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Into the Wash: The Ruggable Blog

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4 Things to Consider When Shopping for a Pet-Friendly Rug

June 7, 2019
Hudson Stripe Black

Pets are adorable. Whether you consider yourself a dog person, a cat person, or just someone who enjoys the company of a furry friend, we all see our pets as part of the family.

This is why it’s important to consider our pets when shopping for furniture or home decors—particularly, area rugs and runners. Rugs are not only a magnet for pet hair, they can also be a hotbed of major mishaps and accidents, especially if your dog or cat is still teething or getting toilet-trained. And because rugs don’t come cheap, you’d want something that can withstand those clumsy claws and thumping tails.

Thankfully, you don’t have to compromise your personal style over your pet’s comfort. Here we asked Ruggable’s pawrents (pet parents) what they consider when buying a pet-friendly rug, as well as some tips on how to make your home the purrfect pet sanctuary.

1. The Rug’s Pile and Material

The rug’s pile refers to the length and density of the fabric. A high pile feels plush against your feet and even offers pets a comfy place to snooze, but that could also mean trouble for your pup or cat.

“My dog Axle has a lot of skin irritation,” shares graphic design manager, Kayla Gregg. “He’s not a big shedder but we have a fair amount of dander. When our rugs are too thick or high-pile, we find that the rug holds on to a lot of that dander, which irritates his skin. He also LOVES to drag his belly across all of our rugs, adding to this.”

“Cowboy, which is a mini Aussie mix, tends to chew on things that aren’t his toys, so I have to be cautious about what I have around,” adds creative coordinator, Mariane Zaratan. “This is why I opt for rugs that are easy to clean and don’t have too much pile that my dog could possibly start eating.”

Recommendation: A low-pile rug is not only easy to maintain but is also less susceptible to dirt and dander. In case you’re wondering, Ruggable rugs are lightweight and low-pile—only 1/8th of an inch thick—and made from materials that are safe for kids and pets.

2. Colors and Patterns

As rugs tend to collect pet hair, Tal Halpern, director of retention and mom to Nala, a goldendoodle, suggests choosing a design that not only complements the rest of your home decor but one that can also disguise your pet’s fur.

Recommendation: “A rug with a multicolor pattern doesn’t just make your space interesting but can also draw the eye away from paw prints, stains and pet hair,” she says.

3. Nonslip Feature

With pets and little ones running all over the house, the last thing you want is a slippery surface.

Recommendation: If you have hardwood floors or tiles in your kitchen or living room, an area rug or runner with a rubber back or a no-skid pad will help anchor it firmly to the ground.

“Whenever Junior (an English bulldog) runs around the house or plays with his toys, my rug pad keeps my rug in place so I don’t have to reposition it all the time,” says Typhaine Meyers, E-commerce manager. “It also helps prevent accidents and provides a safe space for him to play in.”

4. Stain-Proof, Spill-Proof and Water-Resistant Material

Even if your pets are potty-trained, accidents could still happen. And while wool and shag rugs could easily make a space look more luxurious, they could also be a nightmare to clean.

“We’ve always preferred rugs that could handle being cleaned in some form: vacuuming, steam cleaning, even just buying sizes that we could easily pick up and shake out outside,” says Kayla. “We tried having a shag once, and we all loved it. Axle probably more than us because it was very comfy for him, but we just could not clean it.”

Recommendation: Stain-resistant rugs will save you time and extend the life of your rug.

At Ruggable, we swear by rugs that can be easily washed and spot-cleaned. Our rug pads are made of polyester, which can be easily wiped or cleaned with soap and water, so you don’t have to worry about lingering stinks. The rug cover, on the other hand, is completely machine washable. It’s also stain resistant and has an internal water-resistant barrier that keeps liquid from seeping onto the floor.

When it comes to designing a pet-friendly environment, it’s all about creating a harmonious living space that’s not only easy to clean but also something that your pets will feel easily at home in. If you’re on the market for one, don’t forget to check out Ruggable’s best-selling dog rugs

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26 Comments


Ms.Galen Hazelhofer
September 27, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Reply

Can these rugs be used on top of a carpet or be used outside on top of a cement patio? Because that’s where I would need them.

Thanks.



    RUGGABLE
    September 27, 2019 at 7:43 pm
    Reply

    Hi Ms. Galen Hazelhofer,

    We typically don’t recommend using Ruggable over carpet as our non-slip rug pad was designed for hard surface floors. And though we haven’t tried Ruggable on a cement patio ourselves, we’ve heard good reviews from customers who have chosen to do so 🙂

Michele Somers
September 27, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Reply

I love my ruggable rugs! I have 3 dogs and these are great!



Barbara
September 27, 2019 at 7:39 pm
Reply

Can any of your rugs be used outdoors?



    mm
    Gracee Tolentino
    June 15, 2020 at 7:06 pm
    Reply

    Hi Barbara, we’re happy to announce that we now have rugs specifically for outdoor use. Check it out here: https://ruggable.com/pages/outdoor-rugs.

Laura Shoresm
September 27, 2019 at 7:39 pm
Reply

Can you vacuum these rugs?
I love the idea of easy to clean rugs.



    RUGGABLE
    September 27, 2019 at 7:44 pm
    Reply

    Hi Laura and thank you for reaching out. Yes, Ruggable can be vacuumed but we do recommend using low suction settings for our low pile system. If you own a high suction vacuum, we suggest using the attachments instead.

anne
September 27, 2019 at 7:39 pm
Reply

Please make larger rugs – 9 × 12, 10 × 14! 8×10 is too small for what I’m looking for. Would LOVE to buy larger rugs from you. Thank you!!



Judi
September 27, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Reply

Can your rugs be used on carpet?



    RUGGABLE
    September 27, 2019 at 7:45 pm
    Reply

    Hi Judi and thank you for reaching out. We typically don’t recommend using a Ruggable over carpet. Our Non-slip Rug Pad was designed for hard surface floors.

Peggy Kaufman
September 27, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Reply

I LOVE YOUR RUGS❣️



Dot Thomas
September 27, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Reply

Do you have round rugs? Would love a round in the dining room!



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    July 15, 2020 at 11:01 pm
    Reply

    Hi, Dot! We are happy to inform you that our Round Rug Collection is back! We’ve linked it for you here: https://bit.ly/3gC9opm 🙂

Sarah Walsh
September 27, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Reply

Can I add a thicker pad underneath? We have a new toddler and need more padding



    RUGGABLE
    September 27, 2019 at 7:46 pm
    Reply

    Hi Sara and thank you for reaching out! Though we do not offer a thicker rug pad at this time, we’ve heard great reviews from customers who have chosen to add an additional rug pad from other sources.

Janey
September 27, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Reply

I left a review when I first got my rug, but wanted to add the bonus feature I’ve discovered with time: this rug does not show dirt! I’m pretty sure I’ve not suddenly become a less messy cook. Still wish you’d offer the runners in a 10 or 10.5’ length, and that you’d offer the option of a more cushy pad. Standing on it, as I often do in the kitchen, gets tiring.



    RUGGABLE
    September 27, 2019 at 7:46 pm
    Reply

    Hi Janey and thanks for sharing your experience with us! We’re so glad to hear you are enjoying your washable rug. We don’t have any new sizes in the works at this time —-but we would be happy to send your suggestion along to the design team 🙂 Stay tuned…

Nancy
September 27, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Reply

Love the fact that your rugs are washable. What I don’t like is the “worn” or “distressed “ look . Some even look as though they’ve been washed several times.



    RUGGABLE
    September 27, 2019 at 7:46 pm
    Reply

    Thanks for your feedback, Nancy. We have some wonderful non-distressed rug options too. 🙂

Diane
September 27, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Reply

I currently have thick padding under my dinning room. Can I place the rubber padding on top and then your carpet? I live in an apartment and try not to make too much noise for my neighbor downstairs.



Carole
September 27, 2019 at 7:42 pm
Reply

I need runners for my halls



Lori
July 1, 2020 at 11:57 pm
Reply

My dog sheds a lot. Is it easy to get pet hair out of these rugs?



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    July 15, 2020 at 11:00 pm
    Reply

    Great question, Lori! For pet hair concerns, we’d suggest using a silicone brush for pets to remove excess hair from the Rug Pad. Sweeping or vacuuming on the lowest setting can also be a great option for removing pet hair. 😊

Kate
July 15, 2020 at 3:06 pm
Reply

Hi Ruggable folks! I have two ruggables in my house and I love them, however, recently I’ve noticed a problem. It appears that several urine stains on only one of my rugs have not gone away after being washed in the machine. It should be noted, that the “fresh” stains were not discovered until several hours after they probably occurred. I also did not spot treat my ruggable with any treatment cleaner before washing using my regular detergent. Do you recommend any specific stain/spot treatments or cleaners that will be safe to use on my ruggable to get rid of the already existing stains? Thanks 🙂



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    July 15, 2020 at 10:57 pm
    Reply

    Hi, Kate! Thank you for reaching out! We recommend visiting the following link with helpful tips on how to properly care for and wash your Ruggable rug: https://blog.ruggable.com/how-to-clean-wash-ruggable-rug/ 🙂

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    We are an LA-based rug company intent on bringing stylish and washable rugs to people with kids or pets, or just anyone who wants to have fresh, clean rugs all the time! But more than rugs, we also have some great design ideas, tips, and tricks to keep your home looking its best.
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