How to clean bathroom rugs

Bathroom rugs are a magnet for hair and dust and, depending on how well-ventilated your space is, they can also be a haven for mold and mildew. Follow this step-by-step guide for the best way to clean bathroom rugs and mats.

Shake it out

The first step to cleaning bathmats and rugs is to give them a little shake. Take yours outside to shake loose any dirt and debris. A quick vacuum will also do the trick.

Check the care tag

Pay extra attention to the care tag on the back of your rug so you don't miss any important instructions. Although most are machine-washable, proper care varies by material, and certain cleaning methods could save your rug from wearing down faster.

Wash

How to wash bathmats in the washing machine

Machine-washable bathmat materials include cotton, polyester, nylon, chenille, memory foam and plastic.

High heat is best for killing any bacteria or mold. Select a warm or hot temperature for cotton, polyester, nylon and plastic rugs. Memory-foam bathmats must be washed at a cooler temperature to keep the synthetic material intact. You'll also want to avoid using any bleach on memory foam.

Choose a gentle cycle setting for all rugs. This setting is key, especially for cleaning large rubber-backed rugs, as it keeps the sticky, slip-resistant surface from deteriorating.

Dealing with an all-plastic mat, like the one in your shower? Look to vinegar, a natural cleaning agent, for a truly clean bathmat. Pour 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar right in with the detergent to give it the ultimate sanitation treatment. Add a few drops of tea tree oil along with it to help rid your rug or mat of any unwanted smells. Plus, the fresh fragrance will leave your bathroom smelling like a spa!

If you have a few bath towels lying around, toss them into the load too. This helps prevent your washing machine from getting off-balance and making those thunderous noises mid-cycle. Just be careful not to overload.

How to hand-wash bathroom rugs

Hand-wash-only materials include bamboo, jute and other natural fibers.

Not only does hand-washing a bathroom rug help maintain its materials, but it also extends its overall lifespan. To get started, grab some rubber gloves and fill your kitchen sink or a large tub with warm water and a few tablespoons of laundry detergent. If cleaning inside, consider laying down a plastic dropcloth or a towel to protect your floor. Add the bathmat to the mix and use a sponge to gently scrub it. Empty the sink or tub and rinse the rug with cool water until the soap is completely washed away.

For bathroom rugs made with bamboo, or other natural-fiber rugs, you'll want to avoid soaking them completely. Instead, dip a sponge into a bucket of warm, soapy water to spot-clean the rug. (This applies to area rugs, too!)

Hang or tumble dry

Unless it's memory foam, if you can machine-wash the rug, you can likely machine-dry it. For the others, stick to a low tumble dry on a cooler temperature setting to avoid any shrinking, especially if it's cotton.

Any bathroom rug can use the hang-dry method. Hang it in your laundry room over a drying rack, on a shower rod or outside on a clothesline. Keep it away from the sun to avoid discoloration. Most bathmats require the hang-dry method because the plastic underside could melt in the dryer.