How to Clean and Wash Your Outdoor Rugs to Keep Them Looking Their Best

Gone are the days of throwing out your outdoor rugs at the end of the season. No matter how much dirt and mud you track or food and drinks you spill, you’ll always be able to keep your outdoor space looking its best, thanks to Ruggable’s machine-washable styles. If you’re wondering how to wash an outdoor rug, you’ve come to the right place!

Just like our indoor rugs, our outdoor rugs are super-easy to clean, making them perfect for decorating your patio, deck, or porch without worrying about the weather or spills. When your outdoor rug does get dirty, simply follow these steps to get it back to looking its best.

Step 1: Sweep away any debris

Before you put your rug in the wash, sweep or blow away any debris, such as leaves or dust, that may have accumulated on the rug. Do not use sharp instruments (like a metal rake) that may damage the woven fibers. 

Step 2: Place in the washer, design side facing out

Next, you’ll want to remove the Rug Cover from the Rug Pad and put it in the washer with the design side facing out. 

For runners, 3’x5’, and 5’x7’ outdoor rugs, a washing machine with a load capacity of 2.2 cubic feet and up will do the trick. If you own a 6’x9’ or 8’x10’ outdoor rug, you’ll need a washing machine that can accommodate 3.8 cubic feet or more.  

Step 3: Machine-wash in cold water

Machine-wash the Rug Cover in cold water on a delicate cycle using a mild, non-bleach detergent. If you’re looking for detergent tips and recommendations, some customer favorites are OxiClean White Revive, powdered Tide, and Tide Pods. 

Tip: To remove odor from your rug and keep light colors looking bright, some of our customers also recommend baking soda. For stubborn pet stains, try vinegar.

Step 4: Tumble or air-dry

Once the outdoor rug is washed, tumble-dry on low or hang it to dry. 

Step 5: Clean your Rug Pad

While our Rug Pads can’t be machine-washed, they can be spot-cleaned. Place a cloth or towel over any spills to soak up the liquid. Then wipe the surface with a spot cleaner, or give it a little wash with soapy water, rinse, and then hang to dry.

Need More Tips?

Need more tips on how to clean and wash your outdoor rug? Here’s how Ruggable rug owner @theluxmylife takes care of her outdoor rugs, Outdoor Filifera Palm Green Rug and Outdoor Cleo Trellis Natural Rug.

1. Wash as needed, or every 60 days

“I wash our outdoor rugs as needed, once every couple of months or so. It really depends on the weather. We are in the middle of pollen season and last week I stepped outside to find our outdoor rug covered with pollen and leaves. A quick sweep and a wash and the rug was like brand new!”

2. Pick a day with good weather

“Pick a sunny day when washing outdoor rugs in case you need to do a little bit of air-drying.” 

Pro Tip: While Ruggable’s Outdoor Rugs can be tumbled dried on low, Ruggable rug owners recommend letting them air-dry for best results. Try washing them in the evening and letting your outdoor rugs air-dry overnight so you aren’t without your rug for a very long time. 

3. Use a large basket for easy transport

“Have a large laundry basket handy! It helps when transporting the rug to the laundry room. It will also prevent any leftover debris from spreading all over.” 

Readers: What are your outdoor rug washing tips? Share in the comments below.