This has been discussed many, many times on this forum. I am not a fan because carpets in a kitchen are one more thing to clean. And if you procrastinate cleaning them, they get matted and gross. So much easier to wipe a spill off the floor in 3 seconds.

With the new washable rugs, I don't see any problem. Of course, the runner has to fit the space.

Washable rugs sometimes don’t fit in a home washing machine. And only an individual can know whether their personality is the type to procrastinate that chore as I mentioned.

It’s been reported that the washable rugs tend to curl up at the corners. However if you really love the idea you could put adhesive velcro strips on the floor to keep the corners down. For me, it‘s too much trouble but everyone has different priorities.

Love them. But I knew I was likely to procrastinate on cleaning my rug, because I wouldn't want to be w/o the rug while it washed and air-dryed. So I bought 2 identical cotton rugs. I put the fresh one down while the other is in the wash.

I've used runners in my kitchen for years. If you get a polyester version with a low nap, they can hosed off outside, washed in the bathtub, etc. Most of the rugs in the big box stores and large rug sites online are polyester. I wouldn't choose a light color but other than that caveat, I think they're great.

My kitchen doesn't get any dirtier than other parts of my home. I don't know why rugs would be considered fine for an entry hall but not for a kitchen. I don't fry a lot of foods or do a lot of messy baking. If so, perhaps I'd think differently.

We have a nice long ruggable runner in a galley kitchen and I love it. Fits easily in our washing machine.

They can be a trip hazard. I do have a runner mat in front of the sink (abutting the cabinets) and a smaller rectangular mat one in front of the stove, they placed in such a way to minimize tripping. The only reason I have them is to catch splashes and drips when loading the dishwasher or doing dishes or errant splatters and drips from the stove, they're not for decorative purposes. I wouldn't have one in the middle of the room, too easy to trip over -- I've stumbled over the one in front of the stove a couple times, my foot sometimes catches it, and it's one that really doesn't even move much and lays absolutely flat (the water trapper mat from LL Bean).

I’ve always had a rug in my kitchens, and don’t find them challenging to keep clean at all.

My current one is poly that looks like a wool Persian.

But it’s a highly individual thing, no right or wrong, do what works best for you. :)

Vintage vinyl makes vinyl mats in a lot of interesting patterns. I have this one below in front of my range. It doesnt absorb spills but makes it easier to wipe up oil etc off my wood floor.

Lisa, I just got one for my laundry room, from Hudson and Vine. Love it. :)

I think they are tripping hazards and my friends child tripped on hers and broke his arm . I think the really heavy anti fatigue mats can be fine but I find it easier to wipe up a spill than to wash a rug and the more washable the rug usually the lighter the weight so more of a chance to slip . Chilewich makes floor mats you could check them out I guess. One of those never ending arguments .

I had a washable indoor/outdoor runner from Annie Selke in my old galley kitchen and I did not find that it held up well over time. I think it was more a function of getting heavy wear - certainly the highest-traffic area of my house - than it was staining, though. It was ratty after a year or less. But it was an actual woven rug, not a mat or a ruggable. Those are far more durable, but to me they just look weird and one-dimensional.

I have always had Persian rugs or washable rugs in my kitchen. Both have been easy to maintain and I might have tripped over an edge once or twice. Then I just remind myself to pick up my feet.

I love having a runner in my kitchen. It gets vacuumed regularly and provides a nice bit of color and pattern in the space. Nobody has ever tripped on it, so in my experience the likelihood of that happening is low to nonexistent. YMMV.