Can You Wash Bathroom Rugs With Towels?
You know what goes on in your bathroom, so it’s important to clean your bathroom towels, rugs, and other linens regularly in order to remove soap scum, germs, and bacteria. While you may wash loads upon loads of towels each week, what about your bathroom rugs. More specifically, can you wash bathroom rugs with towels in the same load?
If your bathroom rugs and towels are similar materials and colors, they can be washed together. Though, always check the tags on your towels and rugs for specific washing instructions first. When it comes time to dry, make sure you separate any bathroom rugs that have plastic or rubbing backing, as they should be air dried instead.
Continue reading to learn more about how to properly wash your bathroom rugs and towels, how often they need to need to be cleaned, and some more helpful washing tips and tricks to ensure that you always have clean linens for you and your guests.
How Often Should You Wash Bathroom Rugs?
Even if your bathroom rugs haven’t started to grow mold, they should still be washed regularly to sanitize them and keep them looking fresh. In residential settings, how often you wash your bathroom rugs and mats depends on how often you use them. Though, in public settings like at a spa, hotel, or gym, rugs should be washed after each use.
If there are a lot of people living in your home, your bathroom rugs may see more frequent use. In this case, washing your bathroom rugs weekly is recommended. However, if you are the only one that uses a particular rug, you can wait and wash it every two weeks, unless you detect stains, mold, or an unpleasant odor.
How Often Should You Wash Bathroom Towels?
For personal use in the home, towels do not need to be washed after each use. They do, however, need to be washed after each use in a hotel, or other public business. How often you wash your bathroom towels will depend on the type:
- Bath towels: Bath towels can be used a few times before being washed. Ideally, you should not use them more than three times before washing, as they may not dry completely between uses. This can cause them to have a musty smell or grow bacteria.
- Hand towels: If you use them frequently, hand towels should be washed every one to two days.
- Washcloths: How you use your washcloths will dictate how frequently you wash them. If the washcloth is used on your face, they should be washed after each use. The same is the case for washcloths used for cleaning purposes.
- Athletic towels: As these towels collect sweat, they must be washed after every use. In fact, try to wash them as soon as you can after using them to maintain a fresh scent.
Can You Wash Bathroom Rugs with Towels?
If your bathroom rugs and towels are of like colors and materials, they can likely be washed together. Though, always consult the tags on both your towels and rugs first to be sure. In most cases, washing your bathroom rugs with loads of towels is actually the best method to wash them. Since your rugs will produce lint when washed, you want to avoid washing them with your clothing.
Additionally, your clothes likely require distinct care that is very different from what your rugs or towels need. By combining them in the washing machine, you could damage one or the other. The same is true when you place rugs and towels in the dryer with your clothes.
If your rugs have plastic or rubbing backing, be sure to separate them when it comes time to dry. Instead of placing them in your dryer with the towels, these rugs should be air-dried.
How to Wash Bathroom Rugs with Towels
Whether you have an ornate bathroom rug or a basic cotton bathmat, it should be washed often. The conditions present in your bathroom create the ideal environment for mold in mildew to thrive. With that said, here’s the best way to go about washing your bathroom rugs:
- Before you do anything, shake out your bathroom rug outside. This will remove any debris that is trapped in the fibers, such as hair, lint, dirt, and soap particles.
- Read the care label for helpful information regarding proper cleaning instructions.
- Inspect the back of the bathroom rug for cracks, missing chunks, or if the rubber or plastic is peeling. This indicates that it’s time to replace the rug.
- If you don’t find any damage to the back, you can proceed with placing the rug in your washer with a load of towels of similar colors and fabrics. If you are washing multiple rugs in a top-loading unit with an agitator in the center, make sure to position them opposite of each other to balance the machine. Also, never overload the washer.
- Choose warm or hot water based on the color of the fabrics and wash using your normal detergent.
- If possible, reduce the speed of the spin cycle if your rugs have non-skid backings. This will help prevent the backing from getting damaged during the wash cycle.
- Remove the rugs from the washer, shake them out to remove wrinkles, and hang it to dry on a drying rack or clothesline.
If your rugs do not have a non-skid backing, you can place them in the dryer along with the towels.
What Setting Should You Choose?
One of the easiest ways to ensure that your bathroom linens last long is washing them on the proper setting. Again, the tag is your guide, as the setting will ultimately depend on the materials and colors. Though, if there isn’t a tag on your towels or rugs, consider these general guidelines:
- Wash white towels and rugs in hot water.
- Wash colored towels and rugs in cool or warm water.
- Wash decorative towels and linen material on gentle wash cycle.
For best results, always follow the instructions outlined on the tag.
Related Guide
Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design.
More by Jessica Stone
![Standard Dining Room Table Dimensions [for 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 People]](https://cdn-fastly.upgradedhome.com/media/2023/07/31/9074335/standard-dining-room-table-dimensions-for-4-6-8-10-and-12-people.jpg?size=350x220)
