Bath/entry mat washing problem

[niclonnic]

I have a question regarding rubber backed entry and bath mats.

The entry and bath mats in my house are a few years old now. Not too long ago, the rubber backings on them have started to disintegrate. Actually, the downstairs bath mats are fully intact.

Now, when I wash them in my LG WM2650HWA front-load washer, the disintegration gets worse; rubber flakes get stuck everywhere in the washer. It is just a big mess. Once it's time to put the mats in the dryer, rubber flakes fall on the floor, making an even bigger mess.

After drying them in my Maytag Atlantis dryer, the mess just keeps coming! The dryer gets rubber flakes all over. In addition, a bad smell comes in.

What do you think I should do in the future? I hope this doesn't cause long-term damage to my washer or dryer.

Below is a pic of a load I have going right now. Rubber flakes are easily visible within the washer. A dryer pic will come later today.

 

[super32]

I quit

I stopped buying those rubber backed rugs just for the reasons you mentioned. I tryed drying them on low heat and washing on delicate. They would still eventually begin to peel. I have serviced many washers with pumps that got clogged with all the rubber bits.

 

[ea56]

Ditto to reply #1, I too stopped using and buying these kind of rugs. I don't recall this ever being a problem in the past. Maybe they are using inferior quality rubber backing on these rugs now. At any rate I now buy woven area rugs with no backing and use nonskid mats underneath them. Problem solved.

 

[foraloysius]

I never have this problem. Bath mats with rubber backing shouldn't be dryed in the dryer.

 

[yogitunes]

wash on gentle, warm to cool water.....

dryer, on LOW, for only about 10 minutes, and then pull them out and lay out to finish drying, THAT's it.....

this method usually makes them last the longest.....

usually its the dryer that causes the rubber to break down and start to flake off...

 

[gusherb]

I stopped having this problem when I started air drying all rugs. In fact anything I do dry is hardly ever on high heat anymore cuz it just seems to do more harm then good even on cottons.

 

[niclonnic]

OK...

I always dry the mats on low heat. But some mats start to disintegrate naturally, usually from being on a floor for too long. I guess it happens due to mold and mildew from the bathroom.

I am uploading two more pics, showing what the washer looked like after the wash. How am I going to clean this up?

 

[gusherb]

When our mats started doing that I just started throwing them out. Seriously dealing with that mess you pictured was more trouble for us then it was worth.

 

[yogitunes]

wet and dry vac to clean it all out....

but true also, worried that it got down into your sump, and may clog the screen, I would clean that out, and run a quick rinse/spin, and clean it again until you find no more of those bits in the screen....if it hasn't clogged it yet, it will!

at least your cleanout is on the front of the machine, somewhat easy access

 

[DADoES]

 
I had that happen the last time I tried washing rubber-backed throw rugs in my Neptune TL.  I checked early into the wash period, found the situation and quickly brought it to a screeching halt, tossed the rugs to the bin.  No more washing of rugs without first a thorough examination of them.

 

[niclonnic]

Alright

So I grabbed my Ridgid shop vacuum and used it to clean up the mess in the washer. I got most of the flakes, but there was quite a bit still in there.

I then got towels and proceeded to clean the drain filter. There was some rubber on it, not to mention mold/mildew buildup. I rinsed that off really well, then wiped out the inside of the drain hole.

After that, I ran a rinse & spin cycle, then checked the drain filter again. I found some rubber on it! Looks like I'll have to repeat this procedure a few more times.

Below is a pic of the drain filter the first time I took it out.

 

[zipdang]

At some point I was instructed to wash AND rinse them in warm water, as rinsing in cold will make the rubber less flexible and prone to cracking and disintegration. I don't remember where that recommendation came from, but it has worked for me with the few rubber-backed mats we've had.

 

[jkbff]

Do a washer clean cycle if you have it, the agitation with the water will be more aggressive to knock loose any small bits of rubber left. The pump filter will catch what it can. The ones small enough to go through the filter shouldn't cause any issues.

 

[logixx]

We switched to all-cotton bath mats after the last set basically glued itself to the floor and I sat there for an hour, scraping the residue off.

 

[niclonnic]

One more thing

Here are some pics of what happened after the mats were done drying. Some rubber dropped onto the floor, and the lint filter had lots of rubber flakes on it.

Yes, my washer does have a tub clean cycle, so I'm running that right now for that very reason.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

I typically throw bat mats away:

When they start to do this. The best solution is to use commercial enrty mats. Just make sure they have a closed loop nylon weave surface and rubber nitrle backing. This is what all commercial laundries use and they can be washed in hot water and dryed in hot dryers hundreds of times before they wear out.
WK78

 

[frigilux]

OK, I'll ask: If you saw the rubber backing come off the rugs in the washer, why on earth did you proceed to put them in the dryer?

I have two rubber-backed rugs in the bathroom. Both get washed in cold water on the Delicate/Gentle cycle of my front-loader and neither go in the dryer. Ever. Not even on the 'No Heat' setting. I hang them over the shower curtain rod to dry.

If you continue to use rubber-backed rugs in your home, stop washing and drying them at the first sign of cracking/deterioration.

 

[niclonnic]

It was my only choice

Unfortunately, as a result of this, my dryer now has a bad smell to it. How do I get it out?

In addition, a few months ago, the bath mat in my bathroom started gluing itself to the floor, and I spent several minutes on my hands and knees scraping the residue off.

 

[kspkap]

Never, Ever Dry Rubber Backed Rugs/Mats in a Clothes Dryer!

You can certainly wash rubber backed rugs/mats in the washer, but on Gentle with as much water as possible. My old GE Profile actually had a cycle for these listed under Garment Cycles:Mats/Rugs. But,then drape them over something to dry. I use my outside porch railing or one of those collapsible air dryers. The clothes dryer heat is what destroys the backing. Eventually though over time the backing will deteriorate and start flaking. That's the time to quit using and pitch them out. They do make a good layer for your outside doghouse floor.