'I tried a washable rug for the first time and I don't think I'm ever going back'

Produced in partnership with Kmart

I feel like no matter how many times I vacuum the rug in my living room, it never really looks clean.

With four people in their 20s constantly having friends over, plus two shedding cats and a golden retriever, our living room rug gets put through the ringer.

That means that to clean my rug, I need to lug it outside, cover it in detergent, and hose it off to get it really clean. So replacing it with a washable rug might be one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I headed to Kmart to pick out one of the many options from their new washable rug range which starts at just $13 and includes hallway runners, kitchen mats, and rugs that range in size from small (140cm x 70cm) to extra large (270cm x180cm).

There were plenty of different patterns to choose from, but I ended up going with the $89 Check Washable Rug in large (235cm x 160cm), and as soon as I unpacked it I could tell the difference.

This rug wasn't heavy and fuzzy like my current one, on which every piece of dirt clings to the fibres.

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This rug instead was light, smooth and despite not purchasing the no-slip underlay, it stuck to the floor much better when my dog got the zoomies.

Having been folded in the bag, there were a few creases in the rug that stayed pretty stiff once laid out, but after about 24 hours they'd almost completely faded.

I decided I would leave it out for a week in the living room and then move it to one of the bedrooms for a few days before washing.

In that time, I pushed it to the limits.

I encouraged the cats to roll around and take naps on the floor and I let my dog rip up his toys and chew his bones while lying on the mat (kind of gross, I know, but it was done in the name of science).

I also made sure that my roommates knew that we were putting it to the test, so food was eaten on the rug, shoes weren't taken off, and as usual – it wasn't vacuumed once for the whole week.

When it was time to wash the rug, you could see the dirt had accumulated. It was time for the next test.

I gave it a quick once-over with the vacuum, then placed it in the washing machine.

I've got a regular-sized washing machine and the rug fit easily inside. I used some liquid detergent, put it on a delicate cycle, and let it do its thing.

Straight out of the wash I was pretty impressed, I was worried that the rug would be damaged but it looked exactly the same as when it went in, just without all the dirt.

I hung it up on the washing line and by that afternoon it was dry and ready to go back in the house.

The process was much easier than having to clean my previous rug with the hose, and honestly it delivered better results.

The Kmart washable rug went back into the house looking spotless, and my roommates are already discussing picking up a hallway runner and kitchen mat!

Product prices are current as at November 17, 2025. Availability may vary store to store, please visit kmart.com.au