June 22, 2022

The Inside Scoop About Our Kid-Friendly, Pet-Ready Washable Rugs

The ethos, ideas, and origin behind our idea of the holy grail: sustainable, machine-washable rugs.

What’s stylish, lays well, feels plush and comfy under your feet, and yet goes into the washing machine without a hitch? Yep, we’re talking about washable rugs -- something our customers started asking for several years ago and that we had a feeling would be a winner.

So after a year of development, we introduced our first washable rug in 2020 with Recess, a line of cotton dhurries (a type of traditional Indian rugs) that you could throw in the hamper. Since then, we’ve continued to bring three more lines of washable rugs to life, each with their own inspiration, production method, and designs -- but all united in our commitment to producing pieces that are sustainable, launderable, affordable, well-crafted, and, of course, good-looking. 

Sustainability

The Recess line took so long to develop because, frankly, we wanted to get the rugs just right: light enough so that they’re easy to pick up and drop in the laundry, but durable and substantial enough that they could withstand multiple washings and still feel comfortable and plush underfoot. And a critical part of that was finding the perfect material; something that would both honor the time-tested techniques of dhurrie-making but also be an environmentally-friendly product.

We ultimately settled on organic cotton for a few reasons: it means that the cotton requires significantly less water (91%!) than regular cotton, and the pesticide-free environment at the farms we source from keeps the workers and plants healthier. We also love that there are no chemicals used during processing, resulting in stronger cotton fibers that can withstand more washes -- and stay looking as good as new.

 Inspired by the process of creating Recess, we debuted Denim, another washable rug whose production is also environmentally friendly -- this time thanks to the reuse of denim fibers in the weaving technique. The weft (the crosswise threads on a loom) is made of recycled denim remnants left over from fashion industry production houses, and the warp -(the thread that goes over and under the weft) is handwoven cotton. The two work together (literally!) -- to create something new out of something old and discarded, and they only get better (and softer!) after every wash.

For our most recent lines of washable rugs, Glyph and Sandwave, we decided to take the idea of upcycling even further and created rugs out of industrial waste from a polyester production company. Through a process completed at a recycling facility in Turkey, waste from a polyester production company is essentially transformed into new filaments that get heated, dyed, and spun into yarn that takes on a new life when woven into new textiles like our rugs. The resulting rugs look and feel like wool, but they’re mildew-resistant and even more durable to boot.

Washability

Another characteristic that all our washable rugs share is their launderability -- that is, their ability to be easily washed again, and again… and again -- as often as your toddler throws some spaghetti on them or your pets roll around, begging for some tummy rubs. 

We wanted to make sure that washing our rugs was easy and straightforward, with minimal care instructions. In fact, whether you’ve got a rug from the Denim line or one from the Glyph line, the care recommendations are the same: wash with like colors with just a tad (specifically, 1 tablespoon) of gentle detergent. Once it’s out of the washing machine, make sure you line dry it rather than putting it in the dryer.  

For rugs that are 5’x8’ and larger, we recommend using a 60lb washing machine -- the kind you’ll probably find at your local laundromat, just because most domestic machines are sized for loads of 20-25lbs. And if your rug is dealing with some serious soiling, you might consider taking it to the dry cleaner to get out those deep stains. 

If you’re worried that washing your rugs will take away their beauty, color, or texture, fear not: our Recess and Denim lines are like a fine wine that gets better with age as you wash them and soften their natural fibers (think: your favorite pair of jeans!). Others, like Glyph and Sandwave, are virtually unaffected by gentle washing because of their synthetic fibers.

Craft & Quality

Finally, as we continue to develop washable rugs, it’s imperative that they all meet the quality standards that drive what we do at Revival. Indeed, rug-making is a complex craft that goes back thousands of years and is so deeply embedded in many cultures around the world, and we want to ensure that our products honor and live up to those traditions. 

 That might mean taking months to ensure that the thickness of the weaving is Goldilocks-level just right, that the farms we source materials from have healthy environments for people and plants, or that the factories we work with are OEKO-TEX certified for safety and conduct several rounds of quality control.

At the same time, though, we recognize that rug-making is an ever-evolving craft that has historically adapted over time to new materials and techniques, and we’re excited that our new lines do just that. We’re proud to continue telling the tale of rugmaking, to make something new out of something old, and to let rug-making weave its way into the 21st century.