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In 2020, there were some inventory issues with ToiletTree bamboo bath mats, but they seem to have been resolved. We plan to test more bath mats in future updates, including some reader suggestions, which we have already mentioned in our anticipation section.
A good bath mat can illuminate the bathroom, keep your feet warm, and perform the most important work to prevent you from slipping on the wet floor. After 30 hours of research and testing dozens of carpets and cushions, we have selected three of our favorite styles, comfort and functionality. Each time you should go through multiple washings and make your bathroom look and feel more luxurious.
The thick, non-slip backing of this carpet is best for gripping bathroom floors, and its woven cotton wool absorbs water and dries quickly.
*At the time of publication, the price was $30.
If you are really worried about your mat slipping, Lands' End Supima cotton non-slip bathroom carpet is the best non-slip mat we have tested. Although the thin coating on the bottom of many other non-slip mats we have tried peels off in the dryer, the thick latex backing of the Lands' End mat stays well and does not deteriorate due to repeated washing. Unlike other rubber mats, this mat still dries quickly in the dryer (but not as fast as towel-like carpets).
This towel-like mat is not as grippy (it does not have a non-slip backing), but it can be easily hung to dry between showers and can be placed under low-gap doors. It comes in many colors, but only one size.
*At the time of publication, the price was $42.
Frontgate Resort Bath Mat is our favorite simple towel bath mat. Although its terry cloth feels thick and luxurious under your feet, this cushion is still thin enough to fit under a low-key door-something other cushions cannot do. It is more expensive than some we have tried, but we think it will last many, many washings. We also found that Frontgate is more absorbent than other towel pads. After a person dripped dry on this mat, its dense ring did not feel soaked, while the others we tried soaked immediately. Frontgate has a variety of colors to choose from, and can match almost any decoration-even the bath towels we choose. It has only one size, 21 x 34 inches, but it works well in most spaces.
With its stylish appearance, beautiful finish, sturdy feel and reasonable price, this is the best wooden mat we have found. Just don't expect it to absorb water.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publication, the price was $50.
ToiletTree Products bamboo bath mats are the best choice we found for wooden platform mats. Compared with other wooden mats we tested, it has a better structure and is more stable, and the rubber feet prevent it from sliding on the floor. ToiletTree also has better sealing properties than other cushions — some of which do not have any sealant at all — water accumulates and drips from the wood immediately. After testing this mat for the past three years, we found that it is kept in good condition for a steady stream of visitors in our testing office, and the surface is not worn or cracked.
The thick, non-slip backing of this carpet is best for gripping bathroom floors, and its woven cotton wool absorbs water and dries quickly.
*At the time of publication, the price was $30.
This towel-like mat is not as grippy (it does not have a non-slip backing), but it can be easily hung to dry between showers and can be placed under low-gap doors. It comes in many colors, but only one size.
*At the time of publication, the price was $42.
With its stylish appearance, beautiful finish, sturdy feel and reasonable price, this is the best wooden mat we have found. Just don't expect it to absorb water.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publication, the price was $50.
Half of maintaining a high-quality bath mat is to ensure that it is easy to clean and maintain. This is why we are looking for experts who can advise us on cleaning carpets and cushions, including Jolie Kerr, who wrote cleaning articles for The New York Times and Mr. Fashion, and cleaning researchers Elaine Cella, Liz Eggert, and Procter & Mary Johnson bet. We also reviewed hundreds of bath towels from a range of online retailers and carefully considered customer reviews.
The thick, non-slip backing of this carpet is best for gripping bathroom floors, and its woven cotton wool absorbs water and dries quickly.
*At the time of publication, the price was $30.
How it feels: soft and thick, with a terry cloth loop on the rubber backing.
Reason for listing: Thanks to the thick latex non-slip backing, Lands' End Supima cotton non-slip bathroom carpet is the safest cushion we have tried. Many of the anti-slip mats we tested have thinner backings, and we found that they deteriorate and peel faster when washed. But after a year of long-term testing—including six washes—the backing of the Lands' End cushion looked as good as new. Some rubber-lined mats also dry slowly in the dryer, but even if the backing is very thick, Lands' End carpets can dry completely in one cycle. After showering in the morning, it has been air-dried in the evening.
This rug is made of super long-staple cotton Supima cotton, which is more absorbent than other cushion materials we tested (especially synthetic fiber and memory foam rugs). The Wirecutter staff who own the Lands' End cushion agree that it will not slip, be durable, and be more absorbent than the bathroom mat they previously owned. One user complained that these rings tend to be compacted under their feet, but added that after washing, they become fluffy again. They like the cushion to have a low profile shape, so it can be installed under low clearance doors. Lands' End also offers a wonderful unlimited return policy.
Defects but not spoilers: In our tests, Lands' End cotton piles dry slower than some competitor materials-especially synthetic carpets-so if you prioritize quick-drying carpets, check out our other choose. We think the drying speed of this carpet is similar to that of a medium-weight terry cloth bath towel.
Dimensions: 16 x 23 inches, 20 x 33 inches, 23 x 39 inches, 23 x 59 inches, contour material: 100% Supima cotton, latex backing color: nine colors, depending on availability-mainly neutral And blue tones
This towel-like mat is not as grippy (it does not have a non-slip backing), but it can be easily hung to dry between showers and can be placed under low-gap doors. It comes in many colors, but only one size.
*At the time of publication, the price was $42.
How it feels: Soft and spongy under your feet, like a dense luxurious towel.
Advantages: If you like to hang your bath mat between uses, or the gap under your door is small, then you should consider using a hotel-style mat. The Frontgate Resort Bath Mat is our favorite-it is thicker, softer and more absorbent than any other product we have tested. Most hotel-style cushions have the same water absorption properties as ordinary towels, but Frontgate has dense loops that will not be soaked by a person after dripping them dry. Although this kind of mat may not be suitable for families with children (it does not prevent slipping well), it should have enough water absorption to work in a multi-person family.
Compared to some other hotel-style cushions we have tested, Frontgate is expensive. But considering that other cushions feel wet under the feet and cannot withstand the wear and tear of our tests, we think it's worth the extra money. Compared with many other bathroom mats we have found, this mat has a wider range of colors (14 at the time of publication), so it is suitable for almost any decoration. If you want to match your bath towel, this cushion is part of the Frontgate Resort collection and will match our preferred bath towel products.
We have studied hundreds of towels and tested dozens of them. Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel is the softest, warmest and most durable towel we have found.
Flaws but not spoilers: Frontgate does not provide much flexibility-it comes in only one size. If you want more size options, please try our Lands' End non-slip option.
Size: 21 x 34 inches Material: 100% cotton Color: 14 colors, including a variety of green, gray, blue, brown and some lighter pastels
With its stylish appearance, beautiful finish, sturdy feel and reasonable price, this is the best wooden mat we have found. Just don't expect it to absorb water.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publication, the price was $50.
How it feels: smooth and firm; softer than an untreated teak platform, but rougher than a woven mat.
Why it's great: Among the four wooden mats we tested, the ToiletTree Products Bamboo Bath Mat has a stronger construction, the rubber feet feel more stable on the floor, and the sealant is more waterproof (dripping water collects and slides off the wood)) . It also did not creak when we stood on it, which is different from at least one other mat we have tried. We have conducted long-term testing on the ToiletTree mat for nearly two years, and its support effect is very good-we did not notice any cracks or wear on the surface.
ToiletTree is about $40, which is much cheaper than many of the wooden mats we considered. Although we have noticed that some people use wooden mats in the shower, we do not recommend this because it will breed mold. If you are looking for a gripping mat for use in the shower, check out our guide to the best shower mat.
We tested four top mats in showers and washing machines and found that Gorilla Grip bathtub and shower mats are best for most slippery surfaces.
Defects but not spoilers: Like other wooden mats, with ToiletTree mats, you need to regularly dispose of the puddles below. But it may be easier to use ToiletTree, because it is the tallest wooden mat we tested, about 1.5 inches from the floor (others range from 0.7 inches to 1 inch).
Dimensions: 25.3 x 15.7 x 1.3 inches Material: Bamboo
After years of testing and collecting feedback, we found that people are often dissatisfied with their bath mats. To prevent this from happening to you, we recommend that you consider the following questions when shopping:
Bath blankets and floor mats are one of the most visited floor coverings in the home. In addition to the advice we get from cleaning experts, we also use our common sense to determine the most important criteria for high-quality bath blankets or bath mats:
Woven carpets are probably the most universally attractive because they are comfortable under the feet, absorb well and are easy to clean. We tested cotton pads and synthetic pads. Cotton tends to absorb better, but it takes longer to dry, while polyester or nylon synthetic fibers do not absorb well, but dry faster.
We kept the tested wooden mats to a slightly different standard. These mats don't really absorb too much (if any) water, so they are perfect for outdoor showers or bathrooms with central drainage. They also bring a clean, stylish look to the bathroom, and if you don't like the damp feel of wet fabrics, they can feel good under your feet. A decent wooden mat should feel sturdy, with rubber grips on the bottom to keep it stable when you step on it. We dismissed the wooden mats, whose reviews often complained of chipping, cracking, bleeding (sometimes from dyes) and chipped finishes. We found that wooden mats are usually made of bamboo or teak, but we do not strictly prefer one of them; the main difference is that bamboo mats have a veneer, while teak usually does not.
We looked at more than 100 choices from places like Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, IKEA, Target, Crate and Barrel, and LLBean, and we found that most stores sell very similar versions of the same. From our initial scan of more than a hundred models, we tested 27 models with the best specifications and owner ratings.
We cleaned and dried all the test carpets 3 times to evaluate the durability and simulate the washing effect for one or two months. We eliminated substandard carpets (for example, if the non-slip coating peeled off or the carpet was worn), carpets that were not completely dried in the dryer, and carpets that felt uncomfortable when standing.
I took home the most promising carpets and cushions for personal testing. This gave me a good understanding of how carpet fits in the bathroom in terms of style and size. I recorded how long the woven and memory foam rugs dries between showers and how they feel under my feet. I test their stability by repeatedly pouring water on wooden bath mats and stepping on them to test their stability.
After talking with Jolie Kerr and Procter & Gamble's cleaning experts, I can almost say with certainty that most people have hardly washed their bath mats. Although your bath mat may appear to be placed in a clean place in the house, it is not. In addition to almost constant moisture, when they sit harmlessly on the bathroom floor, bath mats absorb a lot of dirt. During regular bathroom use, dead skin, cat litter (if you have an indoor cat), bacteria, and urine spray will eventually enter the fibers of your bath mat.
Kerr told us that people living alone may be able to wash the bath mat every other week, but if you have two or more people in your household, she recommends that you wash the bath mat once a week. This may seem overkill, but once you start thinking about all the garbage that ends up on the bathroom floor, this argument becomes convincing. Be sure to read the washing instructions on the bath mat. Especially if you have a non-slip mat, dry it at a low temperature to prevent the backing from decomposing. In most cases, hot water and washing powder should be sufficient to disinfect your bath mat during regular use. However, if you have fungus (such as athlete's foot) or mildew in the bathroom, bleach or vinegar may be a good disinfectant alternative.
Kerr recommends wiping the wooden mats with disinfectant water and a white vinegar solution. We also recommend wiping the floor under the wooden mats every week or so to resolve any water accumulation problems.
We are looking for some new mats to test this guide, including more quick-drying and alternative material options. Some of the bath mats we are looking for include The Company Store’s Green Earth Quick Dry Bath Rug, Coyuchi’s Mosaic Canyon organic bath mat, Parachute’s classic Turkish cotton bath mat, Society 6’s memory foam option, Dorai’s bath stone, and SlipX’s diatom Soil bath mat.
Lands' End Essential Cotton Reversible Rug: Although this extra-thick rug feels good under the feet, it does not look particularly attractive and it is difficult to fully dry after a complete drying cycle.
Parachute Home Looped Bath Rug: Many of our testers liked the look and feel of Parachute bath mats, but after a few runs in the washing machine, the cotton ring seemed to show signs of wear.
Target Fieldcrest tufted carpet: Our testers did not like the appearance of this discontinued carpet. Although it is brand new, it already looks old and broken.
Bed Bath & Beyond Super Sponge Bath Mat: This mat is not as soft or sticky as the other mats we have tried, and it feels a bit slippery on the floor.
Amazon Pinzon 100% cotton loop bath blanket with non-slip backing: We had high hopes for this discontinued cotton loop non-slip carpet, but it was disappointing in the end. After only washing it once, the cotton upper shrank and began to curl. No matter what we try, we can't make it lie flat.
Lands' End Supima Cotton Tub Mat: This is a soft mat that can do the job, but it is thinner and less absorbent than Frontgate. In addition, it gets soaked after using it once. If you don't want to pay for the more luxurious Frontgate, this will be a suitable choice.
AmazonBasics Ribbon Bath Mat: After a cycle of washing, this mat has pilled. Although it feels good underfoot, we don't believe it will stay in good shape over time.
House of Teak Shower Mat: If we have a beach house with an outdoor shower, this will be our bath mat. Unfortunately, it has a strange square shape and the wood is unfinished. If the unfinished surface was a little smoother, we might believe it, but it is rough and doesn't feel good under the feet.
Oceanstar FM1163 Bamboo Flooring and Shower Mat: We are attracted by the low price of this bamboo mat, but we should know that low price often means poor quality. When we stood on this mat for the first time, it made all kinds of crunching and cracking noises. We didn't work so hard, but we really felt that it could break at any time.
Conair Pollenex Solid Teak Roller Blind Shower Mat: This mat is our next favorite wooden mat, but it has been discontinued.
Clara Clark memory foam non-slip latex-free plush microfiber bath towel: This mat looks good, but when its super thick foam absorbs water, it feels like stepping on a wet sponge.
Gorgeous and soft non-slip memory foam bath mat: This kind of mat hardly absorbs water, and the vertical grooves encourage the water remaining on the surface to pill and roll from the mat to the floor. Production has been discontinued since then.
Jolie Kerr, cleaning expert and writer for The New York Times, telephone interview, March 13, 2017
Elaine Cella, Liz Eggert, Mary Johnson, researchers at Procter & Gamble, telephone interview, March 27, 2017
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We tested four top mats in showers and washing machines and found that Gorilla Grip bathtub and shower mats are best for most slippery surfaces.
We have studied hundreds of towels and tested dozens of them. Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel is the softest, warmest and most durable towel we have found.
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