Everyone is aware of that fact; what happens in the bathrooms, so it needs to be cleaned regularly. And obviously, you clean the bathtub, toilet, and shower frequently to eliminate germs, bacteria, and soap scum.
You wash bundles of clothes, towels, and hand towels every week. But what about your bath rugs or mats? Things that are placed underfoot, right outside the bathtub or shower, and right away in front of the sink.
How often to wash bathroom rugs? It is clear that most people forget or skip cleaning bathroom rugs regularly.
It does not matter whether the bathroom rugs are large and decorative; the cleaning cycle depends on how many people are using the bathroom and how careful they are with the mat or rugs.
After learning how to clean bathroom rugs properly, you will manage to clean bath rugs or mats without damaging them.
How To Wash Bathroom Rugs?
Read the Labels
All textile goods sold in the USA must have care labels attached to them. Take time to read the care label carefully if it is the first time you clean the rug. It will give you helpful information on fabric content and specific washing instructions.
Shake the Rug Outdoors
Take the bathroom rug outside before doing anything else, and give it a good shake to get rid of any debris, trash, hair, and sand trapped in the fibers. It is worth doing this at least one time a week between cleaning.
Examine the Back of the Rug
Rubber-backed bathroom rugs are made of various combinations of materials, from cotton to nylon. Rubber-backed bathroom rugs are standard in many homes.
If your bathroom rug has rubber backing, check the beneath of the rug to confirm that the back is shattered, peeling, or missing parts. If so, it may be time to change it with a new one; further cleaning may fill your washing machine with these little pieces of plastic that can damage the water pump. A new bathroom rug is much cheaper than a washer repair.
Place in Washing Machine
Bathroom rugs need to be washed with similar textile goods and colors. Towels are the best option for that, as bathroom rugs produce some lint you don’t want on your clothes.
Put the rug in the washing machine. If your washing machine is top-loading, adjust it around the center agitator, and place them opposite each other so the machine can stay balanced.
Avoid overfilling the washing machine with your bath rugs; keep some space for it to move around. You would like the water and detergent to reach all surfaces smoothly. Set cold water and wash with regular laundry detergent.
Note: Always use cold water as the rubber backing may dissolve from hot water. Quickly remove the rugs from the washer as soon as the washing cycle has been finished.
Finally, If the rubber backing begins to crack in washing cycles, some new rugs can get damaged. These little pieces of plastic can damage the water pump in your washer. So it is time to get some new rugs if the rubber backing starts to crack.
Decrease the Spin Cycle Speed
If your washer has adjustable speeds for the spin cycle, reduce the speed; if your bath rug has a non-skid backing. It will help limit breaking and minimize any damage and tear.
Shake and Dry
While removing bathroom rugs from the washing machine, give a good shake to release lines and folds, and hang rugs from a clothesline or put it on a drying rack to air dry.
If any creases or wrinkles stay after drying, just put the rug on the floor; the humidity and temperature in the room will loosen the fibers and eliminate the wrinkles and creases.
How to Easily Clean Chenille and Microfiber Bathroom Rugs?
These bathmats are popular because of their plush and soft quality that feels on the feet; and tend to dry quickly. It needs to be handled with care. Here is how to clean bathroom rugs made of microfiber or chenille.
Before getting started, you should check the care instructions carefully. Some chenille rugs need handwashing, so don’t forget to examine the care label first.
You need to make sure to shake out the rug to be freed it from dust and debris. You can vacuum-clean it or use an upholstery attachment.
- Place your rug in the washer, and it will be clean and fluffed up. You can add some more chenille items but not other stuff, such as towels.
- Don’t overload your washer.
- Add around ¼ cup of your favorite soft laundry detergent to the washer. Don’t add bleach or fabric softener.
- For the longest possible life of your rug, set the washing machine to a cold and gentle cycle.
- Turn the cycle on
You don’t want a lot of extra dirt and hair trapped inside of the rug, where you can see it. Put your rug in the washing machine. Pick a cold setting, gentle cycle, and low agitation for best results. This is where you can add some of that soft laundry soap or a ¼ cup.
Do not add bleach. Start the wash cycle for your rug.
Note: Do not mix your chenille bathroom rugs with other fabrics, particularly towels, when using a dryer. If these bathroom rugs pull up lint, they will not dry as fast.
How To Clean a Memory Foam Bathroom Mat?
Memory foam rugs are designed to absorb excess moisture. Their high absorptive quality makes them ideal for use in bathrooms and kitchens.
Other than that, they also have a pleasant feel to them. They are machine washable and dryer friendly like chenille rugs, which is why they; should be washed in a similar way to chenille rugs.
Begin by checking the care label to be sure the item is machine-washable. If the label says it is, then follow these instructions:
- Remove unattached dirt from the rug by vacuuming it.
- To remove a spot from microfiber fabric, use a product formulated especially for microfiber.
- Place the rug in the washing machine. Front-loading machines should have the rug face upward, while top-loaders should have the rug positioned around the agitator.
- Run a cold-water wash on the delicate cycle.
- Use a mild detergent, do not use bleach.
- Turn the cycle on
- Hang them to dry.
Note: Do not use hot water, fabric softener, bleach, or harsh chemicals on microfiber.
How to Clean Bathroom Rugs by Hand?
Handwashing is gentler than washing with a washer and works with similar effectiveness. If your rug is not machine washable, follow this procedure to wash it by hand. Though you can do this indoors, it is more convenient to do it outdoors with a garden hose.
Follow the below instructions to hand wash your bathroom rug:
- Shake, sweep, or vacuum the rug to remove dirt, dust, and other debris.
- Spray or soak the bath rug with water from a faucet or the bathtub.
- Apply the detergent thoroughly on the full surface of the rug.
- With a soft brush, gently scour in the detergent.
- Scrub the entire rug until the detergent has saturated and cleaned the spot, and continue scrubbing to make sure you remove all of the spots.
- Wash it well to remove the soap.
- To remove the extra water, squeeze the rug by rolling it up and hanging it up somewhere in the house so all the water can dry out of it, or lay it on a flat, clean surface to dry out.
Difference Between Bath Rug and Bath Mat
A bathmat is usually used directly outside the shower or tub. You stand upon it before leaving, and it will absorb water from your feet and, don’t spread around the bathroom floor.
A bath rug is used for the same purpose, but it is used for other purposes also. It is more likely a decorative piece, and many people use it to give a stylish look in their bathroom space. However, it can function like a bathmat and absorb water as well, but that is not the main purpose of a rug.
You can place a bath rug anywhere in the bathroom. At the gateway, outside the shower, under the sink, or in the middle of the room.
Bath rugs are not much helpful outside the tub or shower as a bathmat.
How Often Should You Wash Bathroom Rugs?
It would be very nice to wash your bathroom rugs once a week. If the bath rug does not become too wet or has a rubber backing, you can clean that bath rug at least every two or three weeks.
Bathroom rugs are infamous for drawing dust, dirt, and germs. If the bath rugs remain wet for a long time, mold and mildew will appear.
