How to wash bath mats and bathroom rugs
To wash bath mats, check the care label first, then wash them in warm water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Air dry rubber-backed mats, or tumble them on the lowest heat, because high heat cracks the backing. Scrub suction-cup shower mats by hand in the tub. Wash mats weekly in a busy bathroom.
A bath mat soaks up water every day.
What do you need?
- Mild laundry detergent
- White vinegar, optional, for musty smells
- A soft brush
- Dish soap, for shower mats
- A drying rack, towel bar or shower rod
What does the care label say?
Read it before anything else. It tells you three things: whether the mat can go in the washer, how hot the water can be, and whether it can go in the dryer. Bamboo, wood and teak mats never go in the washer. Some memory foam mats have a removable cover that does, with the foam core washed by hand.
How do you wash a fabric bath mat in the washing machine?
- Shake it out outside or over the tub to get rid of hair and grit.
- Wash it with similar items, like towels, to balance the load. Skip the fabric softener on absorbent mats; it coats the fibers and they soak up less.
- Use warm water on a gentle cycle. Hot water is fine for cotton mats with no rubber backing, if the label allows it.
- Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse if the mat smells musty.
- Dry it. Tumble cotton mats with no backing. Hang rubber-backed mats, or use the lowest heat setting.
How do you wash a bath mat by hand?
Fill the tub with a few inches of warm water and a little detergent. Swish the mat around, scrub any stains with a soft brush, and let it soak for 15 minutes. Drain, refill with clean water to rinse, and press the water out instead of wringing it. Hang it over the tub or a rack until it's dry on both sides.
How do you clean a suction-cup shower mat?
Peel it up and lay it flat in the tub. Scrub both sides with warm water, a squeeze of dish soap and a soft brush, and work the brush into each suction cup, where soap scum and mildew collect. Rinse well and hang it over the shower rod to dry. Put it back only when it's dry, and lift it once a week to let the tub floor underneath dry too.
What about wood and teak mats?
Wipe them with warm, soapy water, rinse with a damp cloth, and stand them on edge to dry. Never soak them.
How often should you wash bath mats?
| Mat | How often |
|---|---|
| Main bathroom mat | Weekly |
| Guest bathroom mat | Every two weeks |
| Shower mat with suction cups | Weekly scrub, lifted to dry after each use |
| Wood or teak mat | Wiped weekly |
Hang mats to dry after each shower and they'll smell fresher between washes. The tub under the mat has its own guide: how to clean a bathtub, and the floor around it is in our bathroom floor guide.
Want help keeping up?
Book Recurring House Cleaning online. If there's a part of the bathroom you want attention on, ask about it when you book and put it in your booking notes.
FAQ
Can you put a rubber-backed bath mat in the washer? Usually, if the care label allows it. Wash it in warm water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, and hang it to dry or tumble it on the lowest heat, because high heat cracks and peels rubber backing.
How do you clean a shower mat with suction cups? Peel it up, lay it in the tub, and scrub both sides with warm water, dish soap and a soft brush, paying attention to the suction cups. Rinse it well and hang it over the shower rod to dry before you put it back.
How often should you wash bath mats? Once a week in a busy bathroom, and at least every two weeks in a guest bath. Wash them sooner if they smell musty or stay damp.
Why does my bath mat smell? It's staying damp long enough for mildew to grow. Hang it over the tub edge or a towel bar after each shower so both sides dry, and wash it before the smell sets in.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
