Don’t let mildew and germs breed in your bath mat.
Learn how to clean a bathroom mat to remove unsightly stains and foul smells.
Bathroom rugs are a magnet for hair, dust, and germs.
Credit:Annie Schlechter
Depending on how well-ventilated your space is, your mat may also be a haven formold and mildew.
Not sure how to clean a bathroom rug?
Consider these methods and helpful tips for a fresh, odor-free mat.
Credit:The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Take yours outside to shake loose any dirt and debris.
A quickvacuumwill also do the trick.
This will help prevent yourwashing machinefrom off-balancing and making those thunderous noises midcycle.
Avoid overloading the machine, though.
Choose Correct Setting
High heat is best for killing bacteria and mold.
Select a warm or hot temperature for cotton, polyester, nylon, and plastic rugs.
Credit:The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Washing a memory foam bath mat requires a cooler temperature to keep the synthetic material intact.
You’ll also want to avoid using bleach on memory foam.
Choose a gentle cycle settingfor all bath mats.
Consider laying down a plastic drop cloth or towel to catch splashes on your floor.
Empty the sink or tub and rinse the mat with cool water until the soap is completely washed away.
When handwashing bathroom rugs made with bamboo or other natural fibers, avoid completely soaking the material.
Instead, dip a sponge into a bucket of warm, soapy water to spot clean.
(This applies toarea rugs, too!)
How to Dry Bathroom Rugs
Drying a bathroom rug is a simple process.
Machine-washable bath mats are typically safe to be thrown in the dryeragain, check the care tag!
One exception is memory foam.
All bathroom rugs, regardless of material, can hang dry.
If you’re drying your rug outside, keep it away from the sun to avoid discoloration.
Many bath mats require hang-drying because the plastic underside is susceptible to melting in the dryer.
Once your rug or mat is completely dry, place it back in the bathroom.
