Everything about washing a Rugember, on one page. The short version sits on every product page; this is the long one, including which of our sizes go into a home machine and which do not.
Wash day
Four steps, and the machine does most of it. The whole rug goes in as one piece; there is no cover to unzip and no pad to take out.
- Shake it out
- Outdoors, or over the bath. Loose grit is what dulls a weave over the years, and most of it comes out in seconds.
- Cold, gentle, one piece
- At or below 30 °C, on a gentle cycle, with a mild liquid detergent. Nothing else in the drum: no powder, no softener, no stain booster.
- Dry flat, in shade
- Over two chairs, on a drying rack, or flat on a towel. Air on both sides halves the time. Direct sun fades color and a radiator sets a crease.
- Back on the floor
- It grips again as soon as it is dry. No pad, no tape, nothing underneath.
Will it fit your machine?
We make 37 size and shape combinations. 23 of them go into a machine at home. Every single runner does.
Rectangles 17
| Size | Minimum drum | Where to wash it |
|---|---|---|
| 2' × 3'61 × 91 cm | 3 cu ft≈ 85 L | Most home machines |
| 3' × 4'91 × 122 cm | 3 cu ft≈ 85 L | Most home machines |
| 3' × 5'91 × 152 cm | 4 cu ft≈ 113 L | Most home machines |
| 4' × 6'122 × 183 cm | 5 cu ft≈ 142 L | A large home machine |
| 5' × 7'152 × 213 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
| 5' × 8'152 × 244 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
| 6' × 8'183 × 244 cm | 7 cu ft≈ 198 L | Laundromat |
| 6' × 9'183 × 274 cm | 7 cu ft≈ 198 L | Laundromat |
| 7' × 10'213 × 305 cm | 9 cu ft≈ 255 L | Laundromat |
| 8' × 10'244 × 305 cm | 9 cu ft≈ 255 L | Laundromat |
| 8' × 11'244 × 335 cm | 10 cu ft≈ 283 L | Laundromat |
| 8' × 12'244 × 366 cm | 10 cu ft≈ 283 L | Laundromat |
| 9' × 11'274 × 335 cm | 10 cu ft≈ 283 L | Laundromat |
| 9' × 12'274 × 366 cm | 10 cu ft≈ 283 L | Laundromat |
| 10' × 12'305 × 366 cm | 11 cu ft≈ 311 L | Laundromat |
| 10' × 13'305 × 396 cm | 11 cu ft≈ 311 L | Laundromat |
| 10' × 14'305 × 427 cm | 11 cu ft≈ 311 L | Laundromat |
Runners 13
| Size | Minimum drum | Where to wash it |
|---|---|---|
| 2' × 4'61 × 122 cm | 3 cu ft≈ 85 L | Most home machines |
| 2' × 5'61 × 152 cm | 3 cu ft≈ 85 L | Most home machines |
| 2' × 6'61 × 183 cm | 3 cu ft≈ 85 L | Most home machines |
| 2' × 7'61 × 213 cm | 4 cu ft≈ 113 L | Most home machines |
| 2' × 8'61 × 244 cm | 4 cu ft≈ 113 L | Most home machines |
| 2' × 10'61 × 305 cm | 5 cu ft≈ 142 L | A large home machine |
| 2' × 12'61 × 366 cm | 5 cu ft≈ 142 L | A large home machine |
| 2.5' × 7'76 × 213 cm | 4 cu ft≈ 113 L | Most home machines |
| 2.5' × 10'76 × 305 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
| 3' × 7'91 × 213 cm | 5 cu ft≈ 142 L | A large home machine |
| 3' × 8'91 × 244 cm | 5 cu ft≈ 142 L | A large home machine |
| 3' × 10'91 × 305 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
| 3' × 12'91 × 366 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
Squares 4
| Size | Minimum drum | Where to wash it |
|---|---|---|
| 4' × 4'122 × 122 cm | 4 cu ft≈ 113 L | Most home machines |
| 6' × 6'183 × 183 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
| 8' × 8'244 × 244 cm | 8 cu ft≈ 226 L | Laundromat |
| 10' × 10'305 × 305 cm | 10 cu ft≈ 283 L | Laundromat |
Rounds 3
| Size | Minimum drum | Where to wash it |
|---|---|---|
| 4' × 4'122 cm | 4 cu ft≈ 113 L | Most home machines |
| 6' × 6'183 cm | 6 cu ft≈ 170 L | A large home machine |
| 8' × 8'244 cm | 7 cu ft≈ 198 L | Laundromat |
Where do you find your drum size? It is usually printed inside the door or on the spec sheet. If you cannot find it: a standard top loader is 3.5 to 4.5 cu ft, a large front loader is 4.5 to 6. Fold the rug loosely, never force the door, and when you are between two numbers, go up one. Not sure which size your room wants? That is the size guide.
Spills and stains
Blot first, wash later. Almost nothing needs a specialist.
- Coffee, tea, wine
- Blot, never rub. Cold water and one drop of mild detergent on a white cloth, working from the edge of the spot toward its center. A full wash when it suits you.
- Grease and oil
- Lift what you can with the edge of a spoon. A little dish soap on a damp cloth, then a normal wash.
- Pet accidents
- Rinse the spot with cold water first, then wash the whole rug. Enzyme cleaners are fine on the weave. Anything with bleach is not.
- Ink, dye, paint
- Do not experiment. Send us a photo first and we will tell you what we have seen work.
Drying, storage and the in-between
- Between washes
- Vacuum on suction only, once a week is plenty. Turn the beater bar off or lift it; spinning bristles pull the weave.
- Drying
- Flat or draped, in shade, with air reaching both sides. A fan cuts the time roughly in half.
- Storage
- Roll it, never fold it. Store it dry, wrapped in cotton or paper, off the floor.
What can ruin it
Three things, and each one has a reason behind it.
- Heat
- Tumble dryers, radiators, hot irons, water over 30 °C.
- Chemicals
- Bleach, stain powders, fabric softener.
- Hard brushes
- Beater bars and spinning vacuum heads.
Questions
Does the whole rug really go in the machine?
Yes. It is one woven piece with the non-slip backing bonded to it. There is no cover to unzip and no pad to take out.
Will the colors fade?
Not from a cold wash. Months of direct sun will fade any textile, which is why we say dry in shade.
Do I need a rug pad?
No. The backing is part of the rug, so there is nothing to buy and nothing to slip.
Can I wash it before sending it back?
Yes. These rugs are made to be washed, and a wash before a return is fine.
How often should I wash it?
When it looks like it needs it. For most homes that lands somewhere around once a season.
Still not sure? Send a photo to hello@rugember.com before you try anything on a stain. We answer within a day, and we have seen most of what a floor can do.