The Non-Toxic Trick For Refreshing Sour Bath Mats and Towels Quickly Is Hiding In Your Pantry, Reveal Laundry Pros

Bath mats are as essential as towels, but they can be one of the biggest contributors to musty bathroom smells. Even regular washing doesn't always shift lingering odors left behind by prolonged exposure to moisture, especially in winter when bathrooms are often cooler, and things take longer to dry out.

Luckily, there is a quick fix that's probably already in your pantry – cleaning with baking soda.

Here's how the pros use it to quickly bust musty odors between washes in winter, and their simple tricks to preventing them from settling back in.

Removing Odors From Sour Bathmats with Baking Soda

Bathmats are usually one of the things you are not washing enough. Most of us only use them for a few minutes a day, but that is all it takes for moisture to seep in and promote the growth of odor-causing bacteria and mold. This can lead to unpleasant smells that make your bathroom or home smell musty.

When washed correctly, however, doing laundry is often enough to help dispel any smells. But what if you have guests on the way, of your detergent hasn't proved potent enough?

In these cases, baking soda, such as Arm & Hammer from Amazon, is your best friend.

Isabella Flores, cleaning specialist at Sparkly Maid San Diego, explains, 'sprinkle dry baking soda liberally across the surface of the mat, let the baking soda sit for 10-30 minutes to allow it to absorb the odors, then vacuum the baking soda off using a clean upholstery or floor attachment.' A sugar shaker, also from Amazon, can make evenly distributing the baking powder easier.

If you have a heavy-duty rubber-backed mat, you can pair this trick with cleaning with vinegar, Isabella adds. 'Keep a spray bottle of plain white vinegar [from Target] in the bathroom and give the mat a gentle spray after each shower or when the mat begins to develop a musty odor. The vinegar smell will typically disappear rapidly after it dries and helps to neutralize the odor-causing molecules while preventing mold.'

How to Prevent Sour Smelling Bath Mats

It is altogether easier to prevent bad odors than it is to get rid of musty smells in a bathroom once they have taken root.

When it comes to bathmats, it's as simple as improving bathroom ventilation to ensure that they dry completely between uses. You wouldn't leave your towel bunched up in a ball between uses, after all. The same logic applies to bath mats.

'Since bacteria and mildew feed on moisture, preventing them from developing by allowing the mat to air dry can greatly reduce the likelihood of developing a musty smell,' Isabella says. 'Hang bath mats over the edge of the bathtub or towel bar immediately after each shower and let the air circulate into the bathroom for at least twenty minutes while the fan is on or a window is open.'

This is in combination with washing a bath mat regularly, using a quality detergent such as Tide Free & Gentle, from Target, which is specially formulated to work in high efficiency washers on lower cycle temperatures to help you cut energy bills.

Alternatively, if washing is still leaving an odor on your mats, Isabella recommends switching from detergent to vinegar in laundry. 'Run the mat through a single hot-water cycle using a cup of distilled white vinegar as the sole rinse aid in place of detergent.

'Then, run the mat through a second hot-cycle, but this time using a small load of detergent, and if possible, a half cup of baking soda.' Pay attention to the laundry symbols on the label; however, some rubber-backed mats cannot be subjected to high temperatures.

The final option to banish bad bathroom smells for good is to ditch fabric bath mats altogether. Switching to stone or a similar quick-drying alternative is one of the things people with nice-smelling bathrooms always do to keep their home smelling fresh.

Isabella explains, 'There are several types of quick-drying, mold-resistant bath "stones" and rubber mats that contain antimicrobial agents that are designed to evaporate water rapidly, thereby reducing the amount of time bacteria and mildew have to develop. As a result, these types require much less maintenance than many traditional cotton, foam, or memory foam bath mat products.'

This diatomaceous earth bath mat from Wayfair is a good example of these. Available in white and gray, made from diatomaceous earth stone, these mats offer excellent absorbency and quick drying.

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Meet the Expert

Isabella Flores

Isabella Flores is a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego. As a Senior Team Member, she helps families create spotless, clutter-free homes using eco-friendly products and trusted cleaning systems.

Removing odors is just one way to make your bathroom smell like a luxury spa. Pick a signature scent and use smart home fragrance tricks to add an extra level of relaxation to your space.

You can also use baking soda to refresh your rugs, which can cling to odors.