If you have spent more than 2 minutes on Mold Help For You, you know that I am a huge advocate for mold prevention. This means that I am always on the hunt for quality products that can help reduce the likelihood of mold growth.
Bathrooms are one of the most likely areas of your home to have a mold problem of some sort. Bathroom mold is preventable but even I struggle with things like shower mold and toilet mold sometimes.
As such, using mold resistant products in the bathroom plays a hefty role in bathroom mold prevention.
Did you know that there are mold and mildew resistant bath mats?
I kind of didn’t know this until a few years ago. I mean, I knew there were bathroom rugs that did a better job or absorbing moisture and even some that were quick drying, but I didn’t know that there were actually mold and mildew resistant bath mats.
What makes a bathroom rug mold resistant?
The short answer is the absorbency of the material, the drying time, and the material itself. In some cases the backing material of the bath mat plays a role because you do not want water soaking onto the floor underneath the bath mat. This defeats the purchase of even having a bath rug.
There are 3 bath mat materials that provide the most resistance to mold and mildew at an affordable price point:
- Microfiber chenille
- Cork
- Teak
Lets take a look at each of these.
What makes microfiber chenille bath mats mold and mildew resistant?
First, “micro” fiber is yarn that is finer than natural fibers at about 1/20th the fineness of silk and nearly 1/200th of human hair. The fineness of microfibers allow them to be woven tightly together, creating a high number of micro-pores between each fiber which give microfiber bath mats an absorbency seven times higher than cotton bath mats.
A lot of microfiber in the marketplace is low quality 100% polyester. A microfiber chenille bath mat that will truly resist mold and mildew is made of polyester (which does not absorb water) and polyamide (a nylon-based compound that has high water absorbency and quick drying properties). So in a nutshell, the polyamide core filaments are extremely hydrophilic and wick water quickly from the surface, while the polyester fibers give it a fast-drying ability.
The chenille texture works to increase the surface area of the rug allowing it to absorb more water than microfiber alone.
A microfiber chenille bath mat soaks up more than 7 times its weight in water.
What makes cork bath mats mold and mildew resistant?
Cork poses a serious challenge to mold growth because of its near impermeability. Cork is hydrophobic which means it is difficult to wet. One cubic inch of cork is said to contain millions of tiny cells of suberin which is a gas that helps insulate and protect cork from physical or biological intrusions such as water and mold spores.
Generally speaking it is difficult for mold to grow on the surface of cork which is why cork has been used as stoppers in wine bottles for centuries.
The only issue with cork is making sure your cork bath mat is really cork. Some cork bath mats are an engineered product that have a high density fiberboard core that is made of recycled wood fibers. This will NOT give you a true mold and mildew resistant bath mat.
What makes teak bath mats mold and mildew resistant?
Teak is among the top-rated hardwoods for bathroom usage. The wood holds up well to frequent exposure to moisture. Teak produces a natural patina after some exposure to water. The patina acts as a protective glaze for the wood which adds to the durability of the bath mat.
Teak can be used as a bath mat due to its inherent oils that make it resistant to fungus and moisture without any extra treatment whatsoever. Some teak bath mats are rubbed with additional teak oil to give them a darker finish and more resistance against mold and mildew. This isn’t necessary though as teak already has a high oil content.
A raised teak bath mat should always be your first choice as it allows the moisture to dry faster.
The Best Mold and Mildew Resistant Bath Mats For Any Budget
Let’s face it – this is about quality and as such you need to prepare yourself to pay more than $5.99 for your bath mat. However, all of these mold resistant bath mats will last for years with proper care so spending a few extra dollars now will not only help prevent bathroom mold but also space you from purchasing a new bathroom rug every year.
The Best Mold and Mildew Resistant Microfiber Chenille Bath Mats
Amazon Basics Non-Slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Rug
You can purchase it here.
Gorilla Grip Original Luxury Chenille Bathroom Rug
You can purchase it here.
MAYSHINE Microfiber Chenille Bath Mat
You can purchase it here.
ITSOFT Microfiber Chenille Bathroom Rug
You can purchase it here.
The Best Mold and Mildew Resistant Cork Bath Mat
Basic Cork Bath Mat
You can purchase it here.
The Best Mold and Mildew Resistant Teak Bath Mats
Conair Home Solid Teak Bathroom Mat
You can purchase it here.
AquaTeak The Original Grate Teak Bath Shower Mat
You can purchase it here.
Natural Teak Wood Bath Mat by Home Fundamentals
You can purchase it here.
Not too keen on these options? No worries! Why not try some of these mold resistant bath mat alternatives. They are more expensive and not as easy to find but they offer similar mold resistant properties as the bath mats above.
Why I Can’t Recommend Bamboo Bath Mats
Bamboo bath mats are often touted as being impervious to water and mold and mildew resistant. This is not true.
Simply put, bamboo harbors every mold, mildew and fungus on the planet. Bamboo is an extremely hardy grass. As such, bamboo can withstand the most severe infections from mold for many years before becoming blighted.
Examine this image for a moment.
Looking closely at the striping and you can see many colors of mold including orange, white, grey, green and black. These molds have all penetrated the bamboo which is exceptionally hard. They are also living in the hollow insides.
To combat this problem bamboo wood is pressure treated with a powerful fungicide. This fungicide releases volatile organic compounds into the air which you do NOT want in your home. If the bamboo is not treated then bringing any bamboo into the house infects your home.
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