The Best Washable Rugs for a Bathroom

A washable, quick-drying, non-slip rug is a better bathroom floor covering than a conventional bath mat, for reasons that are mostly about drying time.

Drying time is the whole argument

A thick tufted bath mat holds a great deal of water and dries slowly, which is why bath mats develop a smell. A low pile on a woven cotton backing holds far less and dries in a few hours.

Size

60 × 100 cm beside the bath, or 80 × 150 cm in a larger room. A runner works well in a long narrow bathroom.

Grip

A woven non-slip backing grips tile directly. On a very high-gloss porcelain, nothing grips perfectly — a few silicone dots at the corners solves it.

Routine

• Hang it after a heavy soaking rather than leaving it flat on a cold floor.
• Wash monthly — the issue in a bathroom is damp rather than dirt.
• Do not leave it damp under a radiator: warm and wet is the combination that smells.

The specification, in one place

• Pile: chenille polyester, low pile, cut (no loops to catch a claw).
• Backing: woven cotton with a non-slip finish — no latex, glue or rubber.
• Wash: 30°C gentle cycle, no bleach, no softener. Dry flat or hung.
• Sizes: ten — eight rectangles from 60 × 100 cm to 200 × 300 cm, plus 160 cm and 200 cm rounds.
• Price: £50–£185, delivery to the UK and Europe included.

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