41% of Brits go two weeks or longer until cleaning their bathmat
Only 25% frequently clean this household item as recommended by experts
Hot baths are a luxury this time of year, but while you are enjoying a relaxing soak you could be forgetting about the not-so-luxurious bacteria build up on your bathmat.
We polled the nation on their cleaning habits and found that almost half of Brits neglect their bathmat, waiting up to two weeks or even longer until they clean it.
A further 13% clean their bathmat only a few times a year and 5% clean theirs only once.
Women in the UK are more likely to clean their bathmat, with 15% doing it twice a week compared to only 10% of men doing the same.
We spoke with home cleaning expert Belinda Everingham to highlight the hidden dangers in a bathroom and provide a simple cleaning guide for bathmats.
Bathmats are a breeding ground for nasty bacteria in the bathroom.
You should aim to clean it once a week at least, depending on how often it is used.
Clung to floors, mats have no way of circulating air or drying off and this will create moisture and result in a build-up of mildew and mould.
“Always remember to regularly clean frequently used bathroom items such as bathmats and towels, as well as highly touched surfaces. These are often the dirtiest places in bathrooms, where germs can be spread.
Belinda Everingham – Bondi wash
Before any washing, check the care tag.
This will ensure that you treat and clean the mat correctly, depending on the guidance given for the materials used in the product.
Not only do mats soak up moisture and steam but they also gather dust, dirt and hair.
Shaking the bathmat before washing is imperative to remove any unwanted debris and avoid clogging up washing machines later on.
If the mat has a rubber side to it, consider using a cloth on this area to pull away any other visible grime.
A vacuum can also be used for day-to-day maintenance- a quick once over will keep on top of your mats between deep cleans.
When using the washing machine for this item, use a warm setting as opposed to hot.
This will be cool enough to prevent discolouration and hot enough to kill any bacteria.
Use your favourite smelling washing detergent and add in baking soda. Half a cup should be fine.
This will help to eradicate odours, brighten colours, and reduce bacteria.
Adding lavender can also help maintain freshness and aid in reducing mildew.
Never overload the washer. Wash one mat at a time and never with other fabrics such as towels, as there is a risk that bacteria could transfer from one material to another.
When hanging out a mat to dry, opt for an outside location if possible.
The breeze will prevent any matting together of the material so that it can dry completely before placing back in the bathroom.
If you are lucky enough for some winter sun, this will also help kill any remaining particles.
Choose an appropriate bathmat.
There are a range of styles and materials out there and some are easier to clean than others.
A regular cotton mat is one of the easiest to maintain.
Keep a few bathmats handy so that while one is washing and drying you have some replacements.
This will prompt you to clean them more often and reduce the risk of bacteria build up in your bathroom.
Our research suggests that there are a plethora of ways that people clean their bathmats (or don’t), but what do you do to stave off bathroom bacteria?
If you have any tricks and tips on keeping a bathmat clean, let us know in the comments below.
Bathmats need to be cleaned as the way they are positioned on the floor makes it near impossible for them to dry off or circulate air effectively.
As a result, a bathmat can become a breeding ground for bacteria in the form of mildew and mould. Therefore, it is recommended that bathmats are cleaned at least once a week, or more regularly depending how many people use them after stepping out of the home bathtub or shower enclosure.
For further information, take a look at our blog, The Importance Of Cleaning Bathmats.
You do need to clean a bathmat, and it is recommended you do so at least once a week, or maybe more depending how often it is used, and how many people frequent the home bathtub or walk in shower.
If left unwashed, bathmats can prove a breeding ground for bacteria such as mildew and mould, with their positioning rendering them unable to properly dry off or circulate air effectively.
To find out more, browse our blog, The Importance Of Cleaning Bathmats.
Firstly, you should check the care tag on the bathmat to make sure there are no special requirements, and that you treat the material correctly without any adverse effects.
Then shake the mat off to get rid of any dust or dirt, and in most cases, you’ll then be able to place the bathmat in your washing machine. Remember to use a warm setting rather than hot for optimal cleaning – this will be cool enough to prevent discolouring but hot enough to obliterate bacteria.
For more help and advice surrounding cleaning a bathmat, take a look at our dedicated blog – The Importance Of Cleaning Bathmats.
You should aim to clean a bathmat at least once a week, and possibly more often depending on how regularly it is used, especially if multiple people make use of the bathtub or shower enclosure in a household.
Bathmats can prove a breeding ground for bacteria, as their positioning renders them unable to circulate air or dry off, which can lead to a build-up of mould and mildew.
For further information, take a look at our dedicated blog, The Importance Of Cleaning Bathmats.
Rikki has a passion for interior design and an even bigger passion for writing about it. When she isn’t writing about gorgeous bathroom interiors, you’ll find her discovering all of the latest trends.
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