Do you have a bath mat in your bath?

[whomoon]

My DP moved in with me 18 months ago and insisted we use a bath mat in our bath for when we have a shower (I have a shower over bath) as he says it’s too slippy without.

I didn’t particularly mind as my bathroom is quite tired and the sight of seeing a white plastic mat in the bath didn’t really bothered me. Even though I do find them very unattractive and unhygienic (I do clean it often)! I let it go as it’s something he prefers to have.

However, I have a bathroom refurb coming up - high quality goods, all lovely designed etc, and the thought of putting a white plastic bath mat back in my beautiful bathroom I think will just look awful.

I’ve never had one before, maybe in the 80’s, and have only ever seen them in older peoples bathrooms as a safety item. Looks quite old fashioned to me and don’t think it will go with my new shiny bathroom!

It made me wonder, how common are they and do people still use them?

YABU - they’re perfectly fine and safe thing to have
YABNU - I’d never have something so unsightly and unhygienic in my bathroom!

I have one, it’s clear rather than white. I’m clumsy and don’t trust myself to shower without one - I already have a scar on my foot from catching it on the corner of the shower screen as I got out and don’t fancy breaking something. I don’t like baths with the built in anti slip bits.

I’d definitely just get him to dry it and put it away when he’s done

Got one when I got pregnant because I wasn't willing to fall having a shower. We'll need to use them for DS too I really don't see how they're so unattractive or that the inside of your bath needs be attractive.

I'm not sure on the statistic but remember it being high regarding accidents in the home. Slipping in the shower/bath and hitting head on toilet is not way i want to go! Accidents can happen at any age. Having said that we don't have a bath mat in the shower as none slip bumps are built in. The bath however is a hazard hence a clear well cleaned/aired bath man for my young dc!

bath mat* not man....a whole new thread there 😂

I think they are dangerous. They always slide about. Would rather just be careful on a normal bath surface.

I have one and recently had someone ewwing at the mention of my bath mat - it hasn’t fixed down and I slipped and injured my knee - the conversation ended up being about the fact I had a bath mat, not the fact I bruised the bone in my leg, which was agony!

I flip it over (suction sides up) fill the bath a couple of inches and throw in bleach every week. I’ve never had mould underneath it!

@MuchTooTired

You can buy the anti slip circles and stick them on yourself.

Surely it would be better to stick them on the bath.

Sorry.

I've never known anyone have these until they get elderly!

I also know no one who has fallen in the shower.

We bought clear stick on non slip stars from Amazon when baby started using bath. They are about £5 for a pack and you can’t see them. Stuck on well and haven’t budged in 6+ months.

I think full on bath mats get loose and are more dangerous

The bathroom needs to be a functional room. Toilets aren't exactly pleasant things, should we leave one out of our new refurb?
It is sadly common to have injuries from falling in the bath/shower and not uncommon to actually die.
If you remove the mat after every shower you are far more likely to have it slip under you due to it not being properly in place.
I think this is one of those things that you feel differently about after your first near-miss

We don’t use one. However, we don’t use artificial soaps and those are less slippy than most artificial soaps and shower gels.

We do but only because we have a two year old, we didn't before, no one ever fell over

Don't have a mat but have shower shoes. Which are great.

As unattractive as they might be, I wouldn't be without it! I use oils etc in the bath so it can become very slippery, a bath mat really is a safety precaution.
I have a clear one, it's really not that noticeable, and to keep it looking good I scrub it in the bath every time I clean the bathroom, just fill bath up a few inches with hot water and bleach or bathroom cleaner, and use a large floor scrubbing brush to scrub the sucker side and the other side. Keeps it clean and mould free. I also replace them on general principles a few times a year.

Yes, for my two year old. It's a clear one and I Chuck it in the washing machine weekly. Hasn't broken yet.

We did when the kids were little. They were forever going mouldy and we were very happy to get rid when DC were old enough.

That said, I think DH should be "allowed" a safety mat as it's important to him. But also spell out to him all the cleaning/mould policing/replacing HE will need to do.

@SnackSizeRaisin

I think they are dangerous. They always slide about. Would rather just be careful on a normal bath surface.

No they don't if you put them in correctly. That's what the suckers are for, to hold it still.

4 months ago I didn't have one.

I had an accident (walking outside) and smashed my shoulder, needing the ball & the cuff replaced.

I wasn't 'allowed' to use my shower until I got one!

I found one (on Amazon) that's aqua coloured snd it looks quite fresh in the bath, I don't mind it. It's nothing like the old fashioned ones.

The first time I used it, it felt quite plasticky and slippery, but it soon felt ok. Though a bit slippery when I use conditioner 😳

It has been in place 3 months now. Every 2-3 days I make a point of using the shower hose to make sure clean water runs underneath it & that's it. I pulled it up last weekend to see if it needed to go in the machine, but it looks as clean as when it went in.

No way would I lift it every day as I think that's when you risk it slipping if you're not very careful pushing down on all the suckers.

I don't know how I'll feel about having it in a few months, but I suspect ill keep it, now that I have it.

I would still find a man moving in, insisting on bringing his bath mat a bit unsexy 🤣🤣

@Tailendofsummer

The bathroom needs to be a functional room. Toilets aren't exactly pleasant things, should we leave one out of our new refurb? It is sadly common to have injuries from falling in the bath/shower and not uncommon to actually die. If you remove the mat after every shower you are far more likely to have it slip under you due to it not being properly in place. I think this is one of those things that you feel differently about after your first near-miss

Yes you should. Dig a hole in the garden

Our bath is less than three years old and has a non slip area that you wouldn't know was there unless you felt it. Maybe get a bath with an 'in built' anti slip area.

I do for showers and like other posters it comes out once it's dry.

I have slipped in the bath before, hit my head on the side cut it open and knocked myself out - had there been a lock on the door I don't know what would have happened because DH ran upstairs when he heard the clatter and had to fish me out of the water that I was lying in face down unconscious!

No they are a bit dirty looking I think

Yep, for the bath. The shower base has ‘lumps’ that are anti-slip.

@FrangipaniBlue

I do for showers and like other posters it comes out once it's dry.

I have slipped in the bath before, hit my head on the side cut it open and knocked myself out - had there been a lock on the door I don't know what would have happened because DH ran upstairs when he heard the clatter and had to fish me out of the water that I was lying in face down unconscious!

I think you've just won this one. Thank goodness for that unlocked door.

Yes. I have a medical quality one as I'm terrified of slipping