Mold sprouts and flourishes in wet places, particularly the bathroom, which is constantly humid. You may have seen its growth when washing your bath mats, prompting you to consider how to keep your bath mat from going moldy.
You can keep bath mats hygienic by washing them regularly to avoid stains, odors, and unwanted mold from emerging. Curbing hazardous mold growth requires preventative action and care. Avoid leaving wet bath mats on the floor now that mold is a fungus that grows in moist settings.
Furthermore, mold and mildew are health hazards that pose a significant risk to anyone using moldy mats. That’s why this article endeavors to guide you through how to safeguard your bath mat from molds.
Why Do Bath Mats Get Mouldy?
Mold can grow on bath mats because of prolonged exposure to moisture in the bathroom. The dampness could stem from plumbing pipes, leaking toilets and sinks, moist cellulose materials, and a lack of aeration.
Such conditions trap moisture and heat in your bathroom, creating a humid atmosphere that’s ideal for the growth of mold spores and mildew.
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How To Stop Bath Mat From Going Mouldy
One way to keep bath mats from becoming moldy is to minimize the moisture in the bathroom and on the bath mats.
Keep mold from invading your bath mats by cleaning them regularly, laying them over bathtubs to maintain their dryness, and freshening the bathroom. Mildew is a prevalent problem that restrooms confront daily.
While moisture and humidity are present in each bathroom, there are recommendations for preventing mold growth on bath mats.
1) Wash Your Bath Mats Regularly
Washing your bath mats at regular intervals keeps mold and mildew at bay. Manufacturers recommend you wash them at least twice every month, contingent on how dirty they get.
If multiple people step on the mats frequently, it’s advisable to wash them weekly. Asides from that, wash them as soon as you spot any stains or spills.
How To Wash Bath Mats
You can hand wash or machine wash bathroom mats subject to their material. Bath mats can collect stains, have a truncated lifespan, or become moldy if washed incorrectly.
The following section outlines how to clean your bath mats.
a) How To Machine-wash And Dry Your Bath Mat
Review The Product Care Label
Although most bathroom mats are machine washable, read the manufacturer’s care label on your bath mat to know whether you can employ your washing machine. You can machine wash plastic shower bath mats and fluffy floor bath mats.
However, mats with rubber-backing and high-shag surface characteristics may degrade during washing and high-heat drying cycles.
Use The Machine
Wash bath mats like you do with any other piece of laundry. Lay them in the washing machine and adjust the water temperature to warm or hot while maintaining a gentle cycle.
This step would eliminate any existing mildew, mold, or bacteria. You can also incorporate cleaning products, for example, white vinegar and laundry detergents, to sterilize the mat.
You may either clean the mats alone or add rugs to help with cleaning.
We should note that laundering the mats on a standard or bulky setting could cause damage or weakening of the material. To ensure the safety of the washroom mats, use a gentle cycle and wash them with either cold or hot water.
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Dry The Mat
By now, you’re well versed in the product care label and thus know whether your mat can go into a dryer. Avoid placing rubber mats in a dryer because they risk peeling or melting.
You can hang dry rubber mats on a clothesline. If the bath mat isn’t plastic, you can place it in a dryer with a warm temperature setting.
b) How To Handwash And Dry A Bath Mat
You may prefer handwashing to machine washing based on the gentleness of fibers and backing. It comes in handy on frequently cleaned products like mats.
Cleaning bath mats by hand demands a suitable cleaning product and bleach solution. Follow the steps below to handwash your bath mat.
Make The Bleach Solution
Determine the amount of bleach and the amount of space you’ll need to wash the bath mat. Once you are sure, place the bath mat in a bathtub (a utility or laundry sink also works well) and soak it in a bleach solution.
It is a quick and practical way to wash your mat.
Wear Protective Gear
Exercise caution when using bleach to avoid skin and eye irritation. Wear goggles and proper cleaning gloves when pouring the bleach solution.
Wash In A Well-ventilated Area
If you are washing your bath mat using a bleach solution, ensure you do it in a well-ventilated setup. You can enhance aeration by opening the windows or leaving the bathroom door wide open.
A well-aerated area will protect you from dizziness induced by inhaling unpleasant fumes from the bleach solution.
Start With Cold Water
Fill or pour a gallon of water into the tub, then add the bleach solution to it. Avoid using hot water at this stage because it can intensify your bleach.
Measure The Beach Solution
Refrain from pouring the bleach into the water without first measuring it, seeing that an unbalanced ratio of bleach to water could be harmful. It might also induce dizziness and respiratory problems.
Regular cleaning requires one teaspoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water.
Soak And Scrub
Soaking bath mats in bleach solution for at least three hours would eliminate mold and mildew. Then, scrub the bath mat using a scouring pad or cleaning brush to eliminate dirt and debris.
While scrubbing, check both the front and back of the mat, specifically the suction cups, for mold and dirt. Scrub off any discoloration or residue accumulation with white vinegar to disinfect and remove the mold.
Rinse With Warm Water
Having soaked your bath mats in the bleach solution, rinse them in warm water to wash away the filth and other impurities that might have accumulated. Using warm water makes your restroom mats usable for a couple of months.
Hang-dry The Mat
Finally, dry the mat outside in the sun because the sun’s heat will speed up mold removal. If you can’t dry the bath mats outside, hang them on the shower pole or the tub.
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2) Hang The Mats Over The Tub
After taking a bath, always place your non-slip bath mat over the tub to keep it dry. Draping it this way will also diminish the growth chances of mildew and mold, which would have grown had you left it on a wet floor.
Alternatively, you can maintain your mat’s dryness by placing them over a towel rack or shower curtain rod.
3) Proper Bathroom Ventilation
Another strategy to keep mold at bay is to keep your bathroom well ventilated. You can use the exhaust fan when showering and 30 minutes after.
You can also open the bathroom window to allow fresh air to ventilate the area.
4) Select The Right Fan
Ensure you select a fan that suits your bathroom. Vents are efficient in removing moisture from the air and directing it outdoors. Many perceive them as the primary line of defense versus mildew and mold. The fan’s cubic feet per minute (CFM) rating will establish whether it is suitable for the size of your bathroom.
5) Make Use Of A Squeegee
A squeegee is another tool that can control dampness in the bathroom. After bathing, squeegeeing the shower walls or the tub diminishes the humidity level by 3/4.
Wiping the tub and the walls only takes a few minutes of your time, unlike removing molds.
6) Inspect The Bathroom For Any Leaks
Bathroom leaks are one of the primary causes of mold. Make sure you seal and repair any leaks you notice right away, rather than waiting until later.
If you have difficulties creating time to curtail the issue, you can hire a plumber to help you out. Remember, molds grow and spread rapidly, so you must act quickly to stop leaks.
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Should You Wash Bath Mats?
To maintain bath mats clean, you must wash them regularly depending on how much dirt they accumulate. Wash them weekly, and keep them dry to avoid the growth of mildew and mold on them.
To keep your bath mat looking excellent and mold-free, replace it every two years.
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Conclusion
We loaded the above post with the most crucial guidelines for individuals who wish to understand why their bath mats grow moldy and how to stop it from happening. Molds can be harmful to one’s health, especially if one is allergic to mold.
As a result, ridding your bath mats of molds is essential for hygiene and health purposes.