How to Wash a Ruggable Rug Without Warping the Edges
By Ruggable | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
Follow these washable rug care steps to clean your Ruggable in the machine, dry it flat, and stop edge curling before it starts.
Quick answer
Wash your Ruggable cover on a cold, gentle cycle and tumble dry low or lay it flat to dry. Heat is the main cause of warped edges, so keep temperatures cool and avoid overloading the machine. Reattach the cover to the Rug System base only after it is completely dry.
Prep the rug before it goes in the machine
Unzip or peel the cover from the Rug System base and shake it outside to remove loose crumbs. Vacuum both sides with a brushless attachment, then pretreat stains with a mild detergent and cold water. Check the care tag for any fiber-specific limits before you commit to a full wash.
Match the machine settings to the fabric
Use a front-loading machine when possible, because a top-loader's agitator can twist the cover and stress the edges. Select cold water and a delicate or gentle cycle with a low spin speed. Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent, skip bleach and fabric softener, and wash the cover alone or with one or two lightweight items.
Dry flat or on low, never on high
Tumble dry on low heat for a short cycle, then remove the cover while it is still slightly damp and lay it flat to finish. If you prefer air drying, drape it over a clean drying rack or a padded surface rather than hanging it by one edge. High heat and hanging wet fabric are the two fastest ways to create a wavy, curled border.
Reattach and store without stretching the edges
Once the cover is bone dry, align it over the base and smooth from the center outward. Do not tug or stretch the corners to make them meet; if the cover still feels damp, wait. Store spare covers rolled rather than folded so the edges do not take a permanent crease.
Step-by-step wash routine
- Remove and shake the cover: Separate the cover from the Rug System base, then shake and vacuum both sides to clear loose debris. Checkpoint: if the cover still has caked-on mud, let it dry and brush it off before washing.
- Pretreat stains with cold water: Dab mild detergent and cold water into stains, then wait five minutes before loading the machine. Mistake to avoid: using hot water or bleach, which can set stains and weaken the edges.
- Wash on cold, gentle, low spin: Run a delicate cycle with cold water, mild detergent, and a low spin speed; wash the cover alone or with one or two light items. Checkpoint: if your machine has an agitator, use a mesh bag or switch to a front-loader.
- Dry low or lay flat: Tumble dry on low for a short cycle, then remove while slightly damp and lay flat to finish; or air dry flat from the start. Mistake to avoid: high heat or hanging the wet cover by one edge, which causes wavy borders.
- Reattach only when fully dry: Smooth the dry cover over the base from the center outward, without stretching the corners. Checkpoint: if any part feels cool or damp, let it dry longer before reattaching.
Rug options built for this routine
- Rowan Bordeaux Flatwoven Rug: Rowan Bordeaux Flatwoven Rug is water-resistant, stain-resistant, and machine-washable. Its flatwoven construction and washable build make it a practical choice for a regular cold-water wash cycle.
- Tiger Emerald Rug by Jonathan Adler: Tiger Emerald Rug by Jonathan Adler is water-resistant, stain-resistant, and machine-washable with a needlepoint texture. The textured surface benefits from a gentle cycle and low-heat drying to keep the pattern and edges intact.
- Orla Tan Flatwoven Rug: Orla Tan Flatwoven Rug is water-resistant, stain-resistant, and machine-washable. A light beige flatwoven rug shows edge curling clearly, so drying it flat helps it lie smooth again.
