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Jul 29, 2023

How to Properly Use a Bath Mat

Oh great bath mat, what is the proper etiquette for using thee? We asked you wonderful people and here’s what you told us. Okay, let’s talk about a very serious topic: bath mats. Is there a right and

Oh great bath mat, what is the proper etiquette for using thee? We asked you wonderful people and here’s what you told us.

Okay, let’s talk about a very serious topic: bath mats. Is there a right and wrong way to use them?

First off, everyone had some great suggestions as to why we use bath mats at all. They soak up water, yes, but they also keep us from slipping and smashing our heads through the toilet, and act as a temperature buffer for our toesies between the hot shower and the ice cold floor. Gee, bath mats are pretty swell!

When it came to usage, the general consensus was that this is the wrong way to do it:

It leaves the bath mat soggy and wet for whoever showers after you. It also makes you much colder during the drying process. In fact, most of the people that mentioned that method were complaining about it:

There are exceptions to this, however. Sometimes you just don’t have the room to dry before stepping out onto the mat:

Some people don’t even use them at all because of their bathroom setup:

Most people seemed to agree that this is the right way to do it, though:

But you all suggested a few excellent additions, like keeping your towel within arm’s reach of the shower so you don’t have to get cold to grab it, squeegeeing your hair and body to remove excess water before you dry with a towel, keeping the curtain or shower door closed while you dry off to stay warm, drying off from the top down (hair first), and hanging up the mat over the edge of the tub or shower when you’re done so it can dry without looking like a random wet towel on your floor.

People who don’t have hand towels in your bathrooms: What do you think your guests dry their hands…

Other lessons include using towel-type mats instead of the rug-like ones. They don’t look as nice, but they’re easier to dry and don’t turn into soggy Muppets:

And if wet mats become a problem in your household, you can use two mats. It’s not like they’re that expensive anyway:

And if you’re really worried about a sopping wet bath mat, you can always lay a normal towel over it. But maybe that defeats the purpose of a bath mat...

Also, drying your feet is optional:

Taking a bath is not about getting clean—that’s what showers are for. Baths are about calming your…

So, here’s the definitive way to use a bath mat, according to you fantastic shower folk:

Now, if you have a towel-type bath mat, hang it over the side of the tub or shower to dry, then lay down a second dry bath mat if someone is going right after you. If you have the shaggy rug kind, leave it and hope you did everything right so it’s not soaking wet. There you have it! You’re ready for a proper shower now.