There are tons of ways of washing your bath mats, but there are also a lot of different types of bath mats. You’ve got your cloth bath mats, your rubber bath mats, bamboo bath mats, suction cup bath mats, plastic ones, err you get the picture.
Thing is, most bath mats will require different attention in terms of washing them. We’ll go over how to wash the most used bath mats, and mention how easily some mats can be washed.
Skip ahead using the table of contents to get to the washing method for your particular bath mat.
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Washing Cloth Bath Mats / Rugs
These are amongst the easier ones to wash. Doesn’t matter if they’re fully cloth or have a rubber backing. The process is pretty much the same.
The best way is to put them on a warm and delicate cycle in the washing machine and use your regular liquid detergent. It’s also a good idea to add a tablespoon of baking soda in there as well.
Also, make sure to put them in the washer with more than a couple of other towels, mats, and similar, just so the mat doesn’t flap around too much.
You can also wash them by hand:
- Grab a big container that can fit the rug, and fill it up with warm water. Submerge the bath mat inside.
- Get a hard bristle brush and put a lot of dishwashing liquid in it.
- Lay the rug flat and start scrubbing it in circular motions. Remember to dip the brush in the water and reapply dish soap regularly.
- Once you’ve made 3-4 passes on both sides, submerge the rug once more.
- Run the brush under a tap and clean it off from any soap.
- Then, repeat the same thing, without dish soap. Do this, until most of the soap is out of the mat.
- Let it airdry.
IMPORTANT: Bath mats shouldn’t be put inside of the dryer. They usually warp and skew. Prioritize airdrying over the dryer.
Table of Contents
Rubber Mats
Rubber mats are usually the most common bathroom mats. These mats are infamous for getting a bit moldy just because they’re rubber and don’t soak in any water.
Just because of that, you’re looking at bleach as the best solution. However, if you’re not dealing with any mold, you can get by with a simple wash with dish soap and a hard bristle brush. Basically, adopt the same process like for cloth mats from above.
But if you’re starting to see a bit of molding, this is what you need to do:
IMPORTANT: Exercise caution when using bleach. Bleach is a harmful substance that can have negative effects on your eyes, skin, raspatory system, and more. Always wear rubber gloves and goggles, and ensure that you’re in a well-ventilated room with a source of fresh air. So please, just be careful.
- Fill up a big container with a bit of warm water and that’s also big enough to submerge your mat into.
- Put the rubber mat inside, and pour a cup or two with bleach. NOTE: You can use natural solutions like vinegar if you’re not really fond of working with bleach. Just substitute bleach for vinegar and a bit of baking soda.
- Leave it for 2-3 hours.
- Take it out and run in under some water.
- Leave it out to air dry.
Washing Other Types Of Mats
Usually, mats that are with a hard surface like plastic and bamboo mats, you can get away with washing them with a brush and some dish soap. Use vinegar + baking soda on moldy spots and then wash that off.
For softer fabric mats, it’s the same case, but you can also go the washing machine rout if your mat isn’t moldy. If it is, go for the hand washing method, and again, use vinegar + baking soda for mold spots.
Lastly, always let your bath mats air dry. They have a big tendency to warp and skew under high temperature drying.
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