How to Wash Bathroom Rugs and Mats – 3 Easy Ways

Washing bathroom rugs and mats can be a real pain, especially if you have a large one. Not to mention, it’s often one of the last places we think to clean–and for a good reason, they’re always underfoot. However, dirty bathroom mats and rugs expose your family members to bacterial infection, stinky odors, and mold.

You can wash your bathroom rugs and mats by checking the care label, deciding on the washing method, and drying. The method you choose to use in cleaning your bathroom mat or rug should be informed by the material. Some materials are compatible with specific washers and cleaning products.

In the rest of this article, I’ll take you through how to clean your bathroom rugs and mats. I’ll explain the different approaches to use so you can choose the one that fits your situation.

If you need more help with bathroom cleaning tips, go to this step by step article.

Let’s get started with cleaning bathroom mats!

Get more cleaning tips for the home here.

1. Check Your Bathroom Rug or Mat’s Care Label

First thing first, you must ensure you’re cleaning your bathroom mat or rug the right way to prevent damage or loosening of the fabrics. The best way to ensure you’re doing the right thing is by checking the care tag.

The care label contains the following information:

Cleaning Directions

Cleaning rugs and mats can be done in different ways. The common ones include:

• Machine washing
• Hand washing
• Dry cleaning

Your mat can be incompatible with machine washing and only compatible with hand washing. Therefore, you’ll damage it if you don’t check the label and proceed to wash it with a machine.

You may also decide to use warm or cold water.

However, the decision as to the type of water to use should also be informed by the care label. You don’t want to weaken your mat or rug’s fabrics.

If properly cared for, a really great bath mat can last a long time when you follow the special instructions on the care label.

Drying Instructions

After cleaning your bathroom mat or rug, the next thing is drying.

It’s worth noting that spreading a wet bathroom mat or rug in your bathroom does more harm than good. 

Excessive moisture in the bathroom creates the best environment for mold to grow. Thus, you risk mold in your bathroom if you don’t dry your mat or rug thoroughly.

You can dry your mat or rug by:

• Air drying
• Sun drying
• Machine drying
• Professional drying

The decision as to which of these drying approaches is best for your mat or rug depends on the fabrics and material. For instance, although sun drying is common, it’s unsuitable for knitted and woven fabrics.

The care label elaborates on the appropriate drying method to prevent damage.

I typically choose to air dry my clean bath rugs. This tends to keep them in good condition.

2. Decide on the Washing Method

Using the wrong method to wash your bathroom mat or rug is the surest way of damaging it.

The last thing you want is an unsightly bathroom mat or rug with protruding fabrics. Such a bathroom sight can be a turnoff for anyone visiting your bathroom.

Before washing your bathroom mat or rug, you should know the material it’s made from and the viable washing method. 

The following are the main types of bathroom mats and rugs based on materials:

Rubber Backed or Plastic Bath Mats

Rubber backing involves attaching a material to the back of a bath mat or rug for cushioning. It prevents slips and falls in the bathroom.

Plastic backing and rubber-backed bath mats are made from different materials, including nylon, rubber, and cotton.

Therefore, it narrows down to checking the care label to ascertain which material yours is made from before embarking on the cleaning journey.

Rubber bath mats are common in this category since they are easy to clean. Moreover, rubber doesn’t absorb water, making it an excellent material for bathrooms.

The material will help you determine the most suitable washing method.

Chenille Bath Mats and Rugs

They are made of yarns that appear like velvet.

The material is delicate, and you should only use cold water when washing it. Also, don’t put it in a dryer as it can damage its fibers. Instead, let it air-dry.

Memory Foam Bath Mats

A memory foam rugs are made of polyurethane, a petroleum by-product. The material is quite sensitive to heat and can quickly melt in a washing machine or tumble dryer.

Therefore, the best way to wash it is by using cold water and letting it air-dry. You may also hand-wash it with mild soap and cold water before rinsing and letting it air-dry.

After knowing your bathroom mat or rug’s material and deciding on the appropriate cleaning method, it’s time to get down to the actual washing. 

RELATED: Can outdoor rugs get wet?

Here is how to use the different washing methods:

3. Wash the Bathroom Mat or Rug

Method 1: Using a Washing Machine

You’re lucky if your bathroom rug or mat is machine washable, as this is the easiest method.

Here is the procedure:

1. Use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum the mat or rug.
2. Beat off or shake the mat or rug to remove loose dirt and debris.
3. Fold the mat or rug so it can fit into the washing machine.
4. Insert it into the washing machine

Note: You should choose the correct setting on the washing machine before adding your bathroom mat or rug.

The following are the main types of washing machine settings:

• Gentle cycle. Use this setting for delicate fabrics such as chenille rugs.
• Normal cycle. It’s a general-purpose setting suitable for most mats and rugs. It takes about 50 minutes to complete.
• Heavy-duty cycle. This option has a high agitation and a long wash time. It’s best for heavily soiled or stained mats and rugs.

The washing machine’s temperature is also a key consideration. Although high heat is suitable for killing mold and bacteria, it can be detrimental to materials like a memory foam bath mat.

Therefore, you should only use the hot temperature setting if washing a rug or mat made from plastic, polyester, nylon, or cotton.

Setting the right temperature will keep your rug or mat safe.

Moreover, you should always set the machine’s speed to a minimum. Although high speed may seem best to save time, it deteriorates the material.

After the washing cycle is complete, remove the mat or rug from the machine and proceed to dry it.

Related: How to Clean Bathroom Tile Grout

Method 2: Hand-Washing

This method is ideal for small bathroom mats or rugs made from jute, bamboo, and other natural fibers.

It’s also an excellent way of cleaning delicate bathroom mats made of materials such as chenille.

Although tedious, hand-washing your bath mats and rugs are the best option if you want them to last for a long time. Hand-washing extends the overall lifetime by preserving the fabrics and materials.

You’ll need the following to hand-wash your bath mats or rugs:

• Warm water
• Rubber gloves
• A gentle laundry detergent
• Sponge

Here is the procedure to hand-wash your bath mats and rugs:

1. Tub or sink preparation. Put on your rubber gloves and proceed to prepare the sink or tub where you want to do the washing. Fill the sink or tub with warm water and add the laundry detergent. The amount of detergent you use should be based on the quantity and dirt level on your bath mat or rug. You can also add a little white vinegar for the best results.
2. Add your bath mat or rug. Gently place your bath mat or rug into the sink or tub. You can fold it to fit in the washing space if it’s a large one.
3. Soak and agitate. Allow the mat or rug to soak for about 15 minutes before agitating it. Use your hands to rub both sides of the material gently. You can also use a brush with soft bristles for scrubbing.
4. Rinse. Drain the tub or sink and rinse your mat or rug with clean water several times. Ensure all the soap is out before proceeding to the next step.

Expert Tip: You should not soak the area or bamboo mats completely. It’s recommended to dip a sponge into soapy, warm water and spot-clean these materials. Soaking will cause them to swell, and they may never return to their original size.

Method 3: Using White Vinegar

White vinegar is essential if you want to clean an all-plastic bath mat or rug. Hand-washing or machine-washing plastic mats with white vinegar is an excellent way to eliminate mildew and mold. 

Vinegar is great for cleaning so many areas of the bathroom including the following: toilet bowl, shower walls, painted bathroom walls, and even cleaning mirrors.

The acidic nature of vinegar also disinfects the mat, killing bacteria and germs.

You’ll need the following for this:

• Distilled white vinegar
• Laundry detergent
• Tea tree oil
• Water

Here is the procedure:

1. Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil.
2. Put the solution in a spray bottle.
3. Spray and saturate the mat or rug with the solution.
4. Scrub the mat or rug thoroughly using a piece of fabric. Using a hard-bristled brush is not recommended as it can damage the fabrics.
5. Scrub until no dirt is visible.
6. Wash and rinse it over running water (you can use hot water if available).

If you feel bleach is necessary to remove stains be certain to consult with the care instructions before you wash bath mats. 

For more delicate fabrics, a more gentle stain remover might be recommended to avoid damaging the integrity of the mat and risking the potential of bleaching the fabric.

RELATED: How to Clean Carpeted Stairs

4. Dry the Bathroom Mat or Rug

Drying is the final step of washing your bathroom mat or rug.

Depending on the material, some drying methods may not be ideal. For instance, you should never put a memory foam mat in the dryer as it will shrink.

Also try to avoid putting towels in with your rugs as they could possibly leave lint on the rugs that will require even further care.

Other drying methods include:

• Air-drying
• Clothesline
• Tumble drying on low heat
• Using a fan

Final Thoughts

We use bath mats and rugs on a regular basis as they offer protection against the cold bathroom floor and a safe place for wet feet to step out of the shower.

However, the continued use of these utilities exposes them to high moisture and debris, creating an ideal environment for mold and stinky odors. Therefore, it’s only best to take proper care of your bathroom mat and rugs by considering regular washings.

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