Our Favorite Washable Area Rugs for RVs + 30% My Magic Carpet Discount Code!

When talking about DIY RVers like us, “washable rugs” probably isn’t the first phrase that comes to mind. But when we were conducting research for a new RV, it brought to mind a topic we rarely cover – the impact the decor inside an RV can have in creating a warm atmosphere and the comfortable feel of home. But with our usual eye toward functionality, the topic for this post makes perfect sense for any RVer, even those with little interest in their rig’s appearance. It even applies to the sticks & bricks dwellers among us!

We’re talking about rugs. Washable area rugs. Why rugs? And why, specifically, washable area rugs? And which ones do we use and recommend? Read on ( ⬇️⬇️ and watch the video below ⬇️⬇️ ) for the full scoop on washable area rugs and what they can do for your home-on-wheels.

Can’t wait? Use this coupon to save 30%!

Why Do You Need Area Rugs In Your RV?

When we sold our motorhome, it was over 18 years old, with lots of wall-to-wall carpeting (which was really popular back in 2005). But, in looking at newer RVs, we noticed that carpeting is no longer in fashion. We liked getting out of bed without stepping onto a cold tile floor in our bare feet, so we knew we wanted to cover at least part of the flooring in any new RV.

Most RVs today have solid surface floors (such as tile, vinyl planking, or wood) throughout the interior that cry out for creative accents to offer a warmer feel. While plain, solid floors may be easy to keep clean, softening the space with washable rugs makes all the difference in the feeling of warmth inside the RV, both under your bare feet (on a cold morning) and in terms of ambiance & aesthetics.

Adding washable rugs to your RV’s interior can also help to absorb sounds, further contributing to a comfortable, warm, home-like environment inside.

If you’ve never tried adding a bit of color and warmth to the interior of your RV with a few area rugs, you’ll really be surprised at how this simple addition completely changes the look and feel of your rolling home. Even a single rug in the main living area can completely change the ambiance of the environment.

Why Are Washable Rugs Great in an RV?

Any rug can add to the comfort of your living space, but as anyone who’s ever lived and traveled in an RV will tell you, the ability to easily wash an RV rug is an essential factor for about a hundred reasons. Here are just a few:

Pets/Kids Are Messy

Many RVers travel with children and/or pets, which means dealing with pet hair, sand, dirty paws, muddy shoes, and the active little bare feet of children, as well as spills of drinks and food. So, having rugs that are easy to clean is essential.

The ability to wash an RV rug is a huge benefit for every RV owner, whether you have kids & pets or not. Let’s face it – when you live in an RV (for any amount of time), you live both indoors and outdoors, and kids/pets aren’t the only problem… adults can drag a lot of nature into the living space as well.

While we don’t have either kids or pets (and we don’t enter our living space wearing our shoes), we still appreciate the value of washable rugs… because even though we may not be the ones tracking it inside, nature has a knack for finding its way in. And little hands aren’t the only hands that spill things! 😉

Dusty/Dirty Campsites

Whether you’re boondocking or you’re staying at a campground, you’re surrounded by grass, dirt, and gravel. So tracking some of that inside is almost unavoidable. And when it rains? Forget about it! Walking your dog in rainy weather? When the paws come inside, so does the outside environment to some degree, so the washability of your RV’s area rugs once again becomes an important feature.

RV Washing Machines Are Small

As we’ve mentioned, one of the great advantages of washable rugs is the ability to – well – wash them! However, RV washing machines are generally on the small side. This means that most washable rugs won’t fit unless they’re particularly lightweight. But it’s also important to have a durable rug.

That said, many washable rugs won’t fit in your home washer either. So, identifying a washable rug that’s durable yet light and compact enough for easy washing in even a smaller RV-size washing machine is ideal. Or, if you don’t have an RV washer onboard, being able to easily toss those rugs into a machine at a laundromat or when you get home from your trip is perfection on the RV rug front!

This brings us to exactly what to look for when shopping for the ideal washable rug for an RV.

What to Look for in Washable Rugs

Again, there are a lot of factors that will determine what’s the right washable rug for you, but here are our thoughts on some things to look for:

Sizes

The first consideration is the size of the washable rug in relation to the interior of your RV. Even with slide-outs, RVs typically don’t have vast areas of open floor. For example, a 3’ x 5’ rug might be ideal in RV kitchen areas (washable to deal with drips and spills), and a larger 5’ x 7’ rug can be a perfect fit in RV living areas.

Hallways and narrower spaces in RVs are often heavily trafficked, so a long, thin runner can be an excellent option for these spaces.

Patterns/Colors

It’s always great to have options! Of course, you want the patterns and colors of your RV rugs to complement and/or accent the interior design of your RV. But most RV manufacturers choose rather bland, understated color palettes, which is why using area rugs can really help.

You may want a bright splash of color or a bold pattern to brighten the space. Or perhaps you’d prefer a design that’s more subdued but still evokes a sense of warmth and coziness in the interior. Having options is always important.

Slip-Resistant Backing on Washable Rugs

This feature is super important and easily overlooked. Non-slip backing is not only crucial for safety, but also to address the pain-in-the-neck factor of a rug that slides around instead of staying put where you want it. While solutions like carpet tape and no-skid pads are available to address this problem, they introduce another issue to contend with every time you pull slides in and out, as well as when setting up and breaking camp.

Do yourself a favor. Shop for a washable rug with an integrated non-slip backing that makes it easy to unroll and put in place. AND roll up when it’s time to go.

Stain Resistance & Durability

Finally, you want a rug that will both resist stains and endure through many washes… without fading, shrinking, or losing its shape or the effectiveness of its non-skid feature. You don’t want to have to replace your RV rugs every year or every travel season! You want to be able to continue using them and washing them without concern for how long they’ll hold up under normal living conditions.

My Magic Carpet: Our Favorite Washable Rugs

Over the course of two decades of full-time RV living, we have used a number of washable rugs. We had varying degrees of satisfaction with them, but sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing until something better comes along (much like our first tow bar, which we thought was okay until we switched to our Roadmaster). Eventually, we had the good fortune of learning about a washable rug called My Magic Carpet. After having them for a while, we never looked back. They’re hands down the best washable rugs we’ve ever had.

They’re durable, look great (with plenty of design and color options), come in perfect sizes for our RV, have an integrated slip-resistant backing, and are light and compact for easy washing, even in a smaller RV washer. As a bonus, they’re much less expensive than other washable rugs we’ve tried (even more so when you add in a discount… keep reading)!

Another benefit of My Magic Carpet washable rugs is that you can also use them on top of any existing carpet you have in your RV. The non-skid backing does a good job of keeping the rug stationary… and can help you hide unsightly wear or stains on your existing carpeting.

And how about preventing NEW stains? My Magic Carpet’s rugs are not only stain-resistant themselves, but they’re designed with a waterproof layer sandwiched in between the decorative top and slip-resistant bottom. This ensures that any spills that do occur don’t soak through the rug and stain or damage what’s beneath.

Save 30% on Washable Rugs at My Magic Carpet

We love our My Magic Carpet area rugs, so we’re thrilled that they’ve agreed to offer a discount to RVgeeks readers. Use Discount Code RVGEEKS30 to save 30% on your entire order when you buy direct from the My Magic Carpet website:

Conclusion

Whether you want to add a splash of color to your RV’s interior, or you’re looking to add a sense of warmth and comfort to the space, a washable rug (or a few?!? 🤣) may be precisely what you need. It’s a simple and affordable way to enhance the ambiance of your RV’s living space by adding warm, colorful accents. And there’s no easier and more practical way to keep your rig clean and comfortable.

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