If you’re tired of bath mats getting too wet while you wash your hair or take a bath, a memory foam bath mat may be the way to go. Made of polyurethane material that is sensitive to pressure and temperature, these mats will mold to the shape of your body.
It’s one of the reasons they come in handy for mattresses, too. But because the material shifts, shapes and moves the way you want, and it doesn’t get soaking wet the way wool rugs do, you can easily overlook how to wash a memory foam bath mat.
It may appear to take much longer to get dirty or have that mold or mildew smell versus cotton or wool. Of course a bamboo bath mat is the easiest, but it can be a little rougher on your feet versus that cushy feel of memory foam. So once you find the perfect mat, all you’ll need to do is learn how to maintain it.
Why Memory Foam Bath Mats are Popular
Let’s say you decided to take a bath because of a sore knee or foot, or even an injury. This memory foam bath mat does wonders to relieve pressure on your legs. It gives you a little extra cushion when stepping out of a tub and even brushing your teeth. Even if you don’t need it to relieve pain, the memory foam comes in handy to prevent fatigue. Let’s say you’re standing in place to put on makeup or eyelashes, or shave your beard or head. Standing in one spot won’t feel nearly as long.
The average bath mat is 17 x 24 inches or 21 x 34 inches. With other materials, you can buy varying versions as toilet rugs, bathtub rugs or centerpiece rugs. Unfortunately, memory foam bath mats tend to be only one size, not curved nor intended to wrap around your tub. But that’s OK. Because they’re usually in a handful of colors, this means they’re super easy to match with your towels, bathroom accessories and sometimes your bathroom tiles.
If you’re interested in renovating your bathroom or just making minor upgrades, you can be pretty safe with your memory foam bath mat. It also may be a really good housewarming gift for new homeowners.
Memory Foam Care
While lots of rugs claim to be anti-slip, chances are you may have caught yourself two-stepping across a wet bathroom floor before. The anti-slip rubber underlay of a memory foam bath mat keeps your rug in place. (Of course, if your bathroom is very humid and doesn’t have windows, you may want to turn on a vent to help circulate the heat. This also comes in handy to avoid cracked or bubbling paint, which can happen far too often in smaller bathrooms with less circulation.)
Getting pet hair off of a memory foam bath mat
Sometimes pets may like your memory foam bath mat a bit too much. If you have the kind of dog (or cat) who settles down next to you while you get dressed, expect to find pet hair on your bathroom floors and rugs.
And in that puppy stage, you may find that your pet is a bit too invested in your mat. You will have to use alcohol, liquid enzymatic cleaner or vinegar to get the stench out of the mat. The good news is that getting pet hair off is way easier. Wet an unwanted rag or piece of cloth that you would normally use for cleaning, and pet hair should wipe right off.
Washing instructions
Unlike other kinds of rugs, these are pretty simple. Put them in the washer, and any dirt, debris or hair can be easily wiped off. 
You don’t have to worry about this mat being too delicate to wash or having to go through the long, drawn-out process of handwashing. Stay away from hot water and bleach though. Not only is it unnecessary to keep these simple mats clean, but it can also stain the foam and ruin the carpet padding.
While you can dry it on a delicate cycle, it’s OK to just let your memory foam bath mat air dry naturally, too. Stay away from harsh heat or hot floors though. If you’ve ever seen a million little particles in a dryer or experienced that “cracked” look at the bottom of a rug, that’s because the elasticity is ruined. The overheating can make it harder to keep the structured material looking brand new. Breezy, autumn days are the best weather to dry your memory foam bath mat in.
Bottom Line
No matter what these instructions say, make sure you double-check with the manufacturer instructions for specific washing instructions. While memory foam bath mats tend to be similar, if you have fancy decor on yours, this may require different washing instructions than a plain mat.
