MACHINE WASHING A COTTON BATH RUG - Page 2

Suzeecat · ‎05-05-2010

@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.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@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.

Suzeecat · ‎05-05-2010

@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"?

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

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

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

DottieBlue · ‎03-11-2010

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.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@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.

Sunshine Kate · ‎03-10-2010

I like all cotton bath rugs also.

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

TIA

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@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

Sunshine Kate · ‎03-10-2010

@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!