We tried Ruggable’s new doormat, and we’re huge fans

Along with drink coasters and dish towels, a doormat is a household item I have never given much thought to nor spent a lot of money on. I have drooled over thick monogrammed mats in high-end outdoor furnishings catalogs and jaunty striped ones made from recycled nautical rope.

But, in the end, my routine is to pick up something nondescript and inexpensive from the nearest discount store, reasoning that a spot to wipe off dirty shoes is not worth more than a second thought and $15.

I do this every spring, as regularly as planting flowers in my window boxes but with a lot less discernment.

So, when I got the chance to try out a Ruggable doormat, I thought, what the heck. I didn’t think I’d be impressed.

Why Ruggable?

Ruggable’s claim to fame for its area rugs—in seven sizes, including round and runners—is that they are machine washable. We’ve tested them in the past, and love them. The company, which purports to be the first to produce machine-washable rugs, came out with outdoor rugs in spring 2020 and have recently debuted a line of doormats.

What distinguishes them from any other doormat I’ve ever seen is Ruggable’s two-part system: a doormat cover and a rubber mat. The idea is that the rubber mat acts as a shallow tray, into which you insert the doormat cover. The cover can be removed when dirty and washed in a standard-size washing machine.

Wrangling the Ruggable doormat at set-up

There are only two pieces to Ruggable’s 2-foot by 3-foot doormat, but what may seem straightforward isn’t, especially if you make the novice mistake I did and skip reading the assembly instructions that come with the doormat.

Ruggable’s Cling Effect technology is very strong (read sticky), so don’t just plop the cover down into the rubber mat or it will be hard to square up and smooth out.

Instead, roll up the cover with the design side facing in, align it with the corners of the rubber mat’s inner tray, and unroll it. The rubber mat has plenty of holes for drainage so pooling water, which can lead to mildew, isn’t an issue.

The rubber mat, or base, can be spot cleaned or hosed off. Routine maintenance for the cover requires merely a good sweep, shake, or vacuum. If the cover is more deeply soiled, just toss it in a standard-size washing machine and run it through the cold wash cycle with mild detergent, then dry on low heat.

What I liked

Its variety means there’s something for everyone

Ruggable’s website makes the selection and ordering process very simple. Moreover, the variety of 37 different designs to choose from in a range of colors and patterns makes it easy to select just what you want.

Since my house is a traditional Cape Cod style and my tastes run fairly conservative, I opted for the Looped Solid Light Coir Doormat, which has the neutral look of a natural fiber rug. Someone more adventurous might choose a colored floral or geometric pattern or even a mat with a saying.

But the best thing is that if you want to switch up your look, say from classic to playful, the covers, being all the same size, are interchangeable.

There’s no doubt it’s durable

The doormat arrived in a box lettered boldly: Not your average doormat. This made me smile, but what piqued my curiosity even more was when I picked it up. It was a lot heavier than I expected it to be.

The rubber mat into which the cover is inserted weighs about 10 pounds. Having years of experience with flimsy doormats that slip around easily, I was delighted by this doormat’s durability.

Its heft means not only will it stay put in one place, but it should last for years to come.

Washing it is super easy

When it came time to wash the cover, which had been trod on and exposed to sun, rain and even snow for about two weeks, I loved that I could simply throw it into my own washing machine—no schlepping to a laundromat for an industrial-size machine.

After washing it in cold water, it was nearly dry, so it only needed 10 minutes in the dryer on low heat to completely get there. Although it hadn’t been heavily soiled, and I don’t have pets, this doormat’s just-like-new look is still impressive.

What I didn’t like

Shipping was overly slow

Ruggable explains on its website that its products are made-to-order and to expect orders to ship within 2 to 4 weeks of being placed. I received my doormat in 27 days. However, the company did have to push back its new doormat launch because of COVID-related delays in shipping of the raw materials used to make the doormat.

Ruggable’s promotional email borders on spam

Between the time I placed the order for my doormat, and the day it was delivered to my home (again, a span of 27 days), I received 20 promotional emails from Ruggable. I cannot overstate how annoying this is, but fortunately I had the option to unsubscribe.

Should you buy a Ruggable doormat?

Yes.

Initially, I was skeptical that a doormat could justify a $149 price tag. But the fact that this one is both attractive and sturdy, super easy to clean, UV- and mildew-resistant, and sustainably manufactured is persuasive. (Doormat covers can be purchased separately from the rubber mat and cost $60.)

The clincher for me is that I can say good-bye to my yearly trips to the discount store for yet another doormat that won’t last more than a season. In the long run, a Ruggable doormat saves me both time and money.

Buy the Ruggable doormat at Ruggable for $149

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.