I'm a senior and my bath mat is only a month old. It holds nicely in the tub. The problem is that the top of the mat gets very slippery while I'm taking my shower.
You would need to find an Anti-Slip Mat or like Judy mentioned one that has textures so you cannot slip.
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I bought new bath mats and they stink like skunk. I have washed them in the washer. After I use them, I hang them over the tub; however, they still stink like skunk. I hate to buy new ones. They are rubber and feel like grass on top. Help.
By Shirley from Louisville, KY
It's like when you wash dishes the rag has a funny smell same with ours. Pets could also be the problem.
No animal ever gets into my bathtub. Yuck. I just bought these a few weeks ago and thought it was just the new rubber smell that would wear off. It hasn't and I've thrown them in my front load washer and still no luck.
I have a bathmat like that. It's not skunk, it's the smell of the mat itself because it's new. The only thing that cures it is time. The smell will eventually go away. Until then, you might want to air it out daily on a clothesline or whatever, and that will help speed up the process.
I had the same problem with a cutting mat I bought years ago. I had to keep it in the plastic bag it came in for months, because it just smelled so bad. Now, it doesn't smell at all. So don't worry, there is hope!
Honestly, I'm not sure if there's much you can do. Sometimes rubber or plastic just has a bad odor. Since they're new and you've washed them it's probably not mildew.
I bought a bottle of pet odor removal (if it removes pet odors, it should work on any odors) and poured it on them letting them sit in the tub. I also sprayed them with Fabreeze.
Plastic/rubber items often "outgas" when they are new - hence the smell - Leave the mat outside as much as possible to let the gasses dissipate & with them, the smell. (Same happens with plastic shower curtains....)
I had a cat spray my bathroom rugs too. If you've ever smelled cat spray you'll notice it smell very close to skunk. What I did was to put them in the washer as if I was going to wash them with laundry detergent and a full load of water, then add 2 cups of baking soda and 2 cups of white vinegar and let washer start to wash but only for 5 minutes and then stop the washer and let soak for a few hours (it would be better over night) then, the next morning wash the whole load.
Were they made in China?
Call the store you bought them and ask to speak to the manager.Tell him/her what the problem is and see what they will do for you. Even after you washed something some stores will replace or refund your money for a product that isn't satisfactory. Or even better, make sure the manager is in the store, then take them back to the store and let them smell them. The more complaints they get the better.
Just a point on using baking soda and vinegar as deodorizers. Use one or the other, but not both together in the same wash. One is an acid (vinegar) and one is a base (baking soda), and both work on their own, but if you combine them they neutralize each other and all you get is salt water. And carbon dioxide bubbles.
I would be careful using things like pet odor remover. Sometimes those things smell worse than the odor you are trying to remove.
I would try washing/ soaking in baking soda, then if that doesn' t work, try the vinegar. And always hang them outside in the sun to air out.
My bath mat was over five years old when I finally gave up on it because it still smelled. Now, unfortunately, my new mat also smells. A lot.
I have a bath mat with the suction cups on the bottom. Is there any way to keep this from growing mold? After every shower, I hang the mat up to dry. I leave the shower curtain open for a while to let the air circulate. I soak it in bleach and hot water every so often. This takes care of it for a little while, but the mold is back within a week. Does anyone have a solution for this?
One solution would be to take the mat and scrub it with hot water and bleach. I'd add a splash of bleach to a bucket of hot water and use a scrub brush to clean it good. Be sure to wear your gloves, that stuff will eat your skin! I would use the bleach sparingly, it does go a long way. I know when my shower is gross, bleach water will take off all that ick and leave it nice and white. Hope that helps you out. :)
I would give it a spritz of lysol spray after it has dried off then maybe you wouldn't have to do the bleach cleaning as often. You could try Tilex mold and mildew remover, I use this in my shower and it does work well, but the fumes are terribly strong.
Possibly your bath area needs a stronger vent to eliminate humidity. Get the most powerful one you can afford.
You could try that cleaner that is made to spritz the shower after you are done and see if that works. Good luck!
I use Tilex Mold & Mildew spray. I think it is also used for soap scum too. I spray my bath mat down let it set for a bit then rinse. Every day I hang it to dry. I usually do it every 2 weeks to keep up with it.
Rather than using a bathmat, try using an anti-slip treatment. I bought InvisaTread online and now we threw away the rubber mat. Safer tub, no worries of mold.
I turn mine suction cup up in the tub with hot water and some bleach. The trick later is to drain the mat after each use.
Has anyone had a problem with your rubber bath mat (cheap one) sort of "collecting" a bit of sticky, black residue? It is not mold or bacteria. It is, well, I'm not sure what it is or where it came from. But I really started having a problem with it after I sprayed a mixture of Clorox (chlorine) and water on my shower walls and on the mat to remove mold and sanitize them.
Now when I use the mat, after I get out of the shower, I have a sticky black residue on the bottom of my feet that I have to use rubbing alcohol to remove. Any suggestions on how to get this off and prevent it from coming back?
Thanks.
I would use Goo Gone on it and wash it separately
Sadly you are talking about the issue that made me give up on bath mats years ago and just use those sticky bath bottom appliques instead. At least when those go bad it is only a dollar or two to replace.
When you used the Clorox bleach you removed the protective coating off the bathmat and now you have a porous service that will collect any and everything that touches it.
I believe the best thing you can do is throw this one away and maybe buy the individual stickeys or another bath mat as there is nothing you can use to replace the protective coating.
Most people do not realize that bleach will remove the coating from almost any kind of plastic product and the product will then be porous and be open to collect stains and changes in the product service. Plastic coffee cups are a good example - clean with bleach and you will most likely never be able to remove the coffee stains.
I think this is the best idea yet. I have a suction cup mat in my tub and I find red, not black, slime builds up on the back of the cups no matter what I do or how many times I clean it. I think it is permanently stained now from this red mould/slime. I always hated the way the appliques always looked after awhile. Worn and leaving marks on the tub floor. However, as a senior I need safety in the tub so I am going to try using the non slip tub appliques now due to this wonderful suggestion. I guess it comes down to appearances and whether I want to use a slime stained bath mat or slightly worn appliques that are clean. I am going to try the latter for awhile and change them often if they get grungy looking. This is the best idea I have seen on this site to answer the questions about icky bath mats. Thanks so much.
How can I remove the slippery stuff on the bottom of my bathtub mat?
By Jean
If it is soap scum, then a vinegar solution and some scrubbing should do it. If it is the start of some mildew, then a 10% bleach solution (and some scrubbing) should do it.
