How to Clean Bathroom Rugs Correctly

They feel great on bare feet and add an extra layer of decorative quality and stylisation to any room, but do you know how to clean bathroom rugs correctly? As they can accumulate hair, dirt and even mould and mildew, we suggest adding it to your bathroom cleaning routine – and who doesn’t love a good spring clean? In this post, we explain the best way to clean your bathroom rug as well as where best to place them in the room.

How to clean bathroom rugs

As normal rugs are not designed for water exposure and moisture, they could become damaged over time if they are not looked after properly. So how do you wash bathroom rugs?

1. Clear any surface dirt and debris – get the vacuum out and run it over your rug a few times, or take it outside and give it a good shake, but either way, you need to get rid of anything that might just be sitting on the fibres.
2. Read the label – all the information you need for how to clean bathroom rugs is on the label, and it’s key that you make sure you don’t wash the rug in a way that will shorten rather than extend its life.
3. Wash the rug – for a machine-washable rug, a hotter wash will most effectively kill any lurking bacteria. Make sure that the cycle is gentle to avoid damaging the backing on the rug. Adding a couple of bath towels to the wash can help avoid off-balancing the washing machine as it cleans. Handwashing is great if your rug is not machine-washable (particularly rugs made of natural fibres). Fill your bathtub with warm water and some handwash detergent and gently soak and wring out the rug. You can also use a sponge for any tougher marks.
4. Dry it fully – some rugs can go through the tumble dryer (carefully, according to the care label), but if you’re in any doubt, it’s best just to hang them out to dry, especially if the rug is memory foam or has a plastic backing. Make sure to keep the rug out of the sun if you dry it outside, so the colour doesn’t fade.

Where to place bathroom rugs

The question of placement is one that depends entirely on the shape and size of your bathroom, just like the placement of any rug in a room. Ideally, you want to place bathroom rugs where they will do the best job at keeping your feet warm as you walk through the room! If you have an enviable size bathroom, two rugs will work well, with one more towards the sink and the other in front of the bath/shower, as you would normally place it. Or, if the shape of your bathroom is long but narrow, you could use a large runner rug to go down the centre of the space.

If you have a very small space and think you would struggle just to get one rug in the bathroom, then we recommend going for extra small rugs, which you would ideally place closer to/under the sink to make the open space look bigger.

You should also bear in mind how much of the floor you want to see in your bathroom – if your bathroom has gorgeous tiling that you want to show off, try placing a smaller, neutral-coloured rug to accentuate the tiles.

How to make bathroom rugs non-slip                    

Some of you may be wondering whether bathroom rugs are functional and if they are a good enough replacement, in terms of slip prevention, for bath mats. If the bathroom rug you have your eye on doesn’t have any anti-slip tread underneath, then it can be beneficial to make your bathroom rugs non-slip. You can make sure it is safe and secure with an anti-slip mat. These mats prevent rugs from sliding on wood, laminate, tiled, vinyl and even carpeted floors. In addition, the backing of the rug will be protected, meaning your rug will be in good health for longer.

We hope you’re feeling a little more confident about how to clean your bathroom rug. If your current bathroom rug is starting to look a little tired, or you’re keen to add one to your bathroom, then check out the specific collection of bathroom rugs on our website. Alternatively, you can browse our stunning rug collection based on our recommendations for every room in your home.