How To Wash Memory Foam Bath Mats By Hand/Machine

If you are looking for a bath mat that will provide relief from the pain of sore joints, then memory foam is your best option. However, with this type of material comes another issue to contend with – keeping it clean. I believe you are reading this article because you are wondering how to wash memory foam bath mats.

This is actually a very common question probably because memory foam mats feel and appear more delicate than the other materials.

Most manufacturers recommend hand wash or machine wash in cold water with a mild detergent. Chlorine or bleach should be strictly avoided and when it comes to drying, memory foam mats should be placed outside to dry on a warm or sunny day.

How to wash memory foam bath mats

There is no doubt that you bought the memory foam bath mat not only for the comfort of the feet but also for style in your bathroom.

However, after frequent use, the mat is bound to get dirty and it will need to be washed to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.

In order to clean a memory foam mat, you will need the following;

Gentle laundry detergent (you can use your regular laundry detergent or soap)
Non-abrasive scrubber
Odor removers like baking soda or vinegar

a). Using a washing machine

Memory foam mats can be washed either by machine or hand.

However, a lot of care is needed when machine washing memory foam. This is due to the fact that foam does not hold up well when it gets wet since it’s like a sponge. When wet, it becomes waterlogged, which can damage it.

So, if you choose to wash your foam mat by machine, you need to first check to see whether the manufacturer has specified that your bath mat can be machine washed.

If it’s stated as machine washable, follow the following steps.

Take the mat outside and shake it to remove loose dirt or use a broom to brush it off. Shaking will help to avoid your machine from clogging. Also, identify the stained areas to pretreat.
Take your mat and put it in the washing machine on a delicate cycle.
Add you’re a gentle liquid detergent or make your own by mixing 1 part mild liquid detergent and vinegar with half a cup water.
Fill the machine with cold water. Avoid warm or hot water, which can seriously damage memory foam because it is synthetic. Also, bleach and cleaning solvents should also be avoided.
Once the cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer’s drying instructions.
The most recommended way is to lay the mat under the sun to dry. Machine drying is highly discouraged as it may destroy the foam backing.

b). Washing by hand

Some manufacturers specify that their memory foam bath mats need to be strictly hand washed.

Actually, this is the most suitable way of cleaning a foam mat if you want it to last longer.

Here are the steps to follow;

Fill the tub or basin halfway with cold water
Add your preferred detergent. Make sure the detergent is right for the memory foam mat to avoid damaging it.
Wear gloves to protect your hands when stirring the mixture. Then submerge your mat into the soapy water.
Now start cleaning your mat by scrubbing with a soft brush or sponge. Be gentle because if you rub it too hard, you may damage it. Ensure you clean all the sides thoroughly.
Once you finish scrubbing, rinse the foam mat with cold water until you see the soap is entirely washed away.
Lay flat outside to dry in the open air.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to submerge the bath mat in water, scrub it gently using a soft sponge with soapy water as demonstrated in the video below.

Things to avoid when cleaning a memory foam bath mat

Memory foam is very delicate and needs extra care when washing. It is therefore important to avoid the following things when cleaning as they may damage the mat.

1. Avoid bleaching

Avoid using bleach to remove stains because it contains very harsh chemicals that can easily damage your memory foam mat. Rather go for natural stain removers like baking soda and vinegar.

2. Abrasive scrubber

Memory foam is very delicate so you should avoid an abrasive scrubber to prevent tearing and damaging the mat.

3. Hot water

Memory foam is heat-sensitive. Thus, hot water can cause structural damage to the foam. Moreover, hot water can lead to fading, color running, and set the stain deep into the fibers making it harder to remove.

4. Cleaning solvents like Ammonia

Cleaning solvents contain harsh chemicals that will not only ruin the foam material but also the interior of the bath mat. Simply use a gentle cleaning detergent with cold water and a soft scrubber.

Conclusion

There you have it. We are hoping that you will carefully follow the above steps on how to wash memory foam bath mats.

Whether you choose machine washing or hand wash, the steps are straightforward. You however need to be careful not to use bleach, hot water, abrasive scrubber, or cleaning solvents like ammonia as they can easily damage the memory foam.