How do I get soap scum, mildew, etc. out of my bath mat?

Question

I have a chevron patterned tub mat that now has the pink soap scum mildew in the white part of the pattern. How do I get it off without taking the color away from the teal part??

Cynthia Brock · Answer

If you can put it in a washer all by itself the put vinegar in the wash. Vinegar is all natural and will not destroy the pattern or texture and will remove soap scum and mildew natrually. I put vinegar down my drain just to help keep soap scum from building up in the drain.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Try soaking it in a little dawn liquid detergent.

She13083389 · Answer

I would throw in the wash with your plastic shower curtain with detergent and bleach with warm water.  You will be amazed at the results.  Should look brand new

Bai11340945 · Answer

Rinse it real good in a bucket with a quarter cup of CLR, then toss in in the wash (don't wash it with your good clothes).  Save the bucket with the CLR to clean the shower, plastic curtain, etc. (note: with CLR, you might want to wear plastic/rubber gloves)

Max12842303 · Answer

I put it in washer with detergent and add ocyclean to it with hot water.

Dawn · Answer

put hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, give it a good spray.  Let it soak for awhile, then give it a scrub with a soft scrub product.

Darlene Watford · Answer

I would try baking soda and a scrub brush. Wet your mat and sprinkle with baking soda and let it soak then scrub

William · Answer

Pour one cup blue Dawn into a 32-ounce spray bottle (1/2 cup Dawn if you are using a 16-ounce bottle). Fill the bottle the rest of the way with white vinegar. Apply sprayer top; shake gently to mix. Spray liberally on the area to be cleaned. Allow to sit from 30 minutes. All of the offensive gunk and grime will break down and become soft and gooey. Simply rinse it away. For especially challenging situations—or if this is the initial treatment—use a sponge or brush to gently scrub the surfaces before rinsing.

Kathy · Answer

ERA laundry soap. Soap it for an over night or longer, then throw in the wash.

Kathy · Answer

ERA laundry soap will clean anything. Just spray and let sit for a while. I've forgotten about it soaking for weeks and threw it in the wash at that point and never had a problem with the stains coming out. The only thing I use on old or new stains. The best ever.

Sandra · Answer

I'm going out on a limb here because my solution is not green or non toxic.  I had black mold on my fabric patio cushions last year and tried all of the green solutions, scrubbed until I was worn out and it still took the color out of the fabric.  Then in desperation I sprayed the tile and bath mold remover (cheap brand) on it.  Came out instantly and did not fade the color.

Shaza Lee · Answer

use washing soda.   dissolve it in hot water first.   then soak the mat in it.    if some stains are stubborn you can make a paste with it and use a scrub brush.

Devra · Answer

Soak in Oxyclean.......

C Crow · Answer

I'm such a wuss....this is why my bathroom has only pure white cotton linens.  Admire the rest of you with your pretty baths, though!

Pam Kneebone · Answer

I would use a soak in oxyclean.I moved into a house with the fan grates  covered with years of greas.I put them in a washtub of oxyclean and could not believe that within minutes how all those years od gease foamed out.Amazing stuff.

Susan · Answer

vinegar removes a lot stuff on different things, so soak, then throw in the washer with towels, that's how I've always taken care of mine for 50 yrs.

Mare Tupper · Answer

spray heavily with a laundry stain remover like shout, then launder in your machine with heavy towels (old ones preferably)  use a good detergent like  tide and oxy clean....you may also use a color safe bleach---I have successfully used it in addition to Oxy clean. Run the washer through the wash cycle, stop before the rinse and check the progress---it should be like new....rinse with plain water and hang to dry. To avoid this in the future, rinse mat well after your shower and hang to dry. I put mine right on the shower wall with the suction cups....once dry you can put back on the tub or shower floor.

Sti2242965 · Answer

It is easy to wash and rinse them regularly while taking a bath or shower, I often do the odd tee shiirt or socks in the shower. (I also don't know why more men don't shave  while showering I always do each morning rather than faffing about before or after)

Tina · Answer

I'm a fan of vinegar, too. I cleaned very old soap scum off a shower curtain by putting the curtain in the bathtub with some vinegar and dawn dish soap sprayed on the curtain and soaked for 30 min. Back to new!

Tiffany · Answer

I'm no expert on rugs but my son is a 15 yr old athlete and football is the worst!! I mix baking soda, dawn dish soap and peroxide then use that paste to scrub it out. I haven't found anything it won't get out so far. Good luck

Cindy Dahlgren · Answer

Throw it in the washer with some oxyclean and let it soak overnight.  Then wash on gentle cycle.  I have a doormat that I wash like this and it works every time

Dixon Danger · Answer

Throw it away and buy a new one !

Connie S · Answer

Try straight peroxide.  The one you buy in the medical supplies is already watered down. Just let is soak in it.  
 You can get stronger peroxide, available at some farm supplies and other places.  It kills mildew and mold.

Mary Mitchell · Answer

I've tossed mats like this into my washing machine and used hot water (instead of my regular cold cycle) and laundry soap. I've also filled the tub with about an inch of water to cover the mat and added half a cup of  bleach to the hot water and let it soak.

Diane · Answer

to get mildew from your bath tub spray with bleach walk away come back in 2 to 3 hours and it gone . I used to do this in a motel I managed

Eliaabeth York · Answer

Soak it in white vinegar & baking soda. Cleans just about everything with no chemicals.

Mio14166673 · Answer

Color safe bleach

Arlene Gordanier · Answer

Try 20 mule team borax, hot water

Pam Malnati · Answer

I recently tried Lysol's Hydrogen Peroxide spray cleaner.  I sprayed, waited, came back.  It got a huge portion of stuff off.  Sprayed one or two more times and it all came off.  Magic.

Linda kelley · Answer

Use Krud Kutter Mold and Mildew remover...it's non toxic and will clean it easily! You can find it at Walmart, Home Depot.

How do I get soap scum, mildew, etc. out of my bath mat?

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How do I get soap scum, mildew, etc. out of my bath mat?

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