Washing a washable rug: temperature, drum and drying
At Karpet24, three series can go in the washing machine: Loft Washable, Loft Shape and Sign. Wash at no more than 30 °C on a delicates programme, use a low spin and let the rug air-dry flat. Whether your size fits your machine depends on how much the rug weighs.
Which rugs can go in the washing machine?
| Series | Pile | Backing | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft Washable | Polyester, 16 mm, velvety soft | Action-Back | 60 × 110 to 300 × 400 cm, round 120, 160 and 200 cm, 140 × 200 cm oval, 240 × 240 cm square |
| Loft Shape | Polyester, 19 mm, with a pattern of shapes | Action-Back, anti-slip | 120 × 160, 140 × 200 and 160 × 220 cm |
| Sign | Recycled polyester, 12 mm, with relief | Jute | 80 × 150 to 200 × 290 cm, plus 80 × 300 cm |
You'll find all three among our washable rugs.
Will your rug fit your washing machine?
The kilos on your washing machine are meant for ordinary laundry. A rug is one large, thick piece that needs room to move. As a rule of thumb, wash a rug that weighs no more than half your machine's capacity. So an 8 kg machine can wash a rug of about 4 kg.
| Size | Series | Dry weight | Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 × 110 cm | Loft Washable | 0.9 kg | Any washing machine |
| 80 × 150 cm | Loft Washable | 1.7 kg | Any washing machine |
| 80 × 150 cm | Sign | 2.0 kg | Any washing machine |
| 120 cm round | Loft Washable | 2.0 kg | Any washing machine |
| 120 × 160 cm | Loft Washable, Loft Shape | 2.7 kg | 6 kg or more |
| 80 × 300 cm | Loft Washable | 3.4 kg | 7 kg or more |
| 120 × 170 cm | Sign | 3.5 kg | 7 kg or more |
| 160 cm round | Loft Washable | 3.6 kg | 8 kg or more |
| 140 × 200 cm | Loft Washable, Loft Shape | 3.9 kg | 8 kg or more |
| 80 × 300 cm | Sign | 4.1 kg | 9 kg or more |
| 160 × 220 cm | Loft Washable, Loft Shape | 4.9 kg | 10 kg or more |
| 200 cm round | Loft Washable | 5.6 kg | Launderette |
| 160 × 230 cm | Sign | 6.3 kg | Launderette |
| 200 × 280 cm | Loft Washable | 7.8 kg | Large launderette machine |
| 240 × 240 cm square | Loft Washable | 8.1 kg | Large launderette machine |
| 200 × 290 cm | Sign | 9.9 kg | Large launderette machine |
| 240 × 340 cm | Loft Washable | 11.4 kg | Professional rug cleaner |
| 300 × 400 cm | Loft Washable | 16.8 kg | Professional rug cleaner |
The weights are the manufacturer's figures. A rug is much heavier when it's wet after washing, so lift a large one out of the machine with two people.
How to wash a rug in seven steps
- Read the label on the rug. If it says something different from this guide, follow the label.
- Shake and vacuum the rug on both sides. Sand and crumbs don't belong in your machine.
- Pre-treat stains. Blot them up and dab them with a few drops of washing-up liquid in water.
- Put the rug loosely in the drum, loosely rolled or folded. Wash it on its own, without towels or clothes.
- Choose a delicates or wool programme at no more than 30 °C. Use a small amount of liquid detergent. No fabric softener, no bleach, no powder.
- Use a low spin. If the machine starts banging about, stop it and rearrange the rug.
- Take it out straight away and pull it back into shape. Straighten the corners and edges while it's still wet.
How do you dry a washable rug?
Lay the rug flat on a drying rack or drape it over two or three rails, so the weight is spread out. Over a single washing line, a heavy wet rug stretches. Turn it over once the top feels dry, so the backing dries too.
- Loft Washable and Loft Shape have a synthetic backing and dry the fastest.
- Sign has a jute backing that stays wet for longer. Feel the underside: it must be completely dry before you put the rug back down, or it will start to smell.
Don't put the rug in the tumble dryer, don't lay it on a radiator and don't use a hairdryer. Heat distorts the backing and the edges.
Once it's completely dry, shake it out and brush the pile up with your hand or a soft brush. That helps the Loft pile stand up again.
How often should you wash a rug?
Only when it needs it: after an accident, for a stain that won't come out or when the rug smells musty. Otherwise, vacuuming once or twice a week is enough. Every wash takes a little out of the pile and the backing, so washing more often won't make the rug look better.
For families and pets
A washable rug is the easiest option under a high chair, in the play corner and where the dog lies. Choose:
- a size that fits your own machine;
- Sign if you want a lower pile with relief;
- Loft Washable if softness comes first;
- a colour close to your pet's coat, so the hair shows less.
With urine, blot up as much as you can first and treat the spot with an enzyme cleaner. After that, the rug can go in the machine.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should I wash a washable rug at?
No more than 30 °C, on a delicates or wool programme. Colder is fine too. If the label on the rug says something different, follow the label.
Will a 160 × 230 cm rug fit in a standard washing machine?
A Sign rug of 160 × 230 cm weighs 6.3 kg dry. That's too much for a standard 7 or 8 kg machine. Take it to a launderette or choose 120 × 170 cm.
Can a washable rug go in the tumble dryer?
No. Let it air-dry flat. Heat distorts the backing and the edges.
Can I use fabric softener?
No. Fabric softener leaves a coating on the fibres, which makes the pile sticky and lets it get dirty faster.
My rug is wavy after washing. What now?
Pull it straight while it's still damp and let it dry flat. If it's still wavy after a day of lying dry, roll it up the other way overnight. If that doesn't help, email us a photo.
Does a washable rug slide on the floor?
Loft Shape has an anti-slip backing. Under Loft Washable and Sign, put an anti-slip rug pad on a smooth floor. Take the pad out before you wash the rug.
