You love your furry little friends. You love your gorgeous decorative rugs. You love snuggling with your furry friends, but you’d rather they not snuggle up with that fancy new decorative rug you just got. The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice style for functionality when it comes to choosing rugs that can withstand your dog’s fur and your cat’s claws. Check out our list of the five best types of pet-friendly rugs and what rugs you shouldn’t get for your pet. We have tips on how to remove pet hair from your rugs and how to remove pet hair from your pets, too!
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- How to Pick a Pet-Friendly Rug — According to Rugs.com, you should look for a low-pile or flatweave rug when looking for a pet-friendly rug. Low-pile rugs have short fibers, so they aren’t as likely to hang onto dirt from your pet’s muddy paws. Flatweave rugs don’t have any pile at all. A quick shake or vacuum session should do the trick for these kinds of rugs. Ideally, the rug you get should be considered replaceable because even with house-trained pets, things are still bound to go awry — and anything can happen when you have pets at home. They can get bored and claw on the rug or have an accident from time to time. Don’t spend too much money on a rug if you want it to be pet-friendly.
- Pet-Friendly Rug: Washable Rug — Washable rugs are exactly what they sound like. They’re rugs that you can just throw into the washing machine every few weeks. Before you wash the rug, get rid of any excess pet hair with a pet hair removal tool. Removing any pet hair in advance on a washable rug will make it easier to clean. Not to mention, you’ll end up with less hair in your washer and dryer, helping extend the life of your laundry machines.
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- Pet-Friendly Rug: Jute Rug — Jute rugs are made from naturally dried plant fiber. If you’ve ever held or felt a burlap sack, it’s usually made from jute. It also makes for beautiful organic rugs. The minimalist style of the jute rug easily fits any decor style. They’re highly durable and easy to clean. Simply run a vacuum over them to get dust and hair out of the crevices. For fur-filled homes, you’ll love a hand-spun jute rug — and so will your pets.
- Pet-Friendly Rug: Synthetic Rug — Rugs made from synthetic materials like polypropylene and nylon are durable and easy to clean. Synthetic fabrics also tend to be non-absorbent, which is helpful, so you don’t have to worry about your rug staining easily. The low-pile fibers of these rugs won’t be easily chewed on or clawed at by your pet. Plus, synthetics are usually less expensive than their organic counterparts.
- Pet-Friendly Rug: Wool Rug — The best time to get a wool rug is all the time. Wool isn’t just for cuddly winter sweaters. They’re also a pet-friendly material that’s great for rugs. Wool fibers are highly flexible and durable. Just like synthetic fibers, natural wool fibers aren’t fluffy or stringy, which means your pet won’t be tempted to claw their way through your plush wool rug.
- Pet-Friendly Rug: Outdoor Rug — You might not think about bringing an outdoor rug inside, but sometimes that’s just what’s going to have to happen. Outdoor rugs are made to withstand the elements. The elements can also include your dog or cat. They’re specially designed to resist water and stains. To clean your outdoor rug, just give them a quick shake.
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- Avoid Shag Rugs — Shag rugs look cool because they’re thick and fluffy, but they’re tough to clean — even without pets. Your pet will be so tempted to roll around in that rug and sink their claws into it. Similarly, you’ll want to avoid high-pile rugs or any rugs with fringe. The more stringy or fluffy a rug is, the more likely your pet will use it as a play toy.
- Avoid Vintage Rugs — You walk into a consignment store and see the most beautiful vintage rug. We know how tempting it is to get this stylish vintage find, but vintage rugs are usually more delicate. They tend to require special cleaning, and that’s without having to worry about pets. If you do have any vintage rugs at home as hand-me-downs or ones that you’re quite nostalgic for, you’ll need to take extra precautions when taking care of any delicate older rugs. Carefully use a dog hair remover brush on any non-knit rug to remove excess fur.
Even the best pet-friendly rugs are bound to get pet hair all over them at some point. Once you have a pet-friendly rug, you’ll still need to clean that rug from time to time. To help that rug stay in the best shape possible, use a handy tool like the best pet hair remover that will get rid of dog fur, cat hair and other debris from any non-knit rug. Now you can get back to enjoying your decorative rug and snuggling with Fido.