topic Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG in Home

MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Suzeecat — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:35:03 GMT

I don't know where else to ask, and posters here are always so knowledgeable and helpful!

After washing a rubber-backed rug and having the backing disintegrate in my washer I decided never again. I had the brilliant idea of getting a non-backed cotton rug and just using a piece of rug mat under it to keep it from slipping. Works like a charm!

Now, it's time to wash and I threw it in the machine according to the instructions, and got TONS of fibers inside my machine! It's as bad as the rubber backing disintegrating! I've Googled washing rugs and found no tips for keeping all the fibers from coming off in the machine. I don't think there is a lingerie bag big enough to put a rug in, so HOW do I wash my little cotton rugs without risking damaging my washer????

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

timeless — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:46:11 GMT

You might try putting it in an old pillowcase and tie the end.

Perhaps the rug will shed less in future washes now.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Still Raining — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:59:13 GMT

I switched to all cotton with no backing a long time ago and love them. Never recall any lint at all. Don't wash every week though.

But now I think about it, I remove them from the tile when I do a bare floor cleaning. Then since they are out on the carpet anyway, I use the carpet rolling brush on them.

Maybe lazy wins again 🤣

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Zhills — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:05:04 GMT

The older cotton rugs did not shed like the new ones do. I went to microfiber for that 1 reason.

They will shed less but still shed!

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

hopi — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:08:32 GMT

The all cotton bath had my wash machine bouncing like a ball.

Stopped it and threw the rug out.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Kachina624 — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:25:17 GMT

You happened to get a bad bath rug. I got one from QVC like that once. Horrible quality. Fortunately, most of my bath rugs have washed just fine. Get a name brand and don't buy cheap. Try one in a heavy waffle weave.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Suzeecat — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:27:00 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
You happened to get a bad bath rug. I got one from QVC like that once. Horrible quality. Fortunately, most of my bath rugs have washed just fine. Get a name brand and don't buy cheap. Try one in a heavy waffle weave.

Oh wow, good to know it's not all cotton rugs! I got this one from Costco, usually they sell high-quality goods! Costco has a good return policy, I may try returning it for a refund.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Suzeecat — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:28:22 GMT

@timeless wrote:
You might try putting it in an old pillowcase and tie the end.
Perhaps the rug will shed less in future washes now.

Great suggestion, thank you!

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:51:09 GMT

Cold water,woolite, gentle cycle, no dryer.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Carmie — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:22:49 GMT

I always buy 100% cotton bath rugs.

They will always shed really bad the first couple of times you wash them...in the washer and in the dryer.

They also get heavy in the washer when wet, so you need to not wash just one rug alone or your machine will get off balance.

Your washer won't get damaged. This excessive lint will not continue after the first few washings. In the meantime, this is normal.

I would also suggest, you shake the wet spun dry rug outside to remove some lint before you put it in the dryer and clean out the lint catcher a few times during the drying cycle.

IMO, 100% cotton rugs are the best. They really absorb the water from your feet and hold up for many years. I have some cotton, no rubber backing rugs that are over 20 years old and still are in perfect shape.

They are just a messy pain in the neck for the first few washings.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Suzeecat — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:45:33 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
I always buy 100% cotton bath rugs.

They will always shed really bad the first couple of times you wash them...in the washer and in the dryer.

They also get heavy in the washer when wet, so you need to not wash just one rug alone or your machine will get off balance.

Your washer won't get damaged. This excessive lint will not continue after the first few washings. In the meantime, this is normal.

I would also suggest, you shake the wet spun dry rug outside to remove some lint before you put it in the dryer and clean out the lint catcher a few times during the drying cycle.

IMO, 100% cotton rugs are the best. They really absorb the water from your feet and hold up for many years. I have some cotton, no rubber backing rugs that are over 20 years old and still are in perfect shape.

They are just a messy pain in the neck for the first few washings.

So good to know, thank you! I was thinking maybe things would lessen after a few washings, but was afraid to take that chance and ruin my washer. Maybe next couple of washes I will try the pillow case trick until I see the residue diminish.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Carmie — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 17:22:19 GMT

@Suzeecat A few years ago, we wintered in Florida in our RV in a really nice camp ground with lots of very expensive RV's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Our RV is nice, but it's it's not new anymore...2000 model. We stuck out like sore thumbs among the rich folks with their fancy new models.

I bought a new cotton bathroom rug that I loved while shopping in Florida. I washed it at the camp's laundry facilities and boy did it shed.

There was heavy excessive lint in the washer, the dryer, the floor of the laundry and even outside because I shook it outdoors. I had to get maintenance to help clean it up...it was the worse I have ever seen. It looked like cotton snow.

I was so embarassed. All those upper crust people doing laundry beside me gave me the evil eye...then and there and weeks later. They were probably picking up lint from their own laundry after using the same machine as I did.

I still have the rug and it doesn't shed anymore, but it brings back memories every time I use it.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Suzeecat — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 19:03:53 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@Suzeecat A few years ago, we wintered in Florida in our RV in a really nice camp ground with lots of very expensive RV's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Our RV is nice, but it's it's not new anymore...2000 model. We stuck out like sore thumbs among the rich folks with their fancy new models.

I bought a new cotton bathroom rug that I loved while shopping in Florida. I washed it at the camp's laundry facilities and boy did it shed.

There was heavy excessive lint in the washer, the dryer, the floor of the laundry and even outside because I shook it outdoors. I had to get maintenance to help clean it up...it was the worse I have ever seen. It looked like cotton snow.

I was so embarassed. All those upper crust people doing laundry beside me gave me the evil eye...then and there and weeks later. They were probably picking up lint from their own laundry after using the same machine as I did.

I still have the rug and it doesn't shed anymore, but it brings back memories every time I use it.

Oh my, at least my debacle was not witnessed by my neighbors! And yes, I cleaned a loaded dryer lint filter no less than three times before the thing was dry.

If you still have the rug, do you remember how many washings before it "settled down"?

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Carmie — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:09:53 GMT

@Suzeecat I still have the rug and would guesstimate maybe 3-4 washings and it stopped shedding.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Lucky Charm — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:59:06 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@Suzeecat A few years ago, we wintered in Florida in our RV in a really nice camp ground with lots of very expensive RV's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Our RV is nice, but it's it's not new anymore...2000 model. We stuck out like sore thumbs among the rich folks with their fancy new models.

I bought a new cotton bathroom rug that I loved while shopping in Florida. I washed it at the camp's laundry facilities and boy did it shed.

There was heavy excessive lint in the washer, the dryer, the floor of the laundry and even outside because I shook it outdoors. I had to get maintenance to help clean it up...it was the worse I have ever seen. It looked like cotton snow.

I was so embarassed. All those upper crust people doing laundry beside me gave me the evil eye...then and there and weeks later. They were probably picking up lint from their own laundry after using the same machine as I did.

I still have the rug and it doesn't shed anymore, but it brings back memories every time I use it.

That reminds me of machine wash linen drapes I bought from Wayfair years ago.

I washed them as soon as I got them and boy did I have lint everywhere. My washer was a mess and I hung them outside. I had lint in my grass and it was in my neighbor's lawn! I was picking up lint for weeks!

Sent them back and they were so expensive I was able to buy a SOFA for my son with my merch credit.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

DottieBlue — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 01:58:47 GMT

I use 100% cotton terry bath mats (no backing) for many years and haven't had much of a lint problem--no more than with my 100% cotton bath towels and wash cloths.

I buy them from The Company Store and Macy's. They are very heavy when wet, tho, and you do need to have other things in your washer to balance it out or your washer will go "crazy."

Just like with new cotton terry towels, be sure to clean out the dryer filter a couple of times during the drying cycle for the first few washings.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Carmie — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 02:33:14 GMT

@Lucky Charm I have two sets of 100% organic European flax linen sheets. I buy mine from Garnet Hill.

They shed too. They were prewashed when I got them, but I rewashed them before using them. Oh my goodness. The lint trap on my dryer filled up and needed to be emptied a few times for about the first 8-10 washings.

I think I threw half of the fabric away in lint form. One set leaves hardly any lint anymore, but second set, which is newer is still shedding a little. Thankfully, the lint was only in the dryer filter trap.

My linen sheets now come out of the dryer smooth and wrinkle free, but it takes a while for them to get to that point.

I admit I am a nut for natural fabrics. There is nothing like them.

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Sunshine Kate — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 02:38:47 GMT

I like all cotton bath rugs also.

Question, how do you keep the cotton rug from slipping on the tile floor?

TIA

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Carmie — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 02:53:00 GMT

@Sunshine Kate All of my bathroom floors are waterproof vinyl, except for one bath that has a hardwood floor.

The rugs don't slip around at all. I couldn't tell you about ceramic or stone tile

Re: MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG

Sunshine Kate — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 12:47:33 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@Sunshine Kate All of my bathroom floors are waterproof vinyl, except for one bath that has a hardwood floor.

The rugs don't slip around at all. I couldn't tell you about ceramic or stone tile

Thank you!