Rubber anti-slip bath mats - choose the best one

The bathroom, in addition to its main - hygienic function, is entrusted with many additional functions. At the same time, it is a place of rest and relaxation, a beauty salon, laundry room, as well as a storage room for various and very necessary things. That's why it is so important that everything in the bathroom is subordinate to our comfort and convenience.
This largely depends on the right choice of sanitary ware and furniture, but the role of accessories should not be underestimated. We sometimes do not pay attention to these useful little things, but without them being in the bathroom would not bring us so much pleasure. It is not without reason that we sometimes spend as much time choosing a shower curtain, soap dish or towel rail as we do on more serious purchases. One of such not primary, but nevertheless extremely useful elements of bathroom interior is a rubber mat.
Purpose
It is probably difficult to find a bathroom that would do without it. In addition to the fact that some mats are a work of art and can decorate the room, they also perform several important functions.
Their main purpose is to prevent slipping. The rubber backing provides a secure grip on the floor, so you can safely step out of the tub without fear of slipping on a smooth tile floor. Often rubber mats are laid on the bottom of the tub or shower tray.



Not every bathroom is equipped with a heated floor. But it is so nice to touch a warm, pleasant surface with bare feet, rather than cold tiles!
Fluffy bath mat on a rubber base is designed just to make your feet warm and comfortable. In addition, the textile surface is excellent at absorbing moisture.
Some rubber mats can act as a foot massager, thanks to its grooved surface. Such mats are usually placed in a bathtub or shower stall and combine hygiene procedures with foot massage.

Finally, rubber bath mats can serve as grounding elements for appliances. They make it safe to use appliances, such as a hair dryer or an electric hair dryer, near water.
About Alternative Options bathroom mats Read our other article.
Choosing Tips
When choosing a rubber bath mat, you should be guided only by your individual preferences. Surely you will want it to not only perform its basic functions, but also fit into the interior of the room. Try to choose a rug, so that it was in harmony with the color scheme of the room or, conversely, created a favorable contrast. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you can buy a transparent mat, it will look great in any bathroom.
It is worth paying attention to the shape of the mat. In the bathroom, decorated in the maritime style, the best place for a rug in the form of a seashell or a dolphin. Simple geometric shapes will suit a modern interior. The material from which the mat is made, also matters. The most popular materials are rubber and silicone. They do not differ much: rubber mats are slightly less slippery, and silicone mats are slightly more elastic. In terms of their other characteristics, they are almost identical. There are several varieties of rubber bath mats, each of which has its own advantages.



Types
Children's
Of course, for bathing a child, you can also use an ordinary "adult" rubber mat. It is just as securely attached to the bottom of the bath and protects it from accidental falls. But still, a mat designed specifically for children, probably will please your baby.
Such mats adhere well to the bath with suction cups, which are located on the back side of the rubber product. A child can run his or her hands and feet over it as much as he or she wants - the mat will not budge. The outer side of the rubber mat often has a massage surface - all kinds of relief elements will not only provide a light massage, but also help the development of fine motor skills.
Baby mat is able to entertain your baby during bath time. Usually they are very bright, with an interesting pattern. You can find mats with images of famous fairy tale characters, cartoon or comic book characters. Some mats are in the form of sea creatures - fish, dolphins, or frogs. The child will look at this mat with interest and not even notice how to pass so unpleasant for many kids bathing procedure.



Massage
We have already mentioned the massage properties of some rubber bath mats. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Such mats are made of rubber or silicone. They are laid on the bottom of the tub or shower stall. The massage effect is created by special convex elements - bubbles, notches, etc. The contact with the relief surface increases the blood flow to the feet.
Such a foot massage has a small therapeutic effect:
- prevents the development of flat feet;
- strengthens the leg muscles;
- Through certain points on the feet affects the internal organs.

Anti-vibration for washing machines
It is quite common to see a washing machine in the bathroom. No wonder, because in our apartments, there is not much space to place this rather than a small unit. Few people have a special room for washing, ironing and drying, so usually the washing machine is installed in the kitchen or bathroom.
For many, the presence of appliances in the bathroom does not bring any discomfort at all. But some washing machines can ride out into the middle of the room during the wash, making an incredible rumble.
Many people find the solution to this problem in the use of anti-vibration rubber mats. These are fairly large mats that are placed directly under the washing machine. They are soft and embossed, so that the vibration from the running centrifuge is absorbed, and the washing machine stays in place. Not only do these mats keep the machine from traveling around the bathroom reliably, but they muffle the sounds it makes as it runs. In addition, rubber mats keep the floor under the washing machine from damage.



Unusual mats on a rubber base
Fans of natural materials in interior design will definitely appreciate bath mats, which are made with natural raw materials.
Bamboo rug - is the right choice for those who appreciate naturalness combined with comfort and beauty. Bamboo fiber has recently been considered a real exotic in our country. But today at least one thing made of this amazing material, for sure, is in every home. From bamboo cloth produce almost everything, from socks to fillings for pillows and mattresses. Bamboo items have also caught on in the bathroom. Bamboo towels and robes were first imported from southern countries, and then they appeared in store shelves. Bamboo fiber looks great, it is very soft and pleasant to the touch, and also perfectly absorbs moisture.

Rug made of pebbles is another interesting solution. It will look great in a bathroom, decorated in the style of a spa or seaside resort. Rounded pebbles of different sizes create a massage effect and evoke the feeling of walking on the beach. And if the bathroom has underfloor heating, the feeling of stepping on a sun-heated seashore will be even stronger.

In stores, you can find mats made with natural stones or created from artificial synthetic materials. Natural products, as a rule, are more expensive, but the feeling is very different. In order not to spend too much money, you can make a rug from real pebbles with your own hands.
How to make a rug in the bathroom with my own hands?
In order to make a bath mat from pebbles ourselves we will need:
- Pebbles, it can be picked up on the city beach, bring from vacation or buy in a store;
- a piece of rubber cloth, you can use an old linoleum for this purpose;
- a good universal adhesive.
Let's start the work with the preparation of pebbles. The stones need to be thoroughly washed and dried. Then cut out a suitable piece of rubber cloth from the rubber cloth you have, in shape and size. Next, you can begin laying out the pattern. You can arrange the pebbles in a mess, as if it were a cut out piece of a real seashore. In this case, no preliminary preparation is needed, just lay out the stones in random order. If you think about creating an original ornament, or even decide to lay out a picture from the pebbles, it is better to sketch a pattern on paper, and then try to recreate it from the stones, yet without glue.
To glue the stones to the rubber is simple: smear the glue on the underside of the pebble and press it against the rubber for a few seconds. Once the work is done, give our mat a day to allow the pebbles to firmly attach to the base.



Another way to how to make a mat for the bath with his own handsIn which the stones are attached by sealant, you can see in another article.
Care
Taking care of a rubber bath mat will not be difficult, even for a child. They are usually made of high quality materials and will therefore last for several years with minimal care.



- Rugs should be periodically dried - you can hang it overnight on the edge of the bath or clothes dryer.
- If the mat is rubber, after all water procedures, wipe it dry with any cloth or sponge.
- Some manufacturers add antibacterial and antifungal components to their mats, but you can wash the mat with soap under hot water once or twice a month as a preventative measure.
- If the mat has a textile surface, you can wash it in the washing machine on a delicate mode as it gets dirty.
As soon as we had a baby, we immediately bought an anti-slip mat. The baby is now 4 years old and we are still using it. We should get one for our newborn niece as well :)