A rug is a necessary attribute for every bathroom. It not only creates coziness and comfort, but also ensures safety in the room. You won't slip when getting out of the bath. Plus, you won't have to step on cold, unpleasant tile floors. However, the rug requires regular maintenance, otherwise, due to everyday use, the appearance of the product will soon deteriorate and the color will fade.
It is important to ensure proper care of the product so that the rug does not stretch, lose color and shape, and retain its attractive appearance. In this article, we will find out whether a bath mat can be washed in a washing machine. And let’s look at how to clean a shower mat without harming the product.
Rules for caring for a bath mat
- Before washing your bath mat, be sure to read the product label. Be sure to follow the recommendations, and you will find the decoding of the symbols here;
- To determine whether a rug can be washed, you need to consider the type of material. With gentle products in the washing machine you can wash synthetic and woolen carpets, long-pile and PVC products;
- Items made of silk, linen, viscose and handmade rugs can only be washed by hand;
- Only oversized items that can easily fit in and out of the drum can be machine washed;
- It is better to wash the rubber mat by hand, otherwise the rubber will crumble over time. With hand washing and regular cleaning, the product will last a long time;
- If necessary, you can wash the rubber mat in the washing machine. For this purpose, the products are placed in a separate bag;
- After each use, wipe the surface with a damp cloth with warm water and soap;
- After washing, dry the mat thoroughly, otherwise fungus may form;
- You need to dry the bath mat in a well-ventilated area away from radiators, radiators and sunlight. This is especially true for products made of PVC and rubber, since such materials will dry out and become brittle. Fabric rugs may lose their shape;
- To maintain the cleanliness, appearance and performance of the product longer, use replaceable and removable covers or nets.
How often to wash
Bath mats should be washed regularly. Much depends on the degree of pollution and frequency of use of the bathroom. If the mat is rubber, you can rinse it at least every day, it will not cause harm, but still, once every 2 weeks you need to carry out more thorough cleaning and preferably using disinfectants.
Fabric mats are washed when they become dirty. Once a week is enough if there is no urgent need to remove a stain.
If the product is made of PVC or microfiber, washing should be carried out at least once every 10-14 days.
Washing in a washing machine
You can wash a rug made of wool, microfiber, synthetics and PVC in the washing machine. To do this, choose a special tool. Do not take classic powder, as it is difficult to wash out and may not suit the type of material. Use special liquid gentle formulations. An excellent solution would be gels and capsules for washing, and for disinfection, add two or three drops of essential oil to the water.
Do not use bleaches or aggressive products containing chlorine and alkali, even if you want to remove difficult stains or whiten the product!
Before washing, clean the surface from debris and dirt, threads and hair, animal hair using a dry brush and vacuum cleaner. Then put the item in a laundry bag or wrap it in a light-colored pillowcase. Set the delicate cycle, for wool - the mode for washing woolen items, for synthetics - synthetic ones.
Wash at temperatures up to 40 degrees without spinning and drying with double rinsing. For microfiber and synthetics, you can use water temperatures up to 60 degrees. After washing, do not wring out the mat or twist it. Hang the canvas on the crossbar. When the water has drained, you can hang the product in a well-ventilated area. Turn the material over every five hours while drying.
To speed up drying of the rug, wrap the product in a terry towel or sheet. The material will absorb excess moisture. Then hang the rug on the handrails, rope or crossbar.
Cleaning tools
If the house has a washing vacuum cleaner, cleaning is carried out using this device. However, the ideal result of cleaning the floor covering can be achieved without such household appliances, if you choose the right cleaning agent, as well as prepare all the necessary tools and materials:
- sticky roller for effective collection of animal hair;
- foam sponge;
- soft brush;
- rubber gloves that protect hands from the aggressive effects of detergents.
Rubber and PVC mats
A rubber mat is the most common option in the bathroom. This is a convenient, practical and affordable product with a long service life. Rubber and PVC are not afraid of dampness and high humidity, do not slip and ensure safe use.
To preserve the performance properties of the product for a long time, periodically treat the surface with gentle cleaning agents that do not contain bleach, chlorine or alcohol. This composition will ruin the coating and design. Do not expose the mat to strong mechanical stress. Do not walk on surfaces in heels or place heavy objects.
To wash in a machine, choose a delicate cycle with a temperature of up to 40 degrees. By the way, only cold water will help eliminate the unpleasant smell of rubber. Do not wring out or dry the rubber mat in an automatic washing machine. Drying is carried out in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air under natural conditions. Do not dry products in the sun, radiator or heating devices!
The products can also be washed manually. For dry cleaning, use brushes and a vacuum cleaner. For wet conditions, take a soap solution. To do this, grate a piece of soap on a coarse grater and dissolve it in slightly warm water. You can also use liquid soap. Wipe the surface with a cloth or brush with a soapy mixture, rinse off the composition with a stream of warm water and then dry under natural conditions.
Causes of carpet contamination
Carpets and rugs are important interior elements that emphasize the style of the environment and help create comfort. In families with small children, special attention is paid to flooring, since their use reduces the risk of hypothermia for children.
Over time, the appearance of carpets and rugs deteriorates significantly, and various contaminants appear on their surface:
stains from spilled liquid or food debris;
Cleaning carpets and rugs allows you to disinfect the space and rid the fleecy covering of pet hair.
A properly selected disinfection method allows you to:
- eliminate unpleasant odors;
- remove traces of dirt;
- destroy germs.
Fabric rugs
Synthetic rugs, including anti-slip ones, can be washed in a washing machine in a mode for washing appropriate items at temperatures up to 60 degrees without spinning and drying. Before washing in an automatic machine, soak the item in warm water with diluted washing powder without fragrances or bleaches. How to choose the right washing powder, read the link.
Instead of powder, you can use laundry or other soap without dyes or an antiseptic. Under no circumstances use compounds containing chlorine! Then put the product into the drum. Use a double rinse to reliably rinse out the soap.
Rugs made from natural fabrics, including cotton, linen or wool, are washed on a delicate cycle at temperatures up to 40 degrees without spinning or machine drying. When washing, add a few unwanted towels to the drum. Washed items are not wrung out and dried under natural conditions.
Consider a number of tips
A washing machine, in fact, can help car enthusiasts in this matter. If you follow a few simple rules, you can wash car mats in an automatic machine. We are talking about the following recommendations:
When cleaning car carpets, do not use chlorine-containing detergents.
Unfortunately, not all rugs can easily withstand automatic washing. It is better not to throw some materials into the machine. Therefore, before the procedure, it is so important to study the factory label of the product, which contains basic care recommendations.
Microfiber mats
Microfiber is a popular modern material that perfectly resists moisture, has a long service life and wear resistance, and has a non-slip, comfortable coating. Microfiber rugs can be machine washed at 40-60 degrees. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents or detergents!
Do not use too high a water temperature, otherwise the fibers will be damaged. To disinfect products, add a few drops of any essential oil when washing. The rug must be washed separately from other items.
In addition, you can clean a microfiber product by hand washing or treating the surface with a regular clothes brush and soapy water. After cleaning, rinse the mat with clean shower water. Then you can lightly wring out the mat and hang it to dry in a well-ventilated area.
Cleaning by hand
If you don't want to risk throwing your rugs in the washing machine, you'll have to clean them by hand. In principle, there is nothing complicated about this. You need to prepare a minimum set: a large basin (can be washed directly in the bath), a soft brush, detergent, and laundry soap.
Just as before machine cleaning, the floor mats from the car must first be shaken outside or vacuumed. After this, inspect, if there are old, complex stains, treat the areas with a stain remover.
The manual cleaning algorithm is as follows:
Car owners who have a Karcher mini-wash in their garage can quickly and easily clean their carpets right on the street. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
After such cleaning, not a grain of sand will remain in the pile. The rugs will look like new. It’s very convenient to wash the set this way; you don’t have to worry about clogging the washing machine or bathtub.
Carpet cleaning products
Specialized retail establishments offer a variety of effective household chemicals that can easily deal with many contaminants. You can also remove stains by using folk remedies.
Safe and effective cleaning will be ensured if the preparations are selected taking into account the materials from which the carpet or rug is made, and if the recommended dosages are strictly followed.
To clean your rug at home from dirt and odors with your own hands quickly and effectively, as in the photo, you can use the following products:
- salt;
- vinegar;
- soda;
- washing powder;
- laundry soap;
- ammonia;
- snow;
- citric acid;
- glycerol;
- hydrogen peroxide.
Cleaning light-colored flooring
To clean light-colored carpets, you can use household chemicals specially designed for this purpose. You can also use substances that are found in any home, for example:
- a soap solution obtained from laundry soap is applied to the coating and left for three hours, after which it is washed off;
- one part of purified gasoline is mixed with ten parts of a soap solution, small sawdust is immersed in the resulting composition, then they are laid out on the rug and left until completely dry, after which they are removed and the carpet is swept.
Using vinegar, soda and powder
A product that contains:
To obtain the cleaning product, it is recommended:
- pour about 150 ml of hot water into the prepared container;
- add one tablespoon of baking soda;
- pour in about 70 ml of vinegar;
- add one tablespoon of washing powder to the resulting composition.
Mix everything thoroughly and then spray it onto the contaminated surface using a spray bottle. Use a cotton cloth to remove stains, moving from the edge to the center.
After removing stains, treat the surface with a damp sponge, collecting the applied detergents. At the end of the procedure, wipe the surface with a dry cloth and leave until completely dry.
Dishwashing detergent is an excellent alternative to washing powder. If you add this liquid to the composition, you will even be able to remove old stains.
Cleaning stains with citric acid
Every housewife always has salt and citric acid in her house. These two ingredients can be used to make a safe carpet cleaner.
To prepare the cleaning product, dissolve one tablespoon of salt in one liter of water and add two teaspoons of citric acid. If acid is not available, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the solution. The prepared composition is applied to the surface of the floor covering. Use a brush to remove all dirt.
Cleaning using ammonia
If there is a stain right on the floor, there is no need to panic. It’s better to evaluate the photo and read the recommendations on how to quickly and effectively clean the rug at home from dirt and odors with your own hands.
There is always ammonia in your home medicine cabinet. To obtain an impeccable cleanser, it is enough to dissolve two teaspoons of ammonia in one liter of water. The resulting composition is distributed over the surface of the contaminated carpet, rubbed in with a soft brush, and then, after completion of the treatment, the coating is wiped dry.
Removing stains with glycerin
The flooring is often contaminated when drinks such as tea or coffee are inadvertently consumed in the room. If such a nuisance occurs, you should immediately blot the spilled liquid with a napkin. After this, a soap solution is applied to the stain and treated with a brush.
It will be easier to remove a dried tea or coffee stain if, after treating with a soapy solution, glycerin is applied to the stains. After a few hours, the tea and coffee stains are re-treated with a soap solution.
Snow cleaning
In winter, if there is snow cover, you can effectively clean a carpet or rug using snow. This method allows you to get not only a clean floor covering, but also refresh it.
You don't have to perform any complicated steps. The carpet needs to be taken outside, spread out, and a layer of snow thrown on top. Then the snow is swept away with a broom, and the carpet is carefully knocked out on both sides.
Cleaning is carried out until the snow no longer darkens after use. All that remains is to dry the carpet. An important condition for using this method of carpet cleaning is the presence of dry snow. It is better to abandon such an idea if the snow is wet.
Removing Blood Stains
Even blood stains can be removed from the surface of rugs. Only in such cases is it recommended to act immediately. Apply a damp cloth to the stain. After some time, the blood stains are cleaned with a brush, which is moistened with cold water.
The effectiveness of the procedure is quite high. You can verify this by studying the reviews of many housewives.
Removing wax marks
With the help of simple manipulations you can clean the carpet from traces of wax or paraffin. To do this, you need to remove an ice cube from the freezer, wrap it in a plastic bag and apply it to the wax spot. When exposed to low temperatures, the paraffin or wax will begin to separate. All that remains is to remove all its particles.
Using ice, you can remove chewing gum from the carpet in a similar way.
You can also remove wax from the carpet using high temperature. To do this, apply a dry cloth to the stain and run a hot iron over it. After cooling, the remaining wax can be easily removed and removed.
Using a vinegar-soap solution
After festive feasts, sometimes you have to discover stains from alcoholic drinks. However, even such stubborn stains can be dealt with with a soap solution and vinegar.
First, dissolve a few tablespoons of liquid soap in warm water. The brush is immersed in a soap solution and the stains are treated. To consolidate the result, the carpet is treated with a solution obtained by combining water and vinegar.
Armed with the proposed methods, it will not be difficult at all to effectively clean the carpet from dirt and odors with your own hands, and at the same time quickly get the result as in the photo.
Primary processing of the product
For more effective cleaning, as well as to prevent possible damage to the washing machine due to the presence of large particles of debris, hair, wool, etc. in the pile, the carpet must be cleaned manually before subsequent automatic washing. There are special devices that use vibration to knock out dirt particles from the carpet.
If there is no such device in the house, then it will be enough to simply shake out all the debris and thoroughly vacuum the covering. In case of stubborn stains, more serious treatment will be required using stain removers and pre-soaking. If there are animals in the house, you can additionally use special preparations to eliminate unpleasant odors from carpets.
How to wash a rug
If you want to wash your carpet at home, you need to thoroughly prepare. Buy a cleaning product that will remove stains.
Advice! Do not use regular powder, especially those containing bleach.
It is recommended to buy carpet cleaning shampoos. You can use dry compounds, for example, salt, soda, dry Vanish, sawdust.
What modern manufacturers offer:
- Vanish is the most popular remedy. Active powder easily removes various stains and impurities. The only disadvantages are the cost and the inability to remove stubborn stains.
- Yplon is a quality shampoo. It is recommended to use for washing using a washing vacuum cleaner. Suitable for cleaning furniture and car interiors.
- Fra-Ber Lava Interni is sold in concentrated form and must be diluted with water before use. Used for synthetic and natural fibers. Penetrates deeply into dirt and leaves a pleasant smell on the surface being treated.
- Emsal Tuba carpet cleaning shampoo 500 ml prevents rapid soiling. You can wash natural and synthetic products. The product is environmentally friendly. It lasts a long time. It not only cleans, but also protects the fibers from rapid dust settling.
- Cinderella - has a pleasant smell, it is a concentrate. Wash by hand and use for wet cleaning. Minus - it does not cope with removing grease stains and soot. Has an anti-moth effect. It is good to use if after washing the carpet goes to a well-deserved rest.
- Amway cleaning shampoo is considered one of the best. One bottle will last for a long time. Very concentrated composition, work only with gloves.
- Drop Vox is a liquid carpet cleaner. When dissolved in water, it forms a dense foam and quickly removes dirt without prolonged friction. Wash natural and synthetic products. Quickly removes dirt and leaves no streaks.
- Cleaning compounds from the Karcher company have also proven themselves well. They are used for washing carpets using a special machine or a washing vacuum cleaner. The versatility is that the remaining amount can be used to wash all the furniture in the house and the interior of the car.
There is no clear answer to the question of which composition is best for washing rugs at home. Much depends on the quality of the floor covering and the nature of the stain. Before choosing a laundry detergent, it is important to determine which product left the stain and how long ago.
Attention! To use professional formulations, special skills, knowledge and equipment are required. There is no guarantee that they will help clean the carpet beyond recognition if you use a regular sponge or brush.
Recommendations for use
One of the measures to prevent the development of fungus in a bath mat is to change it regularly. Ideally, they need to be changed daily, and therefore it is recommended to have several options available so that while washing one of them, you can put another. It is also recommended to pay more attention to the choice of bath mat. The main criterion is ease of care.
Almost all mats have an unlimited lifespan, according to the manufacturer, if the operating conditions are followed. However, this is not the case. It is recommended to replace the product as soon as its structure begins to deteriorate, lint falls out, or black spots appear.
Proper care and operating measures will allow you to forget about buying a new product for a long period. However, there should be spare options available that will protect against slipping and contact with cold tiles when the main contender is in the wash.
