How Ruggable Saved My Floors, Dog And Probaby My Marriage

I love rugs. They define a space, they're soft and are a great way to add pattern and texture to a space. But my love affair with rugs almost came to an end when we brought home our dog Buddy.

Goodbye to dirty rugs!

You see, it turns out that Buddy was allergic to dust mites and our rugs were pretty much dust mite collectors so they had to go. I was left with two problems. One - our wood (now tile) floors were slippery which not great for dogs. Two - I love rugs.

After some research we found Ruggable - a two part rug system with a base and removable machine washable topper. It solved both problems. Our floors were no longer slippery and the topper could be easily cleaned to remove any allergens.

Four years later, we now have two dogs and an entire house of Ruggable rugs. Over the years here are five things I learned.

1. In high traffic areas like the entry, mudroom and living room, the original flatwoven rugs work better. They are more durable and since they're thinner, easily fit into our washing machine.

2. Invest in the cushioned pad. It's ticker and more comfortable underfoot. TIP: If your doors don't have a lot of clearance you may need the standard thinner pad to make sure they open without catching on the rug.

3. There are hundreds of patterns in a variety of colors but if you have a busy household with kids and pets opt for the darker colors. Years ago I picked a lighter design for the living room and after four years of washing I won't lie - it's starting to look a little dingy. When it was time to choose Ruggables for the entry I opted for a rich navy. The darker color hides the dirt better so it doesn't need washing as often.

4. When putting the clean topper on top of your Ruggable, roll up the topper tightly, start on one end of the pad and unroll slowly while smoothing out the topper. This prevents wrinkles which look untidy.

5. When vacuuming, turn down the suction or the vacuum may pull the topper from the pad, especially on smaller rugs.

Over the years we have purchased Ruggable rugs for the kitchen where they stay looking new even though I often cook with enthusiasm. For the bedroom, hubby finally convinced me to buy the Star Wars Grogu Trellis Design. Unless you know what the pattern is, you would think it's just a trellis and I chose both the tufted design and the thicker pad for comfort. The dogs love it.

Want to try Ruggable in your home? For a limited time, you can save 25%. Me, I'm taking the opportunity to freshen up my space by swapping out my existing Ruggable for a new design.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE DESIGNS (click on the links to learn more)

• Kamran Cayenne Red Rug

• Hendesi Heriz Abalone Rug

• Sarrah Blue Quartz Rug

• Alessia Dusk Blue Rug

• Maxine Dusk Blue Rug

• Malibu Blue Re-Jute Rug

• Inkdrop Lapis Blue Rug

• Piper Plaid Neutral Rug