Short answer: We sell washable rugs in five sizes, and each one comes with a cushioned, non-slip modular pad, so you do not need to buy a separate rug pad for hardwood. The pad slides into the pockets on the rug, and it has grip material on both sides that helps it hold the floor and the rug layer. We have no formal slip-resistance rating, so we do not promise that a rug will never move, and we make no claim that a rug protects a floor from scratches or stains.
Hardwood is smooth, so a rug on top of it has to be held in place by its backing. A washable rug adds a second question, because the part you wash is not necessarily the part that grips the floor. The sections below explain how our rug and pad work together, what we can and cannot say about hardwood, and what you can check yourself.
On This Page
- How does a washable rug stay in place on hardwood?
- What can we promise, and what can we not?
- Do you need a rug pad under a washable rug?
- Will a rug scratch or stain hardwood?
- What to check before you buy
- Keeping the rug in place day to day
- Our recommendation
- Explore our washable rugs
How does a washable rug stay in place on hardwood?
Our rug is a two-piece system. A soft chenille layer comes with a separate modular pad, and the pad slides into the pockets on the rug. Our rugs include the pad.
How does a washable rug stay in place on hardwood?
| Part | Made of | Thickness | Job on the floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rug layer | Polyester chenille with a polyester backing, with reinforced TPR corners | About 0.3 inches | The soft surface you see; lifts off to be machine washed |
| Modular pad | EVA cushioning core with TPR grip material on both sides | About 0.1 inches | Cushions the rug; grips the floor below and the rug layer above |
| Whole system | Rug layer with the pad slid into its pockets | About 0.51 inches | A low-profile surface that stays in one place through normal use |
The bottom of the pad provides friction against the floor, and the top helps the rug layer stay put. The corners of the rug layer are reinforced with TPR to help it lie flat. The pad is slightly smaller than the rug, so the chenille extends past its edge and hides it. Our guide to the materials in our washable rugs goes through each layer.
What can we promise, and what can we not?
Our non-slip performance is supported by the materials, the design and what we have seen in use. We have not measured it in a laboratory, so we have no formal slip-resistance rating, and results vary with the floor and with how the rug is used.
That is why we keep two lines clear:
- We say: every rug includes a cushioned pad with grip material on both sides, and the system is built to stay flat and in place under normal walking, vacuuming and moving furniture.
- We do not say: that a rug cannot move on any floor, or that it will leave a floor unmarked. We have not published a test on hardwood finishes, so we make no scratch or stain claim for floors.
A rug that sits clear of furniture on a smooth floor can drift a little over time. Smoothing it back into place now and then is normal for most rugs.
Do you need a rug pad under a washable rug?
Not a separate one for ours. The cushioned pad is part of the product, sized to each rug and included in the price, and it arrives in the same box as the rug (the 9' x 12' ships in two boxes). The pad slides into the pockets on the rug, and one person can put it together without tools.
We have not tested a second pad under ours, so we do not suggest adding one. The system is designed to work as a pair, and an extra layer would change how the rug grips and how thick it is at the edge. If you are comparing other washable rugs, ask three questions: is a pad included, is it made for that rug, and does it grip on both sides?
Will a rug scratch or stain hardwood?
We can tell you what we know about our own rug, and what is worth checking on any rug.
What we know: the top layer is soft chenille, and the pad underneath is the part that touches your floor. The pad is water-resistant, not waterproof, so a large spill or a pet accident can reach it and the floor below. If that happens, lift the rug, slide the pad out, separate and spot-clean the affected pad pieces with mild soap and water, let them dry completely and check the floor. Our guide to rugs for pets and kids covers this step by step.
What to check on your side, as general advice and not a product specification:
- Your floor maker's guidance: some finishes can react to some backings, so check what the manufacturer of your floor says about rugs before you lay one over a new or specialty finish.
- Grit and dirt: sweep or vacuum the floor before you put the pad down, and again when you lift the rug to wash it.
- Moisture: keep the floor and the underside of the pad dry.
- Sunlight: a rug can shade part of a floor from the sun, so lift it and look at the floor from time to time.
What to check before you buy
A few choices make a rug easier to live with on hardwood.
- Size: a common guideline is a rug large enough that at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on it, which also helps hold it in place. Our rug size guide goes room by room.
- Narrow spaces: the 2.5' x 8' runner suits a hallway or galley kitchen. Our runner guide covers clearance at doors.
- Layering: a second rug on top raises the edge, because the system is already about 0.51 inches thick. See our layering guide.
What to check before you buy
| Size | What arrives |
|---|---|
| 2.5' x 8' runner | One box: rug layer and all pad pieces |
| 3' x 5' | One box: rug layer and all pad pieces |
| 5' x 8' | One box: rug layer and all pad pieces |
| 8' x 10' | One box: rug layer and all pad pieces |
| 9' x 12' | Two boxes: rug layer and pad pieces |
Keeping the rug in place day to day
Most of the work happens once, when you set it up. After that, a few habits help.
- Set up the pad and rug together: join the interlocking pad pieces, slide the pad into the pockets on the rug, and smooth the rug flat on a clean floor.
- Wash the rug layer only: take the pad out of the pockets and machine-wash the rug layer. The pad is spot-clean only. When the rug is dry, or only slightly damp, slide the clean, dry pad back into the pockets and smooth the rug into position. Our care guide gives the steps.
- Vacuum with care: we do not recommend a beater bar, but you can still vacuum the rug. Avoid the edges.
- Check underneath after a big spill: do it before the pad and the floor have a chance to stay damp.
Our recommendation
Pick by the room, then follow the same setup.
- A living room on hardwood: choose the size from our rug size guide, set the front legs of the sofa on the rug, and use the pad that comes with it.
- A hallway or galley kitchen: the 2.5' x 8' runner, with the pad set up flat and a little floor visible on each side.
- A home with pets or kids: the same system, plus a quick check of the pad and floor after any large spill.
- A new or specialty floor finish: confirm with your floor maker first, and lift the rug after the first few weeks to look at the floor.
Explore our washable rugs
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.