Do you use a bath towel or bath mat on your floor?

United States
August 2, 2007 7:21pm CST
Way back in the day, I had a really nice bath mat for the spot in front of my shower. It was one of those high pile plush rugs that make your toes curl up when you step out onto it. Needless to say, I loved that bath mat. But, then it got stuck in the bottom of my tub one night and picked up a sour smell. After that, it never smelled the same. In our house we have such a high volume of water that gets onto the floor at bath time, that a regular bath mat gets soaked and useless after just one shower. I guess that's why I never bothered to replace it. Most days, I just use an old towel on the floor. It's just as absorbent and washes up so much easier than a bath mat. Of course, I don't ever use my bath mat towels as family towels. Those are specifically reserved for one job. So, what do you use in your bathroom, a traditional bath mat or towel? Please share.
5 people like this
27 responses
@mummymo (23706)
3 Aug 07
I think bath mats tend to be full of germs and smelly - they are not as easy to wash as towels and I use towels too - I hate the bathroom to smell badly and that is what anyh bath mats I used in the past always did! xxxx
3 people like this
• United States
5 Aug 07
I have found the same thing! I hate that moldy smell that gets in the mats. I think it is from the lining on the back. I could be wrong though. Either way, bath mats are super smelly! Gross!
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
3 Aug 07
We just use a regular old towel. We got some at a yard sale for like 50 cents a piece. They were at one time big fluffy towels, but over time they've worn out some. When we got them, there was still plenty of life left in them. Or at least for just soaking up the water off the floor. We got six and we leave them under the sink, instead of with our regular towels. If my son or my husband is the one in the shower, they have to be replaced right away. If it is just me, it usually lasts through two showers because I'm not as messy as they boys. lol
2 people like this
• United States
5 Aug 07
LOL! Isn't that the truth. Gals are always neater than the boys. But, I have a daughter and she is still picking up the finer points of lady like behavior. She is likely to get out of the tub soaking wet and leave a trail of water down the hall. I have to watch her like a hawk. Water and stone tile do not mix! Thanks for the tip on the yard sale towels. I hate using my formerly good towels for the bath mat job. For some reason once you pay a lot of money for towels, it's just harder to let them go.
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
3 Aug 07
I've actually used both a mat and towel. It does seem that it's easier to clean a towel than a mat.
2 people like this
@navtech (1773)
• India
5 Aug 07
Dear beautyqueen26, From the young age I use only towel that too very thin. The problem with my towel that I have to wash it with soap everyday. I do that every day. One towel will give me serivce at least for one year. This particular tower is very absorbent and washes easily.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Aug 07
Very thrifty and economical!
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
3 Aug 07
I use a bath mat but it is made from indoor/outdoor carpeting...so it does not hurt it to get wet...and protects the wood floor in my bathroom..
• United States
5 Aug 07
Wood floors! Very swanky! Yes, we used to have a bit of wood flooring in one of our other homes where we used to live and you're right, the water will mess that up in a heart beat! I'll have to check into the indoor/outdoor carpeting idea.
• United States
3 Aug 07
We just throw down the last bath towel that was used, then get out a new one and put on the rack to use after our shower. This way we're not wasting a clean one by putting it on the floor. I would really love one of the nice big plush ones, but I'm sure my puppy would chew it. He chews everything!!
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Aug 07
I don't use a bath mat. I use a towel on the floor to step onto after my shower or bath. It is soft, and easier to wash than a mat.
1 person likes this
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
3 Aug 07
I use a towel it seems to absorb more of the water than a bath mat.
• United States
5 Aug 07
I've found that too!
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
3 Aug 07
I've had the same problem throughout the years and decided as you to use a bath towel. We have carpet in our bathroom; deep pile, which I'd rather that we didn't but can't convince my husband otherwise. So, the carpet gets wet no matter whether we have a towel on it or not but at least the towel helps to soak up most of it. We've never had the carpet get soaked, as of yet, which is good but I'm just waiting for the day. When it starts to get the mildew odor, it's gone..!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Aug 07
My friend gave me a nice blue bathmat from her garage sale. I used to put a bath towel down, but I find the bathmat much better. I can just put it in the wash. I usually take a bath rather than shower===I watched Psycho ====and so there is not danger of water dripping over. However, if there is any water on the floor, we just wipe it off with an old face towel.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
3 Aug 07
We use bath mats for both bathrooms. I have two sets that I change once a week and if the guest bathroom is not being used, then it stays there for a while at least LOL.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
3 Aug 07
i use a bath mat. i have one outside my shower and another one outside my bathroom.
• United States
3 Aug 07
I use a traditional bathmat. As you've said it feels so good on your feet when you step onto it. I can't imagine using a towel but we don't get water on the floor from our shower. I guess you have to do what you have to do but maybe to make you feel better you could use a bath mat and then dry it right after outside or in a dryer so you can feel more comfortable.
1 person likes this
• South Africa
3 Aug 07
I used to have a bath mat just like yours, but I got a cat and any mat on the floor becomes a means for covering any mess he might have created. So I have moved towards using a towel that gets hung up each time after a shower.
@jothis (518)
• India
3 Aug 07
Hey what a question. We use floor towel
• United States
3 Aug 07
Interesting discussion. I use a bath mat on my bathroom floor. It's a black one. The theme I have in my bathroom is white, black and silver. So the black bath mat gives it a nice kick to it.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
3 Aug 07
I use the bath mat. I have one next to my bath tub and another just outside the bathroom, in case the feet is still wet coming out from the shower. I've never had the problem of the stuck bath mat or water wetting the floor like you had. Most of the time, my bathroom floor is quite dry, so using a bath mat is fine for me.
@amyann16 (414)
• United States
3 Aug 07
We have bath mats. Sometimes my husband will put a towel on top of the bath mat because I might have just showered and the bath mat may be a little damp and it drives him nuts, but otherwise the bath mats seem to work just fine for us.
• India
3 Aug 07
generally i use a towel in non rainy seasons... & a bath mat in rainy season..
• China
3 Aug 07
I'd rather use a traditional bath mat ,i like traditional!