How can I reuse or recycle an old rubber bath mat?
We’ve had a message from Helen, asking:
I have a rubber bath mat that the kids don’t seem to need any more. It’s (to be frank) a bit manky so I feel I can’t freecycle it. However I don’t want to just chuck it either. Is there a way to recycle something like this?
All suggestions gratefully received!
I’m sure there are tons of ways to reuse them around the home and garden. The first ones that spring to mind take advantage of the fact it’s non-slip – cut circles out of the least manky parts and there you go, non-slip mats for underneath plant pots or the like
Any other ideas?
(Oh, and if you’re wondering about fabric bathmats, we covered them a few months ago.)
I was thinking that this would be great for the soles of slippers. Just cut out foot shapes and sew to the bottom of readymade slippers (or those all-in-one pyjamas for kids!
Cut the rubber mat up and scatter on friend’s horse riding menage.
If you wrap it around an old coat hanger then PRISTO PRESTO you have a padded coat hanger.
This may not fit the vision of recycle this, but some things are just so tacky…reduce first…don’t buy garbage.
We’re very much about reducing – but I suspect some people buy these mats for safety reasons ahead of style.
It is manky. Get rid of it for the love of Christ. consider disposal when making purchases.
Give it a new lease of life by a decent bleaching ;)
The bathmat can be thrown in washer with a couple of old towels and bleach, lay out in the sun to dry.
What if you were to reuse it in your garage, under your car to catch the oil leak – if you have one?
Sadly some household products are non-recyclable and if they become “manky”, as you put it, opportunities to put them to an alternative use may be somewhat limited.
If like me you have a wood-burning stove (or an open fire) a rubber bath mat could be cut into strips and used as fire lighters. Rubber burns really well. We also do this with household gloves and old rubber hot water bottles.
A bit controversial perhaps, but at least it’s less to go to landfill, while the ashes in our woodburner are “recycled” to our garden to improve the soil.
Clean it with a white vinegar or tea tree oil solution, and repair tears and holes, if any, with bike inner tube puncture kit adhesive patches. Reuse them in the kitchen or as car mats.
I have an old rubber bathmat that I keep in the trunk of my car. Rips and holes don’t really matter since I keep it in case I get stuck on snow or ice in the winter and need extra traction. It comes in handy at the beach in the summer to keep our wet things from dripping all over the trunk of the car.
When it gets complety unusable as a mat, I cut it up into small pieces and use it as mulch in flower pots. A long soak in vinegar (several days) cleans it up very nicely.
I love your ideas! And we will not go without a good bath mat. One good shower fall, and your life can change drastically!
i would suggust using it by a pool side placing it near or on the climbing ladder when getting out…i know sometimes those ladders can be pretty slippery or use it on a diving board on the plank…or you can cut the rubber bath mat into squares that are big enough to fit in your sink and cut a hole in the center and simply place it in the sink and use it as a sink mat…; )
I use my old rubber bathmats underneath the kitchen sink where I keep the cleaning supplies and garbage can. They catch all the spills and keeps the bottom of the cupboard nice and clean. I also use them out in the garage. I line the shelves with them so any oil or gas spill will land on them not the nice clean shelves. I also use them by the back door so that when I come in with wet or dirty shoes I put them on the bath mat instead of a clean floor.
Make it a door mat!
I put my dirty rubber bath mat and dirty plastic shower curtain in the kitchen sink. I then filled the sink with warm water, Clorox bleach, and liquid detergent. I let them soak for one hour, and then I rinsed them off, and hung them up to air dry. They were spotless, as clean as new.
Old shower mats are very effective in the garden to suppress weeds…no matter how “manky” they are. Also as a mat for the centre walkway inside the greenhouse.
Just give it a good clean by letting it soak in a little warm water & baking soda for 15 to 20 mins. will remove all soap scum and wash with a sponge or wash cloth.
Next, you can spray it with some 1/2 cup vinegar with 1/4 tsp. lemon juice. You can use a lime instead either one.
Than I sprayed the mat outside placed on an old towel let it air dry on each side than rolled it up and decided I will use for kneeling on it or sit on it when working around the yard.
Can clean over and over and even maybe use under your dogs food dishes so they will not slide or move.
Have fun and be creative :)
Bathmat can be used in garden to kneel on while tending plants.