Washing bathroom mats in the washing machine

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Does anyone here wash bathroom mats in the washing machine?

I came across an article saying it's bad for the washing machine because bathroom mats can absorb a lot of water and they get heavy and the spin in the washing machine and the heaviness of a wet bathroom mat is going to wear down the machine faster.

My mother is paranoid about germs and washes mats nearly every week when I think maybe once or twice a month would be more than enough.

I always wash my bath mats in the washing machine, but they are never wet. Once Ive used it, I hang it over the bath until the next time. How old would they get washed if not in the machine? Cant imagine its any different than washing a towel although a bit heavier with the backing. But if your washing machine can handle say 5 kg, then 5 kg is 5 kg regardless of how that weight is made up....although obv don't wash a brick lol

I guess it depends on the type you have. Mine are more like bobbled towels, so they don't absorb huge amounts of water.

Yes! I do this.

Make sure you're adding more than one. Perhaps three. Make up a good size load.

I tend to use Synthetics at 60*C for this. Higher water level and slightly reduced agitation (compared to Cottons) with a good biological detergent - I just use whatever bio detergent I have in the house - usually Aldi's own brand!

My washing machine's synthetics programme spins at 1400rpm (albeit for a short time to minimise creasing) but you can do another separate spin at your washing machine's maximum to extract as much water as possible.

I do not tumble dry mine as they've usually got a plastic backing and I don't want that to degrade under the intense heat of a dryer.

You can air dry them until almost dry and then tumble into the dark side, to restore fluffiness.

Hope that helps!

X

Yes but according to washing machine engineer it’s the bobbly mats that shorten the life of the machine.

Yes, with my towels. They're similar. I suppose it might depend on the type - looking up 'bathroom mat' just now, I see plenty that don't look much like mine! A lot of the results look very fluffy or very synthetic. Mine just says combed cotton pile on the label.

Anything that has a 'can go in the machine' symbol gets thrown in the wash.
Our is a short haired one though and no heavier than a towel I imagine.
I wash ours quite frequently as it gets pretty wet and drying between uses leaves it looking a bit sad and flat.
I tend to dry off in the shower cubicle, but DSs don't and I'm sure all their extra body hair means they emerge much wetter than I do.

I always wash mine in the machine. We only have smallish thin bath mats though. I deliberately steer clear of the great big thick bobbly ones, because they weigh an absolute ton when wet.

I wash them in the machine but not on their own… the lobsided weight has previously caused my machine to stop ( with an error message). I mitigate that by adding more than one mat or padding out with tea towels or wash cloths. I don’t wash the.weekly though but I’m not excessively funny about “germs”.

I have a variety of 'long-haired' and 'short-haired' bath mats of differing fabrics and they all go in the machine. I give them a jolly good shake in the garden then put them on Eco wash with the towels. If I didn't they'd never get clean as I really can't see me handwashing them!

After recent experience am extremely cynical about the natural longevity of washing machines anyway (built-in obsolescence has become ludicrous) so can't see this making much difference.

I always wash mine in the machine but they're a pain to dry. I might just buy some extra hand towels and use those next time I replace the mat.

I use designated hand towels for bathmats. Never understood the thick fluffy type like a rug, how on earth does it even get dry after use, let alone washing it?

Yep I do. They go onto the bulky setting. My machine has a blanket setting too but that's a hotter wash.

Struggling to think how else you would wash a bath mat, if not in the machine (or using an ancient Peggy-tub arrangement)

How else would you wash them, if not in the washing machine? I can go through two or three a week (the dog pees on them, yeah, I know) so I wash them with a spoonful of Zoflora on a 40 degree wash and then air dry outdoors. My current washing machine has been with me for nearly ten years, so it's obviously not done it any harm.

Great minds wash alike, @BloodyAdultDC .

My bath mats are like thick towels so not a problem, but I wash my rubber backed doormats in the machine...

Yes, but certainly not every week or month I don't overload my 10kg machine when washing it

My bath mats get washed once a week. Mine & DH towels and mat go in one load and the “family” bathroom towels and mat go in another. My washing machine is 15 years old!

I’ve always washed mine in the machine and never had a problem with machines breaking…

I have about 4 bath mats and rotate them so I usually wash one every day or 2. There's 6 of us in the house with young kids and a dog who has the odd accident so they get wet and grubby. Never had a problem.

Wash all bathroom mats every week machine and never had problems

I also wash mine 2-3 times a week as concerned about foot fungus and other bacteria, also have lads and men in house that I'm sure don't aim straight. I also wash my slippers frequently, tea towels, dish clothes and hand towels every day (have dishwasher, but tea towels dry the odd bit.

One cotton bathmat can break your washing machine bearings. A good washing machine will not even attempt to spin one bath mat.

2, 3 or more bath mats are no problem. I wash mine with towels so also no problem.

Polyester bathmats can be washed any old how, but they are vile, totally non-absorbent and like standing your wet feet on a cats fur. Bloody horrible.

I have two in my bathroom and wash regularly. They are the memory foam ones with rubber backing and seem fine in the machine.

I wash mine in the machine. They are relatively thick mats, but not especially large.

I don’t seem to go through washing machines at a quick rate. If I’m getting 90% of the lifespan instead of 100%, I don’t particularly care of it means I have an easy way to clean my bath mats along the way.