Friday, December 3, 2021

Bathroom Mats Waterproof

Bathroom Mats Waterproof

The 10 Best Bath Mats of 2021, Tested by The Spruce

A plush addition to your bathroom

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

When it comes to bathroom essentials, a bath mat is a top priority. The absorbent surface protects your floors from water damage as you step out of the tub or shower while preventing them from becoming dangerously slippery. After 20 hours of researching 13 different bath mats, interviewing experts, and testing mats at home, we came up with a list of bath mats and rugs that are both functional and beautiful.

In order to determine the best bath mats available, we asked our tester to put these rugs to the test in her own home. She used each of these bath mats for several days, including stepping on them after multiple baths and showers to see how they felt and held up in a steamy bathroom. She then noted each bath mat's performance as well as rated the design, comfort, ease of washing, and overall value on a scale of 1-5. After testing, we compiled this list, placing the top-rated mats into categories so you can find the best ones based on your needs and preferences.

Informed by our research and home testing results, here are the best bath mats for your needs.

Our Top Picks

Our tester especially appreciated the grippy backing and luxurious texture, and how it gets softer with each wash.

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This affordable rug feels "nice between the toes," according to our tester, and is highly absorbent.

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This rug felt sturdy yet lightweight while testing and had a slightly grippy backing to help prevent slipping.

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Handwoven, this mat is made from 100% cotton and offers a unique touch to your bathroom decor.

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This high-pile, highly absorbent, ultra-thick microfiber mat is the softest mat we tested, and has a grippy backing.

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Absorbent and fast-drying, this soft chenille mat has a heavy duty rubber backing to prevent slipping and water damage.

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Made with a polyurethane inner foam and soft outer material, it was easy to vacuum according to our tester and was comfortable underfoot.

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This beautiful wooden mat rolls up for easy storage and has tiny rubber grips on the back to prevent slipping.

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This soft, machine-washable runner is handwoven by artisans in Bogotá, has a tassel fringe, and is made from 100% cotton.

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This plush, round rug can add a unique touch to a small bathroom and has a slightly rubbery, anti-slip backing.

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Resort Skid-resistant Bath Rug

  • Design

    5 /5

  • Comfort

    5 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    5 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: Comes in four sizes |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Cotton |Color: Comes in 23 colors | Return policy: 90 days | Thickness: 1.8 inches

What We Like

  • Long-staple cotton

  • Luxurious texture

  • Non-skid backing

  • Lots of color/size options

What We Don't Like

  • Expensive

We tested all of the mats in this roundup, and Frontgate's Resort Rug was a clear winner, receiving a perfect score in all categories! Bath mats are often either aesthetically pleasing but relatively low-quality or basic-looking but actually high-end. This one, however, is the best of both worlds. As Saana Baker, a San Francisco-based textile expert, notes, cotton is ideal for bath mats, as it's low-maintenance and naturally absorbent, especially with a looped weave like this one has.

Woven from exceedingly strong long-staple cotton yarns, the Resort Bath Rug is a step up from most cotton mats. It's nearly 2 inches thick with a high-pile surface to offset the low loops. The result? An incredibly soft and undeniably luxurious texture that feels amazing between the toes.

We also like that it has a slightly grippy latex-treated backing, providing slip-resistance without compromising the blankety feel. What's more, you can throw it in the washing machine, and the long-staple cotton gets softer with every wash. This bath mat is more expensive than most others in its category, but considering the quality, we wouldn't say it's overpriced.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Expert Buying Tips

 "Cotton and linen fibers make the best bath mats, and weaves that have a loop effect are the most absorbent." —Saana Baker, San Francisco-based textile expert and the creator of The Textile Eye

Original Luxury Chenille Bath Mat

  • Design

    5 /5

  • Comfort

    5 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    5 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: 31.5 x 19.8 Inches |Shape: Rectangular | Material: Chenille |Color: Comes in 21 colors | Return policy: 30 days | Thickness: Not listed

What We Like

  • Budget-friendly

  • Highly absorbent

  • Lots of color/size options

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't dry quickly

  • Prone to fading

You don't have to shell out a lot of money to protect your floors from moisture damage and spruce up your bathroom decor. Also rated a perfect score in every category, the budget-friendly Yimobra Chenille Bath Mat is very plush with an ultra-comfy, shag-like weave that feels good between the toes—and a slightly grippy backing to boot.

This mat is machine washable and even vacuumable on a lower suction mode. We also appreciate that it comes in lots of sizes and colors. One thing to note is that while the microfiber is highly absorbent, it doesn't dry quite as quickly as others in its category. In our tests, this rug took longer to dry after consecutive showers.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Classic Cotton Bath Mat

  • Design

    5 /5

  • Comfort

    4 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    5 /5

  • Value

    4 /5

Size: 21 x 34 inches or 30 x 50 inches |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Cotton |Color: Comes in seven colors | Return policy: 365 days | Thickness: 1 inch

What We Like

  • Long-wear looped cotton

  • Non-skid backing

  • Machine washable

  • Multiple color/size options

What We Don't Like

  • Relatively pricey

  • Average appearance

We're also big fans of L.L.Bean's Classic Cotton Bath Mat. The brand is a tried-and-true resource for practical home goods, so it's no wonder this rug is a hit. According to Baker, looped cotton is best for durability and absorbency. Woven from long-wear cotton and loomed with extra-thick, ultra-tight loops, you can bet this mat will absorb water while offering luxurious comfort.

Though the shag-like surface feels great underfoot, the Classic Cotton Bath Mat looks like your average bathroom rug. Our tester noted that the appearance was not as high-end as other options on this list, rating it a four out of five in value. Having said that, it's undoubtedly sturdy but also lightweight and soft with a non-skid backing to help it stay in place on your bathroom floor.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Portuguese Cotton Bath Mat

  • Design

    5 /5

  • Comfort

    3 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    5 /5

  • Value

    4 /5

Size: 41 x 19 inches |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Cotton |Color: White | Return policy: Not listed | Thickness: Not listed

What We Like

  • Hand-woven

  • Beautiful appearance

  • 100 percent recycled cotton

What We Don't Like

  • No grippy pack

  • Only one color/size

Baker recommends the charming, handwoven Portuguese Cotton Bath Mat from Privet House, and after testing one, we can see the appeal. "While the look is traditional, they have a special 'perfectly imperfect' look because they are made by hand," she says.

All in all, this 100 percent cotton bath mat is a high-quality product with an authentic appeal. But as Tina MartinDelCampo notes, "If you prefer a stylish, more traditional style rug for a bath mat, then make sure you put a rug pad underneath to keep it from slipping." Our tester also noted that the weave makes this product feel more like a mat than a rug, and rated it a three out of five for comfort and overall value.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Expert Buying Tips

"Portugal is deservedly famous for soft bedding and bath products."—Saana Baker, San Francisco-based textile expert and the creator of The Textile Eye

Microfiber Bathroom Rug Bath Mat

  • Design

    4 /5

  • Comfort

    5 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    4 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: 32 x 20 |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Microfiber with TPR backing |Color: Comes in five colors | Return policy: 30 days | Thickness: 1 inch

What We Like

  • Budget-friendly

  • Highly absorbent

  • Incredibly soft

What We Don't Like

  • Sheds a lot

  • Must be air-dried

For those looking for a super-soft bath mat, this is the one to get, earning a perfect score for comfort during testing. The ultra-thick, high-pile Lifewit Bathroom Rug is very reasonably priced, highly absorbent, and feels amazing underfoot—almost like sherpa.

Made of microfiber with a notably grippy and protective TPR (thermoplastic rubber) backing, it's machine washable. However, the manufacturer recommends air-drying it to avoid warping the rubbery back. In our tests, this bath mat earned a score of four out of five because it shed considerably, which called for more frequent vacuuming.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Expert Buying Tip

"Think about clearance for shower and bathroom doors—will your door clear a thick mat?"—Saana Baker, San Francisco-based textile expert and the creator of The Textile Eye

Gorilla Grip Luxury Chenille Bathroom Rug Mat

  • Design

    4 /5

  • Comfort

    5 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    5 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: Comes in ten sizes |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Chenille |Color: Comes in 45 colors/patterns | Return policy: 30 days | Thickness: 0.01 inches

What We Like

  • Highly absorbent

  • Heavy-duty rubber backing

  • Lots of color/size options

What We Don't Like

  • Bald line down the middle

If you're partial to chenille, your best bet is the Gorilla Grip Bathroom Rug. Made of polyester with a shag-like surface, it soaks up an impressive amount of water, dries remarkably fast, and feels pleasantly cushy underfoot. In terms of the design, our tester rated it a four out of five, noting that there's a seam that runs down the middle of the bath mat, although it's not super noticeable.

This bath mat has a heavy-duty rubber backing, protecting your floors from water damage and preventing you from slipping. We also like that it's machine washable and comes in an array of sizes and colors. The price is about average, though the smaller sizes are budget-friendly.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Expert Buying Tip

"When purchasing a bath mat, it's important to look for one that has some anti-slip or grip bottom so that it doesn't move or cause you to slip."—Tina MartinDelCampo, Decorist designer

Genteele Memory Foam Bath Mat

  • Design

    4 /5

  • Comfort

    5 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    4 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: Comes in eight sizes |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Memory foam with microfiber cover |Color: Comes in 21 colors | Return policy: 30 days | Thickness: 1.69 inches

What We Like

  • Budget-friendly

  • Easy to vacuum

  • Lots of color/size options

What We Don't Like

  • Larger sizes awkward to wash

For maximum plushness, go with the Genteele Memory Foam Bath Mat. When you step out of the shower, your feet will sink into the polyurethane inner foam and be pampered by the velvety soft outer material.

Thanks to an anti-skid backing with grippy rubber dots, this budget-friendly mat stays in place while protecting your floors from moisture damage. It's also machine washable and even vacuumable using low suction. However, in our tests, we found that the larger sizes of this bath mat were a little awkward to wash in a standard washing machine, earning it a four out of five in that category.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Acacia Tub Mat

  • Design

    5 /5

  • Comfort

    4 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    4 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: 32 x 20 |Shape: Rectangle| Material: Wood |Color: Brown | Return policy: 90 days | Thickness: Not listed

What We Like

  • Natural appeal

  • Rubber grips on back

  • Rolls up

What We Don't Like

  • Only one size option

  • Some water drips through

If you're interested in a wooden option, you should definitely consider the Haven Acacia Tub Mat, which was rated a perfect score in design and overall value. As its name suggests, this mat is made of 100 percent Acacia, an inherently beautiful and moisture-resistant tropical hardwood.

The material is naturally absorbent, though you can expect some water to drip through when you step out of the tub or shower. For this reason, it's best if your bathroom flooring is water-resistant (if not waterproof). We also like that it has tiny rubber grips on the back to help it stay in place and that it rolls up for easy transport and storage. Our tester noted that this wood tub mat only comes in one size, though, which may be limiting for some customers.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Azulina Home Bath Mat

  • Design

    5 /5

  • Comfort

    4 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    4 /5

  • Value

    4 /5

Size: 60 x 20 |Shape: Rectangle | Material: Cotton |Color: Comes in four colors | Return policy: 30 days | Thickness: Not listed

What We Like

  • Handwoven

  • 100 percent cotton

  • Sturdy weave

What We Don't Like

  • Relatively pricey

  • Must be air-dried

Need something a bit longer? Check out the Cali Bath Mat from Azulina Home. Measuring 60 x 20 inches (including the tassel fringe), the runner size is perfect for large bathrooms or walk-in showers.

This 100 percent cotton bath mat was handwoven in Bogotá, and it shows. It has a stunning authentic appeal, and the weave is notably sturdy with a slight stretch. The backing isn't grippy, but you have the option to include an anti-slip mat with your order. While the Cali is priced relatively steep, the quality is unmistakable, and it's definitely a sight for sore eyes. In terms of care and maintenance, our tester liked that this bath mat is machine washable but noted that it must be air-dried.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Expert Buying Tip

"Think about your space and how you'll use it. Would a long runner be nice in the space, or perhaps two smaller mats?"—Saana Baker, San Francisco-based textile expert and the creator of The Textile Eye

Round Crochet Trim Bath Mat

  • Design

    4 /5

  • Comfort

    5 /5

  • Easy to Clean

    5 /5

  • Value

    5 /5

Size: 24 inches |Shape: Round | Material: Cotton |Color: Comes in two colors | Return policy: 30 days | Thickness: Not listed

What We Like

  • Very soft and plush

  • 100 percent cotton

  • Anti-slip backing

What We Don't Like

  • Only one size option

  • Not ideal for large bathrooms

Think outside the box with this round bathroom rug from Urban Outfitters. At first glance, it looks slightly worn and almost scruffy, but it's surprisingly soft and way plusher than it appears online.

The Crochet Trim Bath Mat is made of 100 percent cotton with a cut-pile surface and a doily-like trim. It's got a slightly rubbery, anti-slip backing and can be washed in a standard washer. Measuring 24 inches in diameter, it's ideal for accenting a small bathroom, clawfoot tub, compact shower, sink, or vanity. If you have a larger bathroom, though, you may need a more sizable rug. Our tester gave it a four out of five for design based on its appearance and size and noted that the orange color appears slightly lighter in person (it's more of a golden hue). Otherwise, this rug earned a perfect score in comfort, washability, and overall value.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

Overall Rating Design Comfort Easy to Clean Value

Resort Skid-resistant Bath Rug

Best Overall:

Frontgate Resort Bath Rug

5

5 5 5 5

Original Luxury Chenille Bath Mat

Best Budget:

Yimobra Luxury Chenille Bath Mat

5

5 5 5 5

Classic Cotton Bath Mat

Best Looped:

L.L.Bean Classic Cotton Bath Mat

4.5

5 4 5 4

Portuguese Cotton Bath Mat

Best Cotton:

Privet House Portuguese Cotton Bath Mat

4.3

5 3 5 4

Microfiber Bathroom Rug Bath Mat

Best Microfiber:

Lifewit Microfiber Bathroom Rug Bath Mat

4.5

4 5 4 5

Gorilla Grip Luxury Chenille Bathroom Rug Mat

Best Chenille:

Gorilla Grip Original Chenille Bath Mat

5

4 5 5 5

Genteele Memory Foam Bath Mat

Best Memory Foam:

Genteele Memory Foam Bath Mat

4.5

4 5 4 5

Acacia Tub Mat

Best Wooden:

Haven Acacia Wood Tub Mat

4.5

5 4 4 5

Azulina Home Bath Mat

Best Runner:

Azulina Home Super Soft Bath Mat

4.3

5 4 4 4

Round Crochet Trim Bath Mat

Best Round:

Urban Outfitters Round Crochet Bath Mat

4.8

4 5 5 5

Final Verdict

Our number one pick is the Frontgate Resort Skid-Resistant Rug (view at Frontgate), a high-quality bath mat that looks as luxurious as it feels. Made of long-staple cotton with both high-pile and looped weaves, it's nearly 2 inches thick and comfy underfoot. If you're looking for something a little more wallet-friendly, go with the Yimobra Original Chenille Bath Mat (view at Amazon), which boasts a super-plush, shag-like weave and a slightly grippy backing.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

We spent 20 hours researching the most highly rated bath mats available in various styles and interviewed experts in the field. Based on this research, we sent our tester 13 different bath mats so we could find out how they looked, felt, and held up after multiple showers and baths. She then rated them on a scale of 1-5 according to their design, comfort, ease of washing, and overall value.

Size

When shopping for a bath mat, one of the most important things to consider is size. Make sure you get something small enough to fit comfortably in your bathroom but also large enough to be functional and not just decorative. It's a good idea to measure your bathroom, as well as your bathtub and/or shower before ordering a rug. The mat doesn't have to span the entire length of your shower or bath, but it should cover the area where you step out.

Material

Cotton tends to be more absorbent than polyester, but polyester dries super quickly and resists shrinking, plus chenille polyester weaves can be very absorbent. There's also microfiber, which can hold several times its weight in water, and has a more velvety soft feel than cotton. Another option that's growing in popularity is wood, which is generally more expensive but requires no upkeep and gives any bathroom a spa-like feel.

Non-Slip backing

Another important feature is an anti-skid backing. The grippy backs of bath mats are typically made of rubber, thermoplastic, or latex, all of which offer excellent slip resistance. These materials also help protect your floors from water damage—an important factor to consider if you've been repurposing a towel as a bath mat.

Care instructions

Most textile bath mats are machine washable, though some have to be hand-washed or spot-cleaned. If you want a low-maintenance rug, make sure to confirm it can be washed and dried—many machine washable rugs can't be put in the dryer since the heat can destroy the non-slip backing.

The Spruce / Theresa Holland

FAQ

  • How do you wash a bath mat?

    Some bath mats are machine washable but double-check the label beforehand for detailed care instructions. If you're able to wash your mats in the machine, make sure to wash them separately from other items as not to overfill the washing machine. Wash them on cold with mild detergent. Tumble dry them on the lowest heat setting or hang them out to air dry.

  • How often should you wash a bath mat?

    If you have a larger household where your bath mats receive frequent foot traffic, you'll want to wash them weekly. This prevents mold or other bacteria from forming on your mat and keeps away any unwanted odors. If you're the only one using your mat, washing it every two weeks or so should be adequate. To keep your bath mat as fresh as possible, try hanging it off the side of the tub after use so bacteria and moisture don't accumulate on the mat.

  • Are bath mats sanitary?

    As long as you wash your bath mat properly and frequently, it is sanitary. Keeping your bathroom properly ventilated can also help prevent excess moisture and humidity from getting on your bath mat. This ensures it stays fresh and clean for longer periods of time. Alternatively, a wooden bath mat is a great option because it doesn't absorb water and keeps your bathroom more sanitary.

Theresa Holland has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019 and has several years of experience covering interior design and home goods. She's well-versed in the unique qualities of various textiles and can speak confidently on each material's softness, absorbency, sustainability, and maintenance requirements. For this roundup, she consulted with a textile expert and an interior designer for recommendations and insight. She reviewed dozens of options from a variety of brands, personally tested 13 bath mats, and considered the appearance, size, material, non-slip backing (or lack thereof), and care instructions before making her final selections.

Continue to 5 of 10 below.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.

Bathroom Mats Waterproof

Source: https://www.thespruce.com/best-bath-mats-4158971

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