I dislike mats. I have decided to use a bath rug in 2 bathrooms at our houses and do without in our others. The rugs are great. Simpler cleaner look, One large simple rug covers wherever you might want cushioning underfoot. Then again I guess it all depends on the shape of bathroom.

I suppose this depends on taste and needs more than anything. If you are looking for the popular "spa" or hotel look, then use towel type bath mats and put them where they can be used for the shower and then removed, on the side of the bath or on the towel rack, rolled up on a convenient shelf,basket, etc..
I was a cleaning lady for years and could tell you stories about the old 3 piece sets(and U) shaped bath rugs that would make your hair stand on end. Many people put them in place and leave them (eeew- yuk!).
Many people don't use mats near the stool or sink because of cleanliness issues (splashes from potty or sink) and many can't use them because of disability (walkers, wheel chairs, etc). So really it seems to me to be an issue of the use the room will be put to, and to individual taste. If you are staging a home, don't use mats or rugs at all, people like to see the flooring! That said I think some people really like fluffy floor mats in the bath in front of tub/shower and sink for the feeling of sinking bare toes into them.
I have seen a new type of mat on sale, sealed foam of some sort that provides cushion for those who need comfort standing in one place for a length of time ( foot problems and the like). I think they might be easily cleaned and it seems they are coming out in many different colors and textures. To me its just a matter of doing what suits your own life best! Best wishes

I think it depends also on the shape/size of your bathroom. I have a long,narrow MB. Lately, I have tended to use 3 little rugs---1 in front of each sink (vanity is about 60" long) and one in front of the shower door, which is also in front of the toilet. I like using a rug by the shower door better than a standard towel-like bath mat--looks better and we were always lazy about putting the mat away so it always just looked like a folded towel laying on the floor. My powder room downstairs is so small I don't use a rug, especially now that we changed the flooring from white to gray. I used a small rug with the white floor because it showed every speck. I use just one rug in the hall bath which is small, but again, it serves as a rug in front of the sink and when stepping out of the shower. Kids are grown and gone but they also never would pick the towel/mat up and drape it over the side of the tub for drying, so I just gave up on mats altogether. I buy sets of inexpensive rugs at BBB, Target, etc..in different colors for each bath so I'm not looking at the same colors all the time.

I hate the U mats, but I use them as I hate the drips and splatters even more. (Egbar, I wash mine regularly.) Never understand how a guy who was on the varsity rifle team can miss such a large target that's so close! I keep threatening to attach a hose and funnel to the toilet so he can't miss!

I got so grossed out by what the underside of those rubber bottomed rugs look like after a few months of use that I threw them out and just bought a towel like mat. It is heavier than a towel but still can be washed every time I wash the towels and it dries much quicker. I hang it over the side of the tub when not in use. Seems much less likely to grow things. Also you can "skate" over to the sink on it if you really want to.

We have white, all cotton bath mats for use in front of the shower. They're reversible, so I can go a bit longer between washes. Just flip them over! Nothing in front of the sinks or toilet.

The boys' bath, which also serves as our powder room, has a tub/shower combo, and they use a towel as a bath mat. It's less bulky and dries quickly. We had the tub reglazed several years ago, and I don't want anything that stays damp or has a plastic backing sitting on the tub, and I prefer not to have anything on the floor full time. I paid good money for that marble, and I want to see it!

I wish I didn't have to put down rugs in the bathroom but if I didn't I'd have to have a mop and bucket in there at all times. My floor is a blue and white checkerboard pattern in VCT tile. And I'm a gardener, who finds removing shoes every time I enter the house a big PITA. There's a rug in front of the toilet (which serves the shower also), sink, and the chiffarobe. Like I say if there were no rugs there would be dirty footprints to mop up each time I entered and exited the room.

Unfortunately I didn't know about the chemical reaction between vinyl and rubber backed rugs until I was enlightened here on this forum. :(

schoolhouse, I got a whole slew of shoe covers for real cheap...I get DH to slip them on when he's been playing in the dirt...much easier to get him to do that than take off his high work boots.

Here is a link that might be useful: disposable shoe covers

Thanks for all the feedback. Looks like I am not alone in my aversion :). What kind of rugs and mats launder well. Any recommendations of brands? What is the difference. Between a bathrug and a bath mat anyway? Isn't rug just a larger mat?

If you had a separate room for the toilet, would you still do the U rug? I really hate that as I feel that it is always dirty.

This post was edited by GWlolo on Wed, Aug 14, 13 at 15:04

I have rugs in front of the sinks and toilet (in one bath, that is also in front of tub) They are cheap, white, rubber-backed and are washed frequently. I also use bath mats for the showers and tub. The bath mats are more like towels, but less nap to them and a little stiffer. I fold them over the tub or towel bar when not in use. When in use, they often overlap the rugs, but they are designed to absorb the dripping water and keep the rugs dry and they are picked up and hung over the tub as soon as you have dried off from your shower. I can't imagine not using a bathmat when stepping out of the tub or shower.

If I had a separate WC (toilet in its own room), I would not have a rug there.

I only use the reversable cotton rugs without the rubber backing. I wash them every week, or more often if needed. I have several for each bathroom. I don't use the rubber backed ones after the repairman told me how the rubber backing ruins washing machines.

overall, i prefer the looks of the alot of the rubber backed rugs- some of the 100% cotton ones without the backing start to look really worn after a few washes.

i think the dryer heat starts to break down the rubber backing of the rugs and then if the rubber is disintegrating and flaking off, that's what's bad for the washer-have to throw them out if that starts to happen! i use only very low heat and/or airdry them and the rubber lasts for a relatively long time.

i would definitely invest in a hose and funnel contraption!!! lol

I never put my rubber-backed mats in the dryer as it will break down the backing sooner...I hang them on the rack to dry.

Cotton rugs I've had always take too long to dry and they are very heavy when wet. If they don't dry quick enough, they can get musty smelling. The one I had, I keep in the guest room where it gets little used.

Does anyone use the spa look wood or bamboo mats? How do they wear? Dry?

Ladies who are wondering how men "miss" the toilet so often:

I only recently found that the urine stream does not always exit men as one cohesive stream. Apparently it's prone to splitting into two streams, and one of those usually refuses to travel in the same direction as the other one. And there's not a lot that most men can do about it.

Although, you'd think they'd make a greater effort to clean up after themselves!