The mould hiding under your bath mat
How to clean a bath mat
Flip a rubber bath mat over and you'll often find black mould and pink slime in the suction cups. Once a week, peel it off the tub, rinse it, then soak it in hot water with a squirt of washing-up liquid for 15 minutes, scrub the suction cups and the underside with a stiff brush, rinse and hang it up to dry completely. Machine-wash only if the care label allows it, on a low temperature with towels, and never tumble-dry rubber.
Wear gloves for a mouldy mat and keep the bathroom ventilated. Use washing-up liquid only, one product at a time, and rinse well. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, limescale remover or other cleaners: they release toxic gas. Follow the care label, no tumble dryer for rubber, and bin a mat if the mould won't scrub off or the rubber is cracking.
Never mix cleaning products. Bleach plus ammonia, vinegar or other acids releases toxic gases. Use one product at a time, rinse between them, ventilate, and unplug appliances before you clean them.
Part of: The 15-minute bathroom reset · Printable weekly cleaning checklist
Step by step
- Peel the mat off the bath or shower tray, starting at a corner, and rinse off loose soap scum and hair with the shower head
- Fill the bath or a bucket with hot water and a squirt of washing-up liquid and soak the mat for 15 minutes
- Scrub the suction cups and the underside with a stiff brush or an old toothbrush: the black and pink gunk lives in the cups
- Rinse well with clean water, then wipe the tub floor where the mat sat, because the slime grows there too
- Hang the mat over the bath edge or a rail until it's completely dry on both sides, never leave it stuck down wet
- Do this weekly. Fabric bath mats: wash them with towels as the label directs. Rubber mats: machine-wash only if the label says so, on a cool or 40°C cycle, and never in the tumble dryer
Watch it in 20 seconds
FAQ
How to clean a bath mat?
Flip a rubber bath mat over and you'll often find black mould and pink slime in the suction cups. Once a week, peel it off the tub, rinse it, then soak it in hot water with a squirt of washing-up liquid for 15 minutes, scrub the suction cups and the underside with a stiff brush, rinse and hang it up to dry completely. Machine-wash only if the care label allows it, on a low temperature with towels, and never tumble-dry rubber.
What are the steps to clean a bath mat?
1. Peel the mat off the bath or shower tray, starting at a corner, and rinse off loose soap scum and hair with the shower head. 2. Fill the bath or a bucket with hot water and a squirt of washing-up liquid and soak the mat for 15 minutes. 3. Scrub the suction cups and the underside with a stiff brush or an old toothbrush: the black and pink gunk lives in the cups. 4. Rinse well with clean water, then wipe the tub floor where the mat sat, because the slime grows there too. 5. Hang the mat over the bath edge or a rail until it's completely dry on both sides, never leave it stuck down wet. 6. Do this weekly. Fabric bath mats: wash them with towels as the label directs. Rubber mats: machine-wash only if the label says so, on a cool or 40°C cycle, and never in the tumble dryer.
Is it safe to clean a bath mat at home?
Yes, with care. Wear gloves for a mouldy mat and keep the bathroom ventilated. Use washing-up liquid only, one product at a time, and rinse well. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, limescale remover or other cleaners: they release toxic gas. Follow the care label, no tumble dryer for rubber, and bin a mat if the mould won't scrub off or the rubber is cracking. Never mix cleaning products. Bleach plus ammonia, vinegar or other acids releases toxic gases. Use one product at a time, rinse between them, ventilate, and unplug appliances before you clean them.