Can I wash my bath mat in the washing machine?

The easiest way to wash a rubber bath mat is to simply rinse it with running water. Caring for fabric or composite materials will require more complex procedures, and such products must be cleaned regularly. Many of them can be washed in a machine, subject to certain rules.

Washing features

Caring for rugs intended for the bathroom should be regular. It is recommended to wash them weekly, otherwise fungus may settle on them.

Washing features depend on the type of material. Most often, rugs made of PVC, microfiber, fabric or rubber are sold for the bathroom. Sometimes they have thick pile - such products are the most difficult to care for.

There are several basic rules for washing rugs:

before washing, you need to study information about the characteristics of the material;
handmade rugs, as well as those made of silk or linen, can only be washed by hand;
rugs that easily fit into the drum are washed in a machine;
do not use bleaches, powders, fabric softeners;
Do not unscrew the rug or use the spin mode;
It is very important to thoroughly dry the washed rug.

Machine washable

Many rugs can be easily machine washed. If you follow a few rules, they will not lose their properties and will last a long time. For washing, it is recommended to use laundry soap or special gentle liquid detergents. Regular powder is very difficult to wash out and can ruin the material.

Before putting the mat into the drum, you should clear it of debris, hair, and threads. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner or simply by shaking it outside. If the product has a high pile, you can put it in a basin with warm water - the debris will float up. Then you need to place the rug in a special bag or light pillowcase.

Sometimes it is recommended to put the rug in the machine along with washcloths and old towels: they will work like brushes, helping to wash it better.

When machine washing, it is important to set the gentlest, shortest cycle. The best option is “Delicate wash” or “Hand wash”. The temperature should be 30–40°C. Spinning and drying is not recommended, especially for rugs with a rubberized base.

Air dry the rug, turning it over every hour.

There are also some washing features for different materials:

Rubber mat Can only be washed at 30°C. You cannot set the spin and dry mode.
Synthetic rugs Allowed to be washed at temperatures up to 60°C. You can use any powder suitable for the type of fabric, but double rinse.
Rugs made from natural fabrics Wash only on delicate cycle. It’s worth packing a few towels along with them.
Microfiber It is recommended to wash separately from other materials, using a gentle cycle and non-aggressive detergents.
Long pile rugs you need to shake it out first. Place in drum, folding in four. It is recommended to add 3-4 teaspoons of fine salt along with liquid soap.

Manually

It is best to wash bath mats by hand. If you do this regularly, they are easy to wash and retain their color and shape.

It is worth considering the features of manual cleaning of products made from different materials:

Rubber mats wash in the bathtub, taking some warm water and adding detergent. Clean with a medium hard brush. If mold has formed on the rubber, you can use chlorine bleach. It is better to rinse the rug in the shower. Then you need to wipe with a dry cloth and dry naturally.
PVC or microfiber products It is better to clean with a brush dipped in soapy water. You can remove foam with a wet towel. Then blot the mat with a dry cloth and dry thoroughly. These rugs are dried by rolling them up and laying them with towels.
Long pile rug soak for 10–15 minutes in warm soapy water. If there are stains, you can go over it a little with a brush. You need to rinse under running water, then let it drain. Pat the item dry with a towel and hang it out to air dry.

Regular and proper cleaning of bath mats will maintain their softness and appearance, prevent the appearance of fungus and, most importantly, prevent colonies of bacteria from multiplying in the fibers of the product.