Bath mats may be tiny household items in their size, but in terms of convenience, they play a giant part. They keep your feet dry and maintain the decor in your bathroom, all while helping to avoid slipping.
However, long-term attention is required since the small pad is always subjected to water. This article will walk you through the procedure for care that will ensure your bath mats stay fresh, soft, and newly clean throughout the year.
1. Shake and Air Them Out Daily
Your first line of defence against mould and odour is airing the bathroom mat daily. Following each shower, shake the bathmat to rid it of excess water and hair. Next, hang it to dry on a towel rail or over the tub’s edge rather than leaving it on the floor.
Bath mats often trap moisture, creating the perfect environment for mildew; proper ventilation prevents it and damp smells. If you can, open a window or switch on the bathroom air extractor for the mat to air out entirely between uses.
2. Wash Regularly Based on Usage
How often you should wash your bath mat comes down to how busy your bathroom is. Generally, for a multiple-user household, a weekly wash is ideal. If it’s a low-traffic bathroom, then every two weeks should be sufficient to keep it clean.
Most fabric bath mats can be tossed right in with the rest of your laundry. Using warm water and a mild detergent is acceptable, while you should avoid bleach unless the bathmat is heavily stained.
3. Disinfect to Eliminate Bacteria
One easy, natural way of doing your laundry is to add a cup of white vinegar to one rinse cycle. The vinegar is known to be a natural fabric softener and disinfectant. It also helps to remove any unpleasant smell.
You can also opt to use an antibacterial laundry sanitiser. It is particularly useful in the warm, humid months when your bath mat will get moist more quickly; hence, bacteria will have a conducive environment to thrive in.
4. Dry Thoroughly to Prevent Mould
Dry a cotton or microfiber mat in a dryer on a gentle cycle or an outdoor rubber-backed mat in fresh air to avoid it deforming. If you line-dry the item indoors, hang it in a well-ventilated space, or keep it in sunlight, if possible. Sunlight kills germs naturally and makes the fabric smell fresh. Drying the mat properly would stop it from getting that musty smell again.
5. Spot Clean Stains Immediately
Spilt makeup, toothpaste, or soap can also leave marks on your mat. In this case, you will find nothing works better than a wet cloth dipped in mild detergent. Do not wash too hard. Otherwise, the fabric will get worn out. Apply baking soda and a small amount of water to the stained spot. It will turn into a paste. Wash away after a quarter of an hour.
6. Rotate and Replace When Needed
Bath mats do not have a lifetime shelf life, even if you wash them regularly. If you have two or more mats, be sure to change them regularly. This way, you will allow the others to wash and dry out properly, increasing their overall service life. In the end, the mats will not become fuzzy or lose colour too quickly.
7. Choose the Right Material for Easy Maintenance
The best prevention is to pick the right mat to begin with. Cotton mats are comfortable and absorbent; microfibre mats dry faster and are mould-resistant. Rubber-backed mats are great for avoiding spills but require special care when washed. If you are in the market for a new bath mat, consider shopping for machine-washable mats with quick-dry technology.
Clean Comfort Starts Here
All in all, it is not difficult to maintain the cleanliness of bath mats; it is only necessary to show consistency. With proper care, they will serve for many years and retain their softness and hygiene. Thus, every time you leave the shower, you can feel not only warmth under your feet but also your bathroom’s cleanliness and comfort.
