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How to Properly Wash Bath Mats

Bath mats. We all need them. Bath mats prevent slipping and injury in the bathroom. They keep your floors clean and dry. Plus, they can be cute. Like a functional little rug.

But since bath mats are designed to absorb water, that means they are prone to becoming a mold, mildew, and bacteria hotspot. Exactly why you need to wash your bath mats on the regular. Washing them once a week is a good rule of thumb, but if your bath mats do not dry out fully due to regular use, you may opt to wash them twice a week. Whatever your bath mat washing schedule is, here are two of the best ways to clean them so that they will keep fresh and in good condition for a long time.

Hand Washing

Some bath mats are made from delicate materials that do not hold up well in the washing machine. And some mats have vibrant colors that you may wish to preserve for longer. In cases like these, hand washing your bath mats is the way to go.

To begin, start by shaking out the mats to get rid of loose debris. If there are any spots on the mat, apply a stain remover to them. As the stain remover is sitting, fill your bathtub with warm water and a couple of drops of laundry detergent. You shouldn’t need much. Place the mat into the water until it is completely submerged and saturated. Rub the fabric together to agitate the detergent and work it into the fibers. Once you have done that to the entire surface of the rug, rinse it with cold water, ring out as much of that water as possible and hang it to dry.

Washing Machine

Most bath mats are designed to be utilitarian. Which is good if you prefer the washing machine over hand washing. To be sure that your bath mat is compatible with the washing machine, check the care tag beforehand.

If they are good to go in the washing machine, follow the preparation steps for the hand washing method before tossing them in a cycle. Shake them free of debris and apply a stain remover if needed. Run the mat on a setting with cold water. As for drying, because most bath mats have a non-slip rubber backing, it is best to hang them up on a drying rack.

There you go! Two ways to keep your bath mats looking and smelling fresh. If you found this article helpful, be sure to check our Energy Smart New Homes blog page often. We update regularly with tips and tricks that are designed to make home owning easy.

By Energy Smart New Homes 11-15-2022