Did you know that you should be washing your bathroom rug regularly? In order to not ruin
your bathroom rug, here is how you can clean it safely.
If it’s been some time since you’ve cleaned your bathroom rug, today might be a great day to get
it done!
It’s a horrible feeling to see your prized treasure fill up with muck and grime. Walking over one of
these bath rugs is even more unpleasant. Not to mention the potential health concerns! For once,
a toilet/bathroom is the primary breeding ground for germs and dead skin cells.
You can clean your showers and toilets on a regular basis, but is your restroom clean? What about the toilet paper? How frequently do you clean your bath rugs?
Bathroom carpets are notorious for accumulating filth and even pathogens. If you don’t wash
them for a long time, things might become a little scaled up. When their bathroom carpets and
bathroom mats begin to generate an odor, many people wash them.
That’s not enough, because rugs may hold a lot of filth before it becomes dirty to the touch. A far
better approach is to plan a cleaning schedule and proper care based on previous experience and knowledge. That pretty much sums up how to clean bath rugs at home.
Grab your rubber gloves and let’s get your bathroom rugs all clean and fresh.
Here are the basic steps on how to wash bath mats in the washing machine:
- Check the label for care instructions. If it is not machine washable that’s ok, but it’s
good to know. - Shake out the rug outside, or give it a good vacuum with your vacuum cleaner.
- Wash the rug in the washing machine with fresh towels with cold water settings
- Add in 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 of the recommended amount of regular detergent.
- Air dry out in the sun, or inside the dryer.
Here are the basic steps on how to clean bathroom rugs by hand:
- Shake out the rug or give it a good vacuum
- Place the rug into the bathtub and spray it with clean warm water.
- Apply a few tablespoons of laundry detergent and 1/2 cup of vinegar onto the rug as it lays in the tub.
- Use a scrub brush to rub the rug and free dirt and grime that may be built up.
- Rinse the rug with water until the water runs clean and free from suds.
- Squeeze out excess water.
- Hand rug to dry outside in the sunshine or on the side of the tub.
Cleaning Bathroom Rugs
If you need a little more detail than the quick notes above, I will show you the way to clean your
bathroom rugs, whether they are made from memory foam, have rubber backs, or are made
with chenille. Remember to always check the label on the matt for specific and special instructions that I may not cover, or even know about.
Some notes before I go into how to clean all the different types of rugs:
- Use whichever laundry detergent you have on hand. If you need some laundry detergent
recommendations I really like to use Puracy Laundry Detergent for everything including baby
clothes and all the towels. - Always shake out your rug before placing it into the washing machine as dirt can jam up the
drum, or make other things dirty during the following wash cycle.
How To Clean Rubber Backed Mats And Rugs
Rubber-backed rugs have a shorter lifespan than other rugs, but if you clean them carefully, they
should last for a while.
- Shake up the rug or use a vacuum to get any loose dirt and particles off of it.
- Place the rug into the washing machine. For front loading washing machines, place the rug
facing up. If you have a top load washing machine, place the rug around the agitator portion. - Wash some towels with the rug.
- Set the washing machine on a delicate cycle and use cold water.
- Add half of the recommended amount of detergent.
- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar.
- Start the load.
- Once it has finished washing hang it up to dry in the sunshine, hang to dry inside the tub, or
tumble dry on low. - Hot water can melt the rubber backing on the rug. Replace the rug if the rubber backing
begins to crack.
RUN A HOT CYCLE WASH WITH A FEW TOWELS AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT TO CLEAN OUT THE
DRUM AFTER WASHING THE MAT.
How To Clean A Memory Foam Bath Mat
The memory foam bath rug styles are very popular, and soh so soft on your feet when you exit the shower.
Because they are so soft, they can also hold a lot of water which could potentially lead to mold if
not cared for properly. Always read the care label before washing your memory foam bath mat. if you’re looking for new bathroom rugs, memory foam rugs are a great option.
- Shake up the rug or use a vacuum to get any loose dirt and particles off of it.
- Place the rug into the washing machine. For front loading washing machines, place the rug
facing up. If you have a top load washing machine, place the rug around the agitator portion. - Set the washing machine on a delicate cycle and use cold water.
- Add half of the recommended amount of detergent.
- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar.
- Start the load.
- Once it has finished washing hang it up to dry in the sunshine, hang to dry inside the tub, or
- tumble dry on low.
- Please do not use fabric softener, bleach or other harsh chemicals on your foam bath
- mats. also avoid needing hot water.
RUN A HOT CYCLE WASH WITH A FEW TOWELS AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT TO CLEAN OUT THE
DRUM AFTER WASHING THE MAT
How To Clean Chenille Bathroom Rugs
Chenille bath mats are very soft and need a little bit of extra care. many, not all, chenille rugs actually are not supposed to be washed in the washing machine so please check your label
before needing the washing machine to clean it.
- Shake up the rug or use a vacuum to get any loose dirt and particles off of it.
- Place the rug into the washing machine. For front loading washing machines, place the rug
facing up. If you have a top load washing machine, place the rug around the agitator portion. - Set the washing machine on a delicate cycle and use cold water.
- Add half of the recommended amount of detergent.
- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar.
- Start the load.
- Once it has finished washing hang it up to dry in the direct sunlight, hang to dry inside the tub or
tumble dry on low. - Do not use bleach on your chenille bath mat.
RUN A HOT CYCLE WASH WITH A FEW TOWELS AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT TO CLEAN OUT THE
DRUM AFTER WASHING THE MAT.
How To Clean Bathroom Rugs By Hand
If you notice that your bathroom rug cannot be washed in the washing machine, here are some
things you can do to get it nice and clean.
- Shake out the rug really well or give it a good vacuum
- Lay the rug inside the bathtub, or on a clean surface outside. You can lay a plastic shower curtain down and use that as your clean surface.
- Soak the mat with an outdoor hose, a removable shower head, or the bathtub spout.
- Apply 1/2 of the recommended laundry detergent to the mat and rub it in needing a scrub
- brush or a microfiber cloth.
- Spread the laundry detergent suds all over the bath mat.
- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the bath mat.
- Let the matt sit in the bathtub or outside for 10 minutes with the vinegar and detergent on it.
- Rinse off the matt until all of the suds disappear and the water runs clean.
- Squeeze excess water from the rug and hang it to dry in the sunshine or in the bathtub.
Tips For Drying Bathroom Rugs
Only use the tumble dryer if your care label says this is ok to do. Many bathroom rugs should be
air-dried. If you dry using the sun, this will disinfect your bath mat at the same time.
Drying racks and bathtubs are also great places to hang up your rugs to dry if you cannot use the
outdoor air and sun. It will take a while for the rug to dry indoors because of the thickness and
absorbency of the mats.
Take Care Of Large Bathroom Mats/ Rugs
Taking care of huge bathroom carpets may be a pain. This is mostly due to the fact that they are
not machine washable, owing to their size. I’ve included some pointers below on how to clean big bathroom carpets.
First and foremost, you need to ensure that the carpeting is removed every few hours. Hang it in
the sun to keep viruses and bacteria at bay.
Second, make certain that your rugs are cleaned needing one of the methods described in “How
to Wash Bath Rugs at Home?” These are quite useful for eliminating muck, trash, grime, and
anything else that becomes a resident of damp rugs.
When hand cleaning these mats, use mild detergents. At times, strong detergents have the ability
to cut plastic.
Bath mats should also be washed with a cleaning brush, but not too vigorously.
When it comes to drying these mats, you may hang them over a wall or a fence to air dry. This will guarantee that the water does not remain on the mat.
It is necessary to inspect mats from the underside to ensure that they are in good condition. If you notice little bits coming out, it’s time to get a new rug.
You should be able to clean bath rugs on your own by now. Furthermore, it is always best to take
measures and seek expert assistance on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between A Bath Mat And A Bath Rug
When I refer to a bath rug, I main am talking about the decorative and comfortable rug that
people place in front of the bathroom sink. These rugs are not meant to absorb water but are
there to keep your feet cozy as you use the mirror and sink. A bath mat is a mat that you use when you leave the shower. Bath mats are more absorbent and they help your feet dry off after your wash,
How Often Should You Wash Your Bathroom Rugs?
I wash my own bath mats and rugs once a week, or more often if they look or feel dirty. I used to
only wash them once a month until I discovered mold and mildew buildup on the rubber backing
of your rug so I upped your frequency of washing.
Can Bathroom Rugs Go In The Washing Machine?
Bathroom rugs are ok to place into the washing machine as long as the care label does not advise against it. If you cannot wash your rug in the machine, follow your tips on how to handwash your bathroom rug.
My Bath Rug Has Lost Its Fluff, What Can I Do?
If your bathroom rug has lost its fluffiness, you can restore the fluff by adding vinegar to the
washing load, just as suggested in the washing instructions. Using dryer balls, or aluminum foil in the tumble dryer will help restore some fluffiness as well. You do not need to use fabric softener
when washing your bathroom rug.
Can I Wash Bathroom Rugs With Towels?
You can wash your bathroom rugs with towels, as long as you wash the towels again in hot water
later. Memory foam, chenille, and microfiber rug should not be washed with a towel at all
Should I Place A Rug In Front Of The Toilet?
Many people enjoy having a rug in front of the toilet, however, I cannot recommend putting one
there. These rugs get covered in urine and feces when anyone goes to the bathroom and unless
you’re washing it twice a week or more, it’s just not a sanitary item to have in the bathroom.
Children especially are rather adventuresome with their bathroom game, and if you’re cleaning the toilet daily like me, you know that the rug in front of the toilet will collect a lot of extra stuff that you do not want to inhale and step on.
How Do I Get Rid Of That Really Bad Smell?
There are several methods, however, if the rug contains a lot of bacteria, you may want to try
needing bleach! But be careful not to overuse it and make your bathroom floor too slippery. To avoid
unpleasant odors, you may also use dish soap, baking soda, or vinegar. By now, you should be
well-versed in nearly all aspects of Bathroom Rug maintenance. After a few trials, you should be
able to clean bath rugs on your own. Always check your bathroom trash can for odors too,
because it might not be the rug that is causing the smell.
How To Clean Bathroom Rugs Of All Types
Now that you’re an expert on cleaning bathroom rugs made of different materials, you should be able to keep up with the rug and mat cleaning once a week. If you have little ones who crawl around in the bathroom, you might want to consider washing your rugs and mats more often so they’re crawling on clean rugs.
Remember to always wash your washing machine out with hot water after you finish washing bathroom rugs and avoid washing your bathroom mat with a regular load of clothing.
Always remember to shake out or vacuum the rug before washing to avoid causing damage to the washing machine or the next load of clothes.
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Grainne Foley
Grainne Foley is a wife and mother of 2 great kids. During her 5 years of full time RV travel, Grainne learned to become very efficient at household chores, in order to make time for family adventures. Now, back in a house, she has continued to create tools and techniques to help others lighten the load of household organization and cleaning.
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