How To Clean A Bath Mat

Your toes hit the mat, expecting spa day softness. Instead you get yesterday’s shampoo, today’s damp, and a whiff straight from low tide. Sound familiar?

It’s time to clean that bath mat, properly and regularly. This guide shows you how to clean bath mats of every type (fabric, rubber, plastic, bamboo, memory foam, chenille) with both machine washing and hand washing methods, plus pro tips for banishing mould, mildew, and mystery odours. 

The Short Version

• Fabric bath mats → Shake it, hoover the underside, wash warm, vinegar splash, dry like the Sahara.
• Rubber or PVC bath mats → Soak, scrub like it insulted your nan, rinse, air dry.
• Bamboo or wood bath mats → Wipe, dip fast like a toe in cold sea, dry in sun, oil sometimes.
• Mould drama → Vinegar spray, baking soda paste, scrub, rinse, dry.
• Frequency → Solo household = monthly; kids/pets/gym buffs = weekly.
• Prevention → Hang after use, ventilate, wash monthly like it’s a subscription.

Why You Need To Wash Your Bath Mat

A bath mat is more than a decorative landing pad; it’s a sponge that absorbs soap scum, skin cells and every splash that escapes your shower curtain. Leave those deposits to stew and the mat loses softness, gains odours and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep it clean and it stays grippy underfoot, gentle against skin and far less biologically threatening.

What You’ll Need To Clean Your Bath Mat

• Mild detergent (the good stuff, not the weird neon one)
• White vinegar (basically cleaning’s Swiss Army knife)
• Baking soda (for when vinegar needs backup)
• Optional but sensible: rubber gloves, open window, patch-test if adding essential oils
• A soft brush or old toothbrush (channel your inner forensic cleaner)
• Vacuum with brush bar or handheld attachment (for both sides of the mat)
• Microfibre cloth (optional, but makes you feel fancy)
• Bucket or basin (unless you’re chaos and use the sink)
• A couple of towels (to keep the washing machine from doing a sad wobble)
• Optional again: Tea tree oil or disinfectant booster (10 drops = bonus anti-microbial mojo)

Bath Mat Cleaning: Frequency & Care Tips

When deciding how often to clean a bath mat, think about household traffic: a single occupant can usually wash a bath mat once a month, whereas a busy family or gym loving couple should clean their bath mat every four to seven days, or sooner if it stays damp or starts to smell. Rotating two mats lets each one dry fully and prevents emergency laundry runs. While most styles tolerate a quick machine cycle, always read the care label before you clean your bath mat, because rubber backed, memory foam and natural fibre designs each have strict rules on how to care for your bath mat without damaging its materials.

Machine Washing Fabric Bath Mats

Step 1 – Start outside

Start outside: shake the mat hard to fling off lint, then run the vacuum nozzle across the back so loose fluff doesn’t choke the washer.

Step 2 – Choose wash settings & add vinegar

For ordinary cotton, polyester, chenille or microfiber, choose a gentle setting in warm water, cold for memory foam, add your regular detergent and pour about 60 ml of white vinegar into the softener compartment.

Step 3 – Let vinegar work

Vinegar neutralises stubborn odours and loosens soap film.

Step 4 – Balance the load & wash

Toss in two old towels to balance the load, close the lid and let the machine work.

Step 5 – Dry according to the care label

Afterward, listen to the care label: most fabrics tolerate a low tumble dry, but memory foam and some microfibres must air dry.

Step 6 – Check for complete dryness

The mat is ready to return when the backing feels completely dry. No cool spots, no hidden damp.

How To Clean Rubber or PVC Bath Mats

Most rubber or PVC mats live in the shower or bath and collect grime inside the suction cups.

Step 1 – Prep the mat

Peel the mat from the floor, lay it cups-up and spray a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water.

Step 2 – Wait & initial scrub

After ten minutes, scrub each cup with a stiff brush or an old toothbrush and rinse.

Step 3 – Monthly deep soak

Once a month, or whenever you spot mould, submerge the mat in a bath of warm water mixed with one cup of hydrogen peroxide or bleach per four litres.

Step 4 – Soak & second scrub

Soak for at least half an hour, scrub again, rinse until the surface squeaks under your fingers.

Step 5 – Dry thoroughly

Leave the mat flat or draped over the bath until it’s bone dry — rubber mats shouldn’t be put in the dryer.

Optional: If bleach makes you uneasy, swap it for half a cup of vinegar plus a small squirt of dish soap and extend the soak to two hours.

How To Clean Bamboo & Wood Bath Mats

Timber behaves like a cat near water: tolerate brief contact, never full immersion.

Step 1 – Dust the slats weekly

Give the timber slats a quick dust with a soft brush to lift loose debris.

Step 2 – Wipe with a barely damp cloth

For routine upkeep, wipe the surface marks away with a barely damp cloth; timber hates full immersion, so keep moisture brief.

Step 3 – Quick dip for a deeper clean

When it’s time to clean a bamboo bath mat or wood version more thoroughly, dip the mat quickly, scrub lightly and rinse straight away.

Step 4 – Dry in warmth or sunlight

Set the mat in the sun or a warm, airy spot until bone dry to prevent warping or mould.

Step 5 – Oil every 3–6 months

Every three to six months, rub in a suitable wood oil so the grain stays sealed and moisture-resistant, keeping your wood bath mat in top shape.

How To Clean Plastic or Rubber Backed Fabric Rugs

Step 1 – Remove loose grit

Hoover or shake the rug to lift grime and lint before you clean a plastic or rubber backed bath mat, then run your hoover over the back of it.

Step 2 – Mist the fabric side & spot-treat stains

Lightly mist the fabric surface with the vinegar-and-dish-soap mix mentioned earlier, then rub any stains with a cloth.

Step 3 – Treat the backing with straight vinegar

Flip the rug, spray undiluted white vinegar over the rubber side, let it sit for ten minutes and scrub the whole underside with a damp brush tipped in a drop of dish soap to wash a rubber backed bath mat thoroughly.

Step 4 – Wipe away all soap residue

Use a clean damp cloth to remove suds as any leftover soap can leave a slippery “skating-rink” film.

Step 5 – Hang to dry completely

Hang the mat outdoors or drape it over the bath until bone dry before returning it to the floor; this keeps your rubber backed fabric bath rug safe and mould-free.

How To Keep Your Bath Mat Free From Mould 

Hang the mat after every shower. On a rail, over the bath, anywhere but flat against the floor. Then run the extractor fan or crack the window for twenty minutes to chase off steam. Treat your bath mat to a wash every month, or every fortnight in a bustling family bathroom, and rotate two mats so each one enjoys proper drying time. A weekly mist of vinegar is an easy, odour-killing insurance policy.

Disinfectant Boost For Bath Mat Mildew 

For a natural antibacterial kick, add around ten drops of tea tree essential oil to the soak water or straight into the machine’s softener drawer. The oil’s antifungal properties help keep mildew at bay and leave a fresh, herbal scent.

After the spin, dry the mat completely. Tumble on low if the label allows or hang it in full airflow. 

Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Bath Mat 

Skipping the initial shake sends lint straight into the washing machine’s filter; drowning rubber mats in a hot tumble cycles them toward a crispy death. Too much detergent leaves sticky residue that collects fresh dirt, while leaving the mat wet on the floor invites mould to check in overnight. Finally, ignoring the care tag risks shrinking the mat to doll-house size and invites a small but heated bout of rage.

If the backing peels, foam collapses, or mould dives deep and won’t budge, thank your bath mat for its service and replace. No amount of scrubbing revives structural decay.

One Small Mat for Man…

..one giant leap for bathroom kind.

Keeping your bath mat clean is easy once you know how. Now go forth and step confidently.

If this guide made you feel mildly powerful, you might also like:

• Shop our bath mats – from anti-mould marvels to cloud-soft comfort
• Explore our bathroom buying guides – clever picks, no jargon
• More DIY cleaning tips – for tiles, taps, and everything in between
• Bathroom design inspiration – real homes, bold ideas, no beige allowed

Know someone whose bath mat smells like a crypt? Share this guide. Be the hero their bathroom didn’t know it needed.