It wasn’t long ago that heavy, expensive, and stain-prone rugs were the only option for home decorators. While these old-school rugs are still popular in some realms, the new generation is turning to lightweight washable rugs to get the same look with loads of modern conveniences.
It only takes a few moments to find washable rugs that fit your color palate and personal style, but looks are just part of the puzzle. How do two of the main washable rug brands compare in terms of quality, stain resistance, and other key metrics?
Today, we’re comparing Tumble vs. Ruggable to see which brand is the champion in the world of washable rugs.
Design Selection
First impressions matter when shopping for a rug, so let’s start by looking at the shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns that these two brands bring to the table (or the floor).
Tumble
All the washable rugs on Tumble are designed by hand and exclusive to the site. According to the brand’s designers, they draw inspiration from Persian and traditional rug designs, as well as bohemian, southwestern, and contemporary styles.
You’ll recognize many of the motifs showcased on the Tumble site, and enjoy the breezy user interface that lets you sort by size, color scheme, and pattern type. It’s a perfect entry-level look at rugs of all kinds.
Ruggable
There’s no doubt that Ruggable has more variety on their site, with hundreds of designs in each category. However, quantity seems to outpace quality here, as the designs lack the originality and authenticity one is often looking for in an heirloom rug.
On the bright side, Ruggable does feature design collabs with Disney and other heavy hitters such as Jonathan Adler and Nina Takesh, but the standard stock is inconsistent compared to others in the washable rug space.
Quality
Washable rugs are an investment, and you want yours to last. Construction makes a difference, so here’s what you should know.
Tumble
Two components make Tumble stand out in terms of construction: the rug cover and the pad. A thick, cushioned pad is quickly assembled in puzzle-piece format, which lays a solid foundation for the soft and heavy fabric to go on top.
Due to the rug’s clever corner pockets which the pad tucks into, the rug stays in place with no curling edges, and remains flat from the moment it’s rolled out. Even after washing, the Tumble rug retains its structure and feels as though it’s built to last.
Ruggable
Standard rugs from Ruggable come with a very thin velcro rug pad, although a plusher cushioned pad is available for a significant extra upcharge. Since the rug cover is lighter, it takes time to lay flat and many users report that it is prone to curled edges.
Pro tip – if you choose Ruggable, upgrade to the cushioned pad option and prepare for a higher price at checkout.
Ease of Cleaning
It’s part of why you buy washable rugs in the first place–spills happen. Here’s how the main brands handle them.
Tumble
Few other rugs in the market have a proprietary technology behind the spill-proof surface. Tumble is proud to back up this claim, and indeed, liquids bead up on the surface of the rug for quick and efficient cleanup.
Heavier non-liquid stains are also less likely to sink in with this surface, but a quick cleaning protocol can make Tumble rug look good as new.
Cleaning the rug cover of a Tumble rug could not be easier, with simple instructions anyone can follow. Rug pad cushions are also easy to clean, thanks to the intuitive puzzle piece design which lets you clean particular squares.
Ruggable
While Ruggable states that its rugs are stain-resistant, it’s simply not the same as being 100% spill-proof. Liquids can sink into these rugs rather quickly, so you’ll need to act fast if you drop your favorite beverage or your dog has an accident.
Stain resistance is a nice feature, but it pales in comparison to genuine spill-proof technology.
Rug cover cleaning is fairly simple here, but the big drawback is with the rug pad cleaning process. Velcro is notoriously difficult to clean fully, especially when hair and debris gets involved.
This means you’ll need to do some hands-on cleaning, with no guarantees for your efforts.
Value
What brand has the edge in terms of cost and customer service?
Tumble
The smaller and newer company, Tumble focuses on customer service and savings like few other brands. The typical 8×10’ rug with a cushioned pad is offered at $379, while comparable brands such as Ruggable can often exceed $400-500+. They also offer free shipping, returns, and design consultations.
Ruggable
Ruggable may be bigger, but you may be paying extra for the brand name. A standard 8×10’ will set you back $459, and the cushioned pad version comes in at a whopping $569. On top of it, we’re disappointed to see that they charge restocking fees on returns—a big “no-no” in the modern world of e-commerce.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
