Why You Shouldn’t Be Washing Bath Mats in the Washer
You should never wash bathroom mats in your washing machine. Learn why, and what to do when your bathroom mats and other bulky items need cleaning.
With more than 30 years experience of working as an appliance technician, I’ve seen too many front-load washing machines ruined because customers used them to wash bathroom mats. I’ve seen a new front-loader broken beyond repair when a customer tried washing two bathroom mats at the same time.
Bottom line: Never clean bathroom mats in your washing machine. Here’s why.
P.S. These stone bath mats will have you saying goodbye to your fabric mats forever.
Why Shouldn’t I Put My Bathroom Mat In The Washer?
The majority of front-loaders washers have large spin baskets that can accommodate big blankets and bathroom mats. That leads customers to think these washers can wash large, heavy items of any size and weight.
But even the best bathroom mats absorb so much water that they end up weighing far more than the washer was designed to handle. Modern washers have a much faster spin rate than washers of the past — up to 1,200 revolutions per minute during high-speed spins! These faster rates create large amounts of force with heavy items, and the increased weight tears the washer apart.
If you try to clean bathroom mats in your washer, you risk two expensive problems.
It Can Ruin the Drain Motor
Bathroom mats often have a rubbery backing that disintegrates in the wash cycle. The small rubber pieces then block the drain pump by clogging its motor and drain line.
Often the drain motor needs to be replaced. This repair averages $240 for parts and labor. Even bathroom mats without a rubber backing can effect the drain motor. Long fibers on some mats break off during the wash cycle and clog the drain.
It Can Ruin the Spin Basket Bearing
The rear bearing that supports the spin basket takes the brunt of the damage from heavy bathroom mats and the great centripetal force generated by the spin cycle. When the bearing fails, the fix can cost $500. There’s also a spider bracket that holds up the spin bracket which often breaks due to the increased weight. The spider bracket repair is also around $500.
Just this week, a customer with a two-year-old LG washer contacted me to report an extremely loud spin cycle due to a worn out rear bearing. He told me he routinely washes large blankets and bathroom mats in his washer.
I felt bad breaking the news to him that because the repair would cost more than $500, it made more sense to replace the washer. Now he needs to come up with around $1,200 for a new washer, and some landfill somewhere gets another bulky item that will take thousands of years to biodegrade. Washing machine manufacturers really should warn buyers not to wash bathroom mats!
What If I’ve Already Laundered My Bathroom Mats?
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