How to Wash Bath Mats Easily at Home

As a parent, knowing how to wash bath mats is as important as knowing how to wash your baby. Maybe even more important, actually.

Bath mats are prone to mold and mildew growth due to the fact that they are constantly getting soaked full of water each time you take a shower or bath. And, if you have splashing toddlers in the bath, chances are your bath mats stay soaked. 

If you aren’t regularly cleaning them, mold and nasty bacteria grow deep inside the fabric, folds, and pretty much everywhere else. Prevent this from happening by learning how to wash bath mats the right way. 

How to Wash Bath Mats Right at Home

Before we begin, you need to be sure to check the care instructions on the tag attached to your bathroom rug. Chances are, your bath mat has its own set of washing instructions. You should always follow the care manual before deciding on which of these cleaning methods to follow.

Nonetheless, these cleaning methods are guaranteed to get your bathroom mat clean, whichever one you decide to try.

Hand Washing Your Bath Mats

Hand washing is always the best way to wash your mats because it is the safest way. Not all mats are machine washable so, depending on which type of mat you own, hand washing may be best.

Also, if you’re unsure that your mat is machine washable, don’t risk it by placing it in the washing machine. You can easily do a quick search online to see how to care for your type of mat, however, sometimes it’s not so straightforward. Maybe you don’t know which type of material your bath mat is, or your care tag is damaged or has been removed. 

For situations like these, hand wash your bath mat to stay on the safe side and prevent damage to the delicate materials. Hand washing even extends the life of your mat so it’s all the better. There are many ways to hand wash your bath mat – all listed below:

Hand Washing With Laundry Detergent

The simplest way to hand wash bath rugs is by simply using gentle detergent. Follow the steps below to learn how:

1. Vacuum, sweep or shake out all dirt from your bath mat
2. Place your bath mat into the bathtub and spray it with the shower hose, completely soaking it
3. Spread laundry detergent (liquid or powder will work) all over the surface of the bath mat
4. Scrub with a soft brush or sponge for 5 to 10 minutes depending on how dirty the rug is, or keep scrubbing until the stains have lifted
5. Fill the tub with cold water until the mat is submerged – continue to scrub for 5 minutes
6. Drain water and rinse the mat with cold water from the shower head until there’s no more soap
7. Roll the bath mat and squeeze out as much excess water as you can
8. Hang to dry on the shower rod or place outside to dry

Fragile rugs like bamboo or other natural fibers shouldn’t be completely soaked in water. For these types of materials, spot clean them instead.

Also, if you have bath rugs with rubber backing be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight when drying. Hang them with the rubber backs concealed or completely away from direct sunlight.

Hand Washing With White Distilled Vinegar

White Vinegar is an essential bathroom cleaner because it kills bacteria. A low-lit, humid place full of water like your bathroom is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Give the bacteria a cozy wet rug to live in and they’ll never leave. 

Vinegar is acidic, therefore it is the best natural cleaner for bacteria, smells, and even stains. You can even count on vinegar to soften your bath mats and leave them looking shinier and cleaner for longer.

The most effective way to use vinegar to clean your bath rugs is by creating a vinegar solution in a spray bottle. Follow the steps below to make it yourself:

1. Mix an equal amount of water and vinegar in a spray bottle with a small amount of dish soap
2. Vacuum or shake the rug to get all the dirt out before washing 
3. Place the mat inside the bath and soak with cold water
4. Spray it completely with the vinegar solution – covering every inch of the mat
5. Scrub with a soft brush or sponge until the dirt has lifted
6. Wash under cold running water
7. Hang to dry on the shower rod or place outside

Always use cold soapy water to wash your bathroom mats unless the care tag instructions tell you otherwise. Using warm or hot water may allow the dyes to bleed and can shrink the fibers in your mat making it look dull and old.

Hand Washing With Baking Soda

Like white vinegar, baking soda is the perfect cleaner because it’s right in your home. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning just about anything.

Baking soda is best for those very dirty rugs that aren’t machine washable. Hand washing your mats with baking soda is always a great stain remover.

You can do this by creating a baking soda paste with baking soda and a small amount of water. The texture should be thick and easy to apply to the rug. For best results, mix baking soda with white distilled vinegar.

Baking soda and vinegar are the perfect combination for cleaning tough dirt and stains. Try it out for yourself:

1. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking powder with vinegar until a thick paste forms. Be sure to add the vinegar slowly to baking soda until you get a thick consistency.
2. Clean your rug of any dirt or debris before washing
3. Place your mat in the tub and spray with cold water until soaked
4. Apply the baking soda paste all over the mat and scrub with your hands, a sponge or soft brush (an old toothbrush can work)
5. Rinse the mat with cool water and allow to air dry

You can add a pinch of salt to the mixture to enhance the cleaning effect. It will help remove stains and dirt from the rug. You can also add a small amount of lemon juice to create a nice scent to block out the smell of vinegar.

Machine Washing Your Bath Mats

If your bath mat is machine washable then you are one of the lucky ones. All you have to do is throw it into the machine with regular detergent, press a few buttons, and wait. 

Always be sure to read the care instructions before placing your mat into the washer. If you aren’t sure, the washer could damage your bath mat either in one wash or over time. Follow these tips to ensure that you machine wash bathroom rugs correctly:

• Always vacuum, sweep or shake out all the dirt and debris before placing the mat into the washer. The accumulated dirt can clog your machine or leave dirt on the sides inside your washer.
• Always use cold water and a gentle rinse cycle, as hot or warm bath water can allow the dyes to bleed and dull out your rug.
• You may add a half cup of vinegar to the cycle if the mats are stinky or full of bacteria.
• Washing your mats with bath towels can help scrub the mats while they wash, however, if your mats are full of bacteria, you risk spreading that bacteria onto your towels.
• If washing your mats with towels, wash the towels separately after the bath mats with hot or warm water to remove any bacteria from growing on the towels or inside the washer.
• Avoid using bleach to clean your bath mats, as it can dull out your mats.
• Avoid placing plastic rugs in the washer. These are best hand washed with a vinegar solution.
• Using a fabric softener can make the rug fluffy and soft, not to mention easier to dry. It will also remove the static from your mat so they don’t stick to other linens. 
• Do not place your mat in the dryer unless the care tag states otherwise. The hot dryer can destroy and deteriorate your mats, especially the backing. If you do decide to use the dryer, use the tumble dry or lowest heat setting. Do not use the dryer for a memory foam bath mat.

Steam Cleaning

The washer isn’t the only machine that you can use to clean bath mats – you can also use a steam cleaner. 

If you haven’t cleaned your bath rugs in a really long time, then you’ll have a really tough time cleaning it by hand or in the washer. You can purchase or rent a steam cleaner to get out tough stains and built in dirt trapped inside your mats. 

You can also get it steam cleaned professionally. Use a steam cleaner at least once a year to keep your rugs looking clean and new.

How to Keep Your Bath Mats Clean

Keeping your bathroom mats clean is actually easier than you think. Regularly washing your bath mats is key to keeping bacteria and mold from growing inside the fibers, however, there are other ways to keep bacteria from ever growing inside your mats in the first place.

• Hang dry your mats after every shower or bath so they don’t stay soaked. Keep them in a dry place.
• Allow proper ventilation in your bathroom to keep the mats from staying wet.
• Remove the rugs from the bathroom when bathing your kids so they don’t splash water all over them.
• Allow your mats to have an occasional sun bath to kill any bacteria that has grown inside.
• Vacuum them or sweep them frequently to keep dirt out.
• Wash your bath mats every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how often they’re used, to keep them clean and looking new.

For optimal cleaning, you can make your own rug shampoo. You can make this by mixing vinegar and water with any type of liquid soap. Include fabric softener to keep your rugs fluffy. Mixing these ingredients together will create a creamy soap that you can use to clean your rugs on a regular basis.

Other General Tips on How to Wash Bath Mats:

• Wash your mats more often if you have pets with lots of fur. And be sure to vacuum the hair off the rug before washing. This makes it easier and prevents fur from getting trapped deeper inside the fibers.
• A garden hose can help you remove trapped, stubborn dirt and other debris that is lodged inside the fibers. Be sure to first soak with water and soap and then spray with the garden hose. Doing this should remove the trapped dirt easily from your mats.
• You can apply a coat of wax to make your rugs last longer and protect the fibers from weakening. You can easily do this right at home using a soft cloth to rub the wax on your bathroom rugs.

Final Words: How to Wash Bath Mats

There you have it – the easiest ways on how to wash bath mats right at home. Remember to always be sure to read the care label before attempting to follow any of the methods above. Good luck and happy (clean) bath moments!