The mat inside your bath or shower has the toughest job in the bathroom: it sits in water, gets soap splashed on it every day and rarely gets a chance to dry underneath. Flip it over after a few weeks and you may find a slimy film or dark spots around the suction cups. Cleaning a bathtub mat takes ten minutes and a few things you already have at home. Here is how to do it, and how to keep it cleaner for longer.
What you need
- A soft brush or an old toothbrush for the suction cups
- White vinegar and bicarb soda
- Dishwashing liquid
- A bucket or the bath itself
- Rubber gloves
How to clean a PVC or rubber bathtub mat by hand
- Peel it off. Lift the mat from one corner so the suction cups let go, and rinse both sides with warm water.
- Soak it. Fill the bath or a bucket with warm water, add about a cup of white vinegar and a squirt of dishwashing liquid, and leave the mat in it for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Scrub the underside. Make a paste of bicarb soda and a little water, put it on the suction cups and the textured side, and scrub with the brush. Pay attention to the gaps between the cups, where the film builds up.
- Rinse well. Rinse both sides until no paste or soap is left.
- Dry it completely. Hang it over the shower screen, the bath edge or the clothesline, suction cups facing out, until it is dry on both sides.
How to get mould off a bath mat
Dark spots on the underside of a bath mat are usually mould growing in the soap film and water trapped under it. For light spots, the vinegar soak and the bicarb scrub above are often enough. For stubborn spots on a plain PVC mat, you can use a diluted bleach solution, following the instructions on the bottle: wear gloves, keep the room ventilated, leave it for a few minutes only, then rinse thoroughly. Do not use bleach on coloured or printed mats, as it can discolour them.
If the spots are still there after cleaning, or if the mat has become sticky or cracked, it is time to replace it. Mould deep in a worn mat is very hard to remove.
Which cleaning method? Choose what you see on your mat.
Can you put a bathtub mat in the washing machine?
Some PVC and rubber mats can go in the machine, but only if the label says so. If it does, wash it on a cold, gentle cycle with a couple of towels to cushion it, add a little detergent, and skip the spin if your machine allows. Never put it in the tumble dryer: the heat can warp the mat and ruin the suction cups. If there is no label, hand washing is the safer choice.
How often to clean it
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Rinse and hang to dry after use | After each bath or shower, if you can |
| Quick wipe of the underside | Every week |
| Vinegar soak and bicarb scrub | Every two to four weeks |
| Replace the mat | When it is sticky, cracked or the spots will not come off |
Small habits that make cleaning easier
- Lift it after use. Hanging the mat over the bath edge lets the underside and the bath floor dry.
- Rinse off the soap. A quick rinse at the end of your shower removes most of the soap before it builds up.
- Keep the bathroom aired. Run the exhaust fan or open a window after showering.
- Clean the bath under it too. The bath floor under the mat needs a wipe whenever you clean the mat.
Looking for a new one? Our bathtub mats are PVC mats made for inside the bath, like the Vinyl Bathtub Mat or, for children, the Dinosaur Bathtub Mat. For the shower, see our shower mats.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean a bathtub mat with bicarb soda only?
Yes. A paste of bicarb soda and water, scrubbed with a soft brush, removes most of the film. Rinse well afterwards.
Why do the suction cups go dark?
Water and soap stay trapped under the cups, which is where mould tends to start. Lifting the mat after use and scrubbing the cups regularly keeps them cleaner.
Can I put my bath mat in the dishwasher?
It is not recommended. The heat of a dishwasher can warp a PVC mat and damage the suction cups.
What about the textile mat outside the bath?
That one goes in the washing machine in most cases. See our guide on how to wash bath mats.
Practical guides to choosing and caring for your bath mats.
