I’ve always been of the opinion that a beautiful home and a practical one shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. But, as someone with a dog, a penchant for iced lattes, and a tendency to be a little clumsy, I’ve come to accept that some rugs are simply too precious for my lifestyle. That is, until I bought home a washable wool rug from Double.
Meet the reviewer
Paris Blanchfield is Better Homes and Gardens’ Shopping Editor. With very high standards for home furnishing and a dachshund who’s very messy, she’s on the hunt for life-proof homewares that look great too.
I’d had my heart set on a plush wool rug for the living room for the longest time, but the thought of spending $1,000+ on something that could be ruined by one poorly timed spill was enough to make me reconsider. Double’s washable rugs, however, promise the best of both worlds: the luxurious look and feel of a premium wool rug, with the practicality of something you can quite literally throw in the washing machine.
Naturally, I was intrigued. But could a rug this beautiful really stand up to the realities of everyday life? To find out, I put the Otago Washable Wool Berber Rug to the test in my own home. And, thanks to one particularly chaotic incident involving my dog and an iced latte, I got a much more thorough answer than I’d bargained for.
My honest thoughts on the Double Otago Washable Wool Rug
To me, ‘wool rug’ and ‘washable’ are two terms that don’t belong in the same sentence. In fact, when I picture a washable rug, I picture a low-pile synthetic weave – something that looks like it could be popped in the washing machine.
The Otago Washable Wool Rug from Double, however, is no such rug. Plush, beautifully woven, and crafted from natural fibres, it looks like something to be protected, not something that could be genuinely ‘life-proof,’ but over the last few weeks, I realised just how hardy this premium rug really is.
From the moment I took it out of the box, I was impressed. The rug comes with a grippy underlay that keeps it in place (while hiding neatly beneath the plush wool layer). And once it was laid out, it really didn’t move. As I just moved to a new apartment, I’m still figuring out the best layout for my furniture and constantly pull pieces around. With the underlay beneath, even constant living room rearrangements didn’t disturb the rug placement.
In regard to the look and feel of the Otago Rug, I really can’t fault it. This piece is remarkably soft underfoot, and the Terracotta colourway is gorgeous. And while my dog can’t give a written review, she’s taken to sleeping on the rug rather than on her very plush bed, which I’m interpreting as a 5/5 rating.
In fact, the only issue I’ve had thus far is with the shedding. In all honesty, the amount of fluff this rug produces can be a little tricky to stay on top of, though the rate of shedding does seem to be slowing down. If you have a great stick vacuum with a generous dustbag/dust compartment, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue (I’ve also been testing the wonderful Bissell PowerClean DualBrush recently, and it’s definitely made a big difference).
| PROS | CONS |
| Machine washable | High volume of shedding; tricky to stay on top of |
| Natural fibres | More expensive than most washable rugs due to the natural fabrication |
| Soft underfoot due to the dense, plush pile | Machine washing requires a large capacity washing machine |
| Premium look and feel |
The Double Rug spill test
Transparently, I didn’t want to do this. I utterly adore this rug, and if my spill test caused a permanent stain, I would have been devastated. But, luckily for you all, a major spill occurred organically; a great example of the importance of life-proof decor.
While waiting for a new coffee table to arrive, I’ve been using my living room floor as a drink platform, usually with a side plate as a coaster – don’t judge. One fateful day, I had been WFC (working-from-couch) with a greedily large iced latte teetering beside me when a miscalculated jump from my dog sent the beverage flying all over my beloved rug.
The incident presented not one, but two key problems: getting the stain out and making sure the smell of milk didn’t stick. A doozy, under any other circumstances.
My rug rescue efforts began with me dabbing the area (frantically) with paper towels, but after going through a whole roll, I realised that barely any liquid had actually been absorbed by the rug. Instead, it sat neatly on top, ready to be blotted away. Do I have a scientific explanation for this? Absolutely not; I’m a Shopping Editor, I dropped science as soon as I could. Nevertheless, I was thrilled.
After all the dabbing, I briefly ran my Bissell Little Green over the area (sans spray) to suck out any remaining latte before following the cleaning instructions on Double’s site, blotting the area with a tiny bit of washing liquid on a damp cloth. At this point, the rug looked brand new again, but I made sure to keep an eye, or nose, on the situation for any indication that milk might still be hiding in the fibres.
It’s now been over a week since the incident, and I can confidently say this minimal cleaning effort did the trick. There’s no lingering milk smell, no texture changes, and no discolouration. I don’t know what the team at Double did to make these rugs so low maintenance, but boy do they do it well.
Overall, are Double’s washable rugs worth it?
If you have a messy family, a pet, or if you’re just a little clumsy, Double’s washable rugs are absolutely worth the money.
I wanted a premium rug for the longest time, but because I have a pet (and wanted to put the rug right in the centre of my living room), I was too nervous to commit and invest just for it to be stained shortly after arriving. Double’s washable wool rugs bridge the gap between elevated aesthetics and life-proof designs, making it easier than ever to keep your house looking nice without having to worry about spills and stains.
The shedding (A.K.A. the only drawback of the Otago Washable Wool Rug) can be a little tiresome to keep on top of, but I’d happily add a few extra vacuuming sessions to my chore chart to have my living room look this plush. However, I’m very aware that not everyone would feel the same way about taking on extra chores; if you prefer something super low maintenance, consider picking up a lower pile, synthetic fibre rug instead.
Some great alternatives for low-maintenance households include Double’s chenille, jute, and knotted wool ranges, which come in at a lower price, too.
| Get it if: | Skip it if: |
| You want a high-pile, plush rug in a very specific colour | You’re on a tight budget |
| You have kids, pets, or clumsy housemates that cause regular spills and stains | Vacuuming is your least favourite chore or your vacuum doesn’t have great suction |
| You want a premium rug that you don’t have to worry about being too careful with |
Where to buy the Otago Washable Wool Rug:
The Otago Washable Wool Rug, along with a huge array of other washable floor furnishings, are available to shop directly from the Double Studios website.
My advice? While you’re scrolling, have a browse of the brand’s new Olive Cook x Double Studio ‘Elemental’ range – it’s filled with whimsical (yet endlessly versatile) designs suited to any character-filled home.
Otago Washable Wool Berber Rug, Terracotta
from $1,220 at Double Studios
Otago Washable Wool Berber Rug, Chartreuse
from $1,220 at Double Studios
Otago Washable Wool Berber Rug, Butter
from $1,220 at Double Studios
Otago Washable Wool Berber Rug, Burgundy
from $1,220 at Double Studios
