Are you wondering about how to clean your bath mats? Are you wondering whether or not it is wise to put your bath mats in a washing machine to properly clean them?
Do all types of bath mats eligible to be put into a washing machine? Are there any negative consequences of having your bath mats washed in a washing machine?
Putting bath mats in the washer
Bathmats can definitely be put in the washing machine which will result in thorough and effective cleaning. However, you have to make sure that your bath mat’s material is eligible for machine washing. And you also need to use the proper temperature, detergent and setting to ensure better results.
Bath mats can definitely be very much benefited by having them washed in a washing machine but not all types of bath mats can be washed in a washing machine.
Therefore, being knowledgeable about what type of bathmats can or cannot be washed in a washing machine helps to remove your confusion.
Rubber bath mats:
Rubber bath mats can definitely be washed in the washing machine. Additionally, all you have to do is to make sure that you follow the proper instruction to have your rubber bath mats cleaned thoroughly.
In addition, you should always use some gentle detergent or softeners so that any kind of harsh chemicals cannot dissolve or damage the rubber bathmat.
Moreover, for better results, you can add two or three towels to your washing machine along with your rubber bath mat to make sure that the rubber bath mats are scrubbed by the towels which will result in complete cleaning.
Memory foam bath mats:
Your memory foam bath mats can also be put in a washing machine to clean them.
However, memory foam is known for its softness and you do not want your memory foam’s softness to be compromised by the usage of a harsh cleaning cycle in your washing machine.
Accordingly, you can add the setting of a warm wash cycle to clean your memory foam bath mats to make sure that all the bacteria are eradicated due to hot water wash but it is more suitable to use a cold wash setting for your memory foam.
This is because memory foam bath mats are made out of synthetic material that may get damaged if you use very warm water.
Additionally, you also need to make sure that you use gentle laundry detergent and do not use any kind of bleach to clean your memory foam bath mat.
What setting to wash your bath mats in the washer?
At what settings you need to wash your bath mats in the washer will depend a lot on the type of bath mats you have.
Accordingly, if the bathmats are made out of synthetic material, then it is better to use a cold wash cycle.
Moreover, bath mats made out of plastic or rubber backings should be washed in a warm or cold wash cycle because a hot wash cycle will cause the rubber or plastic backings to melt.
What bath mats can you wash in the washer?
Being aware of the types of bath mats that can be machine washable will help you to decide better and to remove your confusion.
Plastic bathmats:
Plastic bathmats are one type of bathmat that can be thoroughly cleaned in a washer. Accordingly, just by shaking the excess hair, dirt, and dust off of the plastic bath mats, you can directly put them in the washer to wash in a cold setting.
Chenille bathmats:
The chenille bath mat is another type of bath mat that can be washed in a washing machine without ruining the fuzziness or softness of this bath mat.
Accordingly, you have to make sure to use a very gentle detergent or softener while soaking your chenille bath mats in the washer.
Cotton bathmats:
A cotton bathmat is one of the most common bath mats that people use and it is very easy to wash in a washer.
Accordingly, you do not even have to wash your cotton bathmats in a separate cycle rather you can just toss your cotton bath mats with your regular laundry load and can have a nice and fresh-smelling bath mat afterward.
How do you wash bath mats in the washer?
Being knowledgeable about the proper steps that you need to follow to wash bath mats in the washer will help you to eradicate any unwanted accidents.
Gather all the elements:
One of the very first things that you need to do is to make sure you have all the elements ready that you need to wash your bath mats in the washing machine.
Accordingly, you will be needing laundry detergent, a drying rack, stain removers, a washing machine, and so on.
Check the care level:
In this step, you need to make sure you check the care level of the bath mat to determine whether or not the particular material of the bath mat you have is machine washable or not.
In addition, it is also important to check the care instructions to make sure you use the correct detergent, the correct temperature, the washing technique, and so on.
Shake the excess dirt out:
One of the most important things, before you insert your bath mats into the washing machine, is related to shaking your bath mat to get all the dirt or debris out of it before cleaning.
In addition, if your bath mat happens to have some rubber, plastic, or vinyl backings, then you need to make sure you totally wipe this part too before putting it in the washing machine.
Remove the stains:
Another additional step that you need to do before washing your bath mat in the washing machine is to do a stain treatment.
Accordingly, all you have to do is to make sure to use some vinegar or baking soda to remove stains from the bath mats.
Put the bath mats into the washing machine:
After you are done treating stains and cleaning the plastic or rubber backings, you now need to make sure to place your bath mats into the washing machine.
Accordingly, you have to make sure that you use a cold water cycle, not a hot one because a hot water cycle will cause the colors of your bath mats to fade eventually.
However, it’s not that you cannot at all use a high heat cycle for your bath mats rather warm water cycle can thoroughly clean your bath mat and can also make sure to eradicate all harmful bacteria.
In addition, bath mats are prone to having a funny smell due to all the usage and bacteria which is why the usage of tea tree oil in the washer can be really helpful in making your bath mats smell all nice and clean.
Dry your bath mat:
It is not like you can’t at all use the dryer option of your washing machine to dry your bath mats properly. Rather you just have to make sure the drying setting is at the lowest setting possible.
In addition, if you are not comfortable drying your bath mats in the washing machines, then you can air dry bath mats on drying racks or you can simply let them drip dry.
3 other ways to clean bath mats
Machine washing your bath mats isn’t the only way to clean bath mats rather there are other cleaning options that you can follow to clean your bath mats.
Vinegar wash:
A vinegar wash is a great way to make sure to clean your bath mats. Additionally, all you have to do is to soak your bath mats in vinegar-water solution and clean the mats afterward with a scrub.
In addition, the acidic element of vinegar will help to remove all the hard stains, germs, or smells and will also help to give your bath mat a shining look.
Hand wash:
One of the best ways to clean your bath mats is by washing them with your hands with cleaning liquids. Accordingly, all you need to do is to use a water-detergent mixture to wash your bath mats with a sponge.
Spray wash:
You can also spray wash your bath mats to clean them. Accordingly, you need a spray bottle where you need to pour 1/4 cup of vinegar and water and spray it onto every spot of the bath mats.
After letting the sprayed mixture soak in, you just need to use a fabric to scrub off all the stains and dirt from the bath mats.
Final Thoughts
Nothing can be more beneficial than having your bath mats cleaned in a washing machine. In fact, bath mats such as memory foam bathmats, rubber bathmats, plastic bathmats, nylon, cotton, and so on can be washed in a washing machine without any damage.