Washable rugs have gone from a clever interiors novelty to something of a godsend. Pets, children, muddy shoes, red wine, coffee: simply throwing an entire rug in the washing machine is a far more appealing prospect than attacking a mystery stain on your hands and knees.
Ruggable has long been the big name in the category, with its enormous choice of designs and its much-copied washable rug system. But increasingly, more affordable brands are moving into the same territory. Kukoon’s growing washable rug collection starts at a fraction of Ruggable’s prices, raising the fairly obvious question: do you actually need to spend hundreds of pounds on a washable rug?
To find out, I compared two very different contenders: Ruggable’s Justina Blakeney Etta natural and terra tufted rug and Kukoon’s Cova vintage green jute-style rug, looking at everything from design and feel to everyday practicality and, crucially, how easy they are to clean.
Read more: Best washable rugs, tested
Ruggable Justina Blakeney Etta natural and terra tufted rug
Why we love it
- Washes brilliantly
- Soft and cushioned underfoot
- Integrated non-slip backing
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Huge choice of sizes and designs
Take note
- Premium price point
- Larger sizes need a bigger washing machine drum
Ruggable has clearly been working hard to make the washable rug feel less like a practical compromise. Its newer tufted all-in-one designs dispense with the separate rug pad used by some of the brand’s original styles, so there’s no wrestling two layers into alignment every time you put it back down. I’ll be honest, this was always a bit of a faff – especially with large area rugs.
The Etta is part of Ruggable’s collaboration with American designer Justina Blakeney and has considerably more personality than your average wipe-clean floor covering. The graphic, folk-inspired motif comes in warm terracotta, tobacco and cream tones, with enough variation in the pattern to disguise the inevitable everyday marks between washes.
More importantly, it feels like a proper rug. The 7mm tufted surface feels incredibly soft and cushioned underfoot and this gives it more substance than the thinner, printed washable rugs that can sometimes resemble cheap, oversized mats. The built-in non-slip backing also means it sits reassuringly flat on hard flooring, with no separate underlay needed.
Surprisingly, for something that feels so substantial underfoot, the rug is relatively lightweight, which makes getting it into the washing machine less daunting than you might expect. Ruggable recommends a cold machine wash with mild, bleach-free detergent, followed by either air drying or a low tumble dry, and overall I found it washed very well. Larger sizes will still demand a reasonably capacious drum, so it’s worth checking your machine’s capacity before you size up.
There is plenty of choice when it comes to dimensions, though, from a petite 60cm x 90cm through to a room-filling 305cm x 425cm, as well as runners and circular versions. The tufted all-in-one construction also incorporates a water-resistant, spill-proof barrier, making it particularly appealing for homes with pets or children.
Of course, the sticking point with Ruggable is cost. It sits firmly at the premium end of the washable rug market, so it’s definitely a considered purchase. That said, the combination of a cushioned feel, smart construction and genuinely useful washability goes a long way towards earning its higher price tag.
Key specifications:
Buy now £599, Ruggable.co.uk
Kukoon Cova washable vintage green jute-style rug
Why we love it
- Excellent value
- Looks and feels more like a traditional rug
- Washes very well
- Good at disguising everyday marks
- Substantial, textured finish
Take note
- Needs an anti-slip underlay
- Requires some reshaping after washing
Kukoon’s Cova takes a noticeably different approach. Where the Ruggable is plush and graphic, this one channels the faded, textured look of an old jute rug, complete with a traditional medallion design and a muted green and neutral palette.
Aesthetically, it punches well above its price. The combination of pattern and faux-natural texture gives it more depth than you might expect from a machine-washable rug, particularly if you like the relaxed, timeworn look of vintage textiles.
The material mix is also interesting. Kukoon lists recycled cotton, polyester and jute among the fibres, while the rug measures a substantial 15mm thick. It therefore feels altogether different from the very flat washable rugs that dominate the market.
But there is a trade-off. Kukoon recommends using an anti-slip underlay, sold separately for £20, whereas Ruggable’s grip is built in. That makes the Ruggable neater straight out of the box and saves you another job when repositioning it after a wash.
In terms of cleaning, the Cova can go into the washing machine at 30C and in testing it washed very well. It also has a stain-resistant, liquid-repellent pile, which buys you some valuable time when a drink goes flying. Kukoon does flag that the natural cotton backing means dimensions can vary by up to five per cent and may shift slightly after washing – something worth knowing if you need your rug to fit a particularly precise space. It also needs some reshaping after washing due to its heavier construction.
There’s a good range of practical sizes, too, stretching from 80cm x 150cm to 280cm x 380cm, alongside two runners.
But the big differentiator here is value. Prices start from just £60, making the Cova a much less intimidating entry point into the washable rug world. It feels less engineered than the Ruggable, but given the gulf in price, that’s hardly surprising.
Key specifications:
Buy now £60, Kukoonrugs.com
Ruggable vs Kukoon: Which washable rug is better?
Ruggable undoubtedly feels like the more polished product. The Etta is softer and more cushioned underfoot, its integrated grip is excellent on hard floors ,and the one-piece construction makes the whole setup pleasingly fuss-free. The waterproof barrier is another advantage if you have pets, young children, or a cavalier relationship with coffee or red wine.
It also wins on design choice. Ruggable’s catalogue is vast, with designer collabs and patterns ranging from fairly restrained geometrics to full-on maximalism, and its tufted collection has done much to address the criticism that washable rugs can feel thin.
But Kukoon is remarkably persuasive for the money. The Cova looks far more expensive than you might expect and feels closer to a traditional textured rug than many budget washable designs. You sacrifice the Ruggable’s clever built-in backing and some of its premium finish, but the basic proposition is undeniable: it looks good, deals well with everyday life and can be washed easily when things get grubby.
Crucially, both performed very well in the machine wash. The Ruggable came out looking immaculate, with no trace of the stains it had picked up during testing, and dried remarkably quickly before going straight back down looking as good as new. The Kukoon also washed impressively, with no visible staining left behind, although its heavier construction meant it needed a little more flattening and reshaping afterwards before it sat properly again.
So, for high-traffic family spaces where practicality matters, Ruggable is the stronger all-rounder, particularly if you want a softer rug and a genuinely effortless wash-and-dry process. For value, Kukoon is difficult to beat. It asks for a little more post-wash faff, but still delivers extremely well on the thing that matters most here: a good-looking rug that can take the knocks of everyday family life and come clean again.
Ultimately, Ruggable still has the edge, but Kukoon proves you no longer have to pay premium prices to put your rug through the washing machine. And for serial spillers everywhere, that can only be good news.
How I tested
Both rugs were put through their paces in a busy family home, laid in high-footfall areas where kids and pets regularly ran across them, and everyday mess was inevitable. During testing, I considered the following criteria.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Ali Howard is a writer and interiors editor, whose passion for great design has landed her bylines in Fabric magazine, Little London, Baby magazine and British GQ. She has regularly contributed interior design content to The Independent since 2019, including review features such as best sofa beds, dining tables, bedding sets and so much more.
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