over time and the rippling that can occur over multiple washes. The larger the rug, the more difficult it is to align it to the rug pad, and the larger sizes may require two people. And if you plan to use a Ruggable rug under heavy furniture, remember you will have to remove the furniture each time you wish to wash it. 

When it comes to the number of options, styles, and overall machine washability, Ruggable rugs are the better washable rugs hands down. That said, they are more expensive than IKEA's washable rugs, so if you are on a budget, you may need to make do with IKEA's more limited selection.