How to Wash Bathroom Mats? How often to Wash Bathroom Mats?

Bathrooms are places which need to be cleaned very often. Toilets, Sinks, bathtubs, floors, showers all need frequent cleaning because a bathroom is a haven for Bacteria, Fungi, and viruses.

But what we often forget is to wash our bath mats. Bath mats absorb a lot of water and dust, so they are wet & damp. These mats help us from getting slipped on a wet floor and also relieve our feet from cold touch after a hot shower.

They require regular cleaning and maintenance. If not cleaned frequently they can attract bacterial, fungi, and mildew. We will walk you through a step-by-step guide to wash your bath mats.

How often to wash bathroom mats?

How often You should wash your Bathroom Mats? It depends primarily on one factor i.e. usage. How frequently the bath mat is used?

If you are a family of two and shower once a day then you need to wash your bathroom mats every 2-3 weeks.
If you have kids and pets at home and the bathroom is used multiple times for shower, kids bath, pet baths then you should clean your bath mats every week.

Plastic mats are advised to be cleaned once every 15-20 days.

Some other factors which tell that the bath mat needs cleaning are discoloration and bad smell. Bath mats trap dirt and the color changes over time as it accumulates more dirt.

More the usage more chances of bath mat getting dampened and less chance of getting dry. This allows the growth of bacteria, fungi due to moisture and humidity.

There are plenty of ways to clean and maintain bath mats for regular or tiny house bathrooms.

Different Types of Bathroom Mats

First, you should check if your bath mat has a label on it that has all washing care instructions written on it. If you have it read it and follow the instructions. If you don’t have it follow our guide on how to wash bath mats.

There are various easy ways to clean bathroom mats. The most important factors are

Type of mat
Color of the mat

There are different types of bath mats available and they require different wash settings.

Different types of bathroom Mats & Rugs are

Microfiber or Chenille Bathroom Rugs
Cotton Rugs

Plastic Mats
Memory Foam Mats
Nylon Rugs
Polyester Rugs

Natural fiber Bathroom Mats like Bamboo mats, Coco Coir Mats, Jute Mats
Bath Mats with Suction Cups
Rubber Bath Mats

How to wash bathroom mats?

There are two ways you can clean a bath rug at home one is Machine Wash and another is Hand Wash.

Let’s Look at the step-by-step approach to how to wash a bath mat.

Step 1: Shake, Vacuum, and Sweep

The first step is to shake the mat and let go of any dust sitting on it. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to do this. Almost all kinds of bath mats will bear this step.

Step 2: Machine Wash

Most of the bathroom rugs are machine washable. Put your bath mat in the washer and use a mild detergent. Choose a regular cycle and cold water wash and rinse.

Some advanced washing machines have the extra function of washing towels, this suits perfectly for washing the mats.

Precautions: If you are using a plastic or rubber backing mat please check the back of the product for any cracks. If it has any cracks it may come off in little pieces while washing or drying and may damage your appliance.

You can select warm wash if you are using a mat made of fiber like Cotton, Nylon, or polyester.

Memory Foam mats should be cold washed with a regular washing cycle. Use a gentle detergent and don’t bleach.

Step 3: Hand Wash

How to wash bathroom mats - Step 3 - Manual Wash

Not every bathroom mats are machine washable. So, hand wash is a better option for materials like Coco Coir, Bamboo, or Jute. These mats are made of natural fibers and can be washed by hand. Hand washing mats can be done in two ways-

1^st Way– you can dip the mat completely in a water container mixed with soap detergent and rub the surface with a cloth or sponge to clean. Rinse with water until the soap gets washed away completely.

2^nd Way- Instead of dipping the whole mat, dip a sponge or cloth in water mixed with detergent and wipe the mat clean.

Remember, hand washing the mat increases the life of the product.

Step 4: Dry It

Drying the rug is as crucial as washing. The rug should be thoroughly dried before putting it in the bathroom for use. Most of the bathroom rugs can be tumble dry, use a lower heat setting to dry the mat or rugs.

Do not use tumble dry for Memory foam mat or rubber, plastic mats. A higher temperature setting can melt or damage plastic and foam mats.

However, the best method is to hang and dry. Hang the washed bath mat in the balcony, drying rack, shower rod, or in a well-ventilated area. Avoid drying it directly under sunlight as it may cause discoloration.

Don’t forget to check the backside of the mat to see if it is completely dry.

Use of Natural cleaning Agents:

You can use natural cleaning agents like Vinegar to wash bath mats at home. You can use distilled white vinegar in a washing machine. Add 3-4 teaspoons of vinegar to the machine. You can use vinegar in both machines ad hand wash. You can also add baking soda to remove any odor from the mat.

Some bath mats are very dirty and have stains on them. To remove such stains use a stain remover. You can also use bleach in some particular mat types like cotton and other fabric mats only.

Do’s and Don’ts while Washing Bathroom Mats

Do’s

Hang your mats outside to dry or tumble dry on the lowest setting

Wash your bathroom rugs on the cold setting
Choose a gentle washing cycle setting for all rugs
Use gentle laundry detergent.
Tumble dry on the lowest heat setting.
Check the care tags for washing Instructions

Dont’s

Never mix chenille bathroom rugs with bath towels in the washing machine. These bathroom rugs catch lint, won’t dry as quickly.
Don’t overload your machine at the same time maintain the load by adding one or two towels if you are only putting one rug or mat into the washer. This will prevent the rug from getting damaged.
Avoid using any bleach on memory foam
Don’t use acids and related stuff on Memory Foam Mats.
Don’t use hot water to wash the mats as it can damage/melt the glue used in the mat.

Precautions while Washing Bath Mats?

Bath Mats with Suction Cups– These mats are machine washable. They are made from PVC and don’t deform from machine wash. Hang them to air dry. Not advised to use a dryer or radiator.
Memory Foam Bath Mats- Machine wash is advised with cold water and mild detergent. Never use chlorine or bleach. Tumble dry on the lowest heat settings or hang in the air to dry.
Rubber Bath Mats- Wash in the washing machine on cold water with mild detergent. Don’t use bleach. Allow the mat to dry in the air thoroughly before next use

Conclusion

Maintaining a clean and germ-free bath mat is not a very difficult task. But it is often overlooked and ignored. So Next time you clean your bathroom don’t forget to wash your bath mats.