Non-Slip Bath Mats: What Actually Grips Wet Tiles

How a non-slip mat works

A good bath mat does two jobs. First, it stays put, usually with suction cups, a sticky rubber back or a heavy weight. Second, its top surface offers grip to a wet bare foot, through a raised pattern, texture or soft rubber that does not slide. If either part fails, the mat is a hazard.

The most common type for showers and tubs is a rubber or PVC mat with dozens of small suction cups on the underside. When pressed onto a smooth, flat, clean floor, the cups push out air and cling. The top has a raised pattern, often small circles or diamonds, that increases friction.

Other types include natural rubber mats with a grippy back, textured PVC mats that rely on weight, mats made of interlocking tiles, teak slatted mats and foam or microfibre mats for outside the shower.

Where a mat helps, and where it does not

Mats help most:

• Inside a tub or shower tray with a smooth, flat base.
• On a bathroom floor where a mat can be placed beside the shower to catch drips.
• For people who step in and out several times a day.

Mats help least or are risky:

• Over textured, embossed or uneven tiles. Suction cups cannot seal.
• Over grout lines or the sloped drain area.
• On soap-scummed or limescale-coated floors, where suction fails.
• Over a very wet, very polished marble floor unless the cups seal.
• In a bathroom with floor drains, where the mat can cover the drain and trap water, making flooding worse.
• For a person who shuffles or drags the feet, who may catch the mat edge and trip.

Mats are not perfect. They can slip, buckle, trap soap and mould and be a tripping hazard when dry. Where the floor is inherently slippery, treat the floor itself. Read anti-slip tape and coatings and bathroom flooring and wet-floor safety.

Choosing a mat

Size. The mat should be large enough for both feet to stand with a margin, with room for a shower chair if one is used. A common tub mat is about 40 by 70 cm, but shower trays vary. A mat that is too small leaves areas of bare, slippery floor. Measure the tray, and check whether the mat is trimmable to fit. Do not let it cover the drain.

Suction. More suction cups, and a firm, flat back, give better hold. Press the mat down in the shop or at home and see if it clings. Lift one corner: the cups should resist.

Surface pattern. A raised, textured pattern, with many small bumps, gives grip. A deeply textured mat can be uncomfortable for sore feet, so test the feel. A smooth mat with only a thin pattern is not enough.

Drainage. Look for holes or channels that let water drain away. A mat without them will hold water and soap, and grow mould. Holes also help the mat dry.

Material. Natural rubber and TPR (thermoplastic rubber) mats resist mould better and last longer in heat than cheap PVC. PVC mats can harden and crack in sun and hot water. Some mats contain antimicrobial additives; their benefit is limited, and routine cleaning matters more.

Colour. For people with poor eyesight, choose a colour that contrasts with the floor, so the mat edges are visible. A dark mat on white tile or the reverse helps prevent tripping.

Edges. The mat should lie flat with no curling edges. A raised edge is a tripping hazard when stepping in and out.

Odour. A strong chemical smell can be a sign of low-quality plastic that may irritate skin in a hot room.

Weight and handling. A mat that is easy to lift, rinse and hang up is more likely to be cleaned and replaced.

Using mats safely

• Apply to a clean, dry, flat floor. Scrub off soap scum first. Press down and then wet the mat.
• Check suction every time. Tug at the edges before stepping on. If any area lifts, reapply or replace the mat.
• Do not leave the mat flat and wet all day. Lift it, rinse it and hang it to dry, so that water and soap do not collect underneath.
• Use a second, absorbent mat outside the shower. A non-slip, absorbent mat or a firmly backed rug stops wet feet from skidding on the bathroom floor. Avoid loose bathroom rugs without backing; they are among the most common causes of falls at home. See flooring, rugs and trip hazards.
• Keep it pressed against the wall edge if possible, so that the corners cannot curl.
• Wear grippy footwear outside the shower area, such as slippers with a ridged sole, and dry your feet before stepping onto other floors.
• Teach your parent to step, not slide. Many slips happen when a foot is dragged across a wet mat.

Cleaning and mould

Mats are warm, damp and covered in soap, which makes ideal conditions for mould, algae and bacteria. In the monsoon, the problem is worse.

• Rinse the mat after use, if possible with hot water.
• Lift and hang it so air can reach both sides.
• Scrub weekly with a brush and mild detergent. Pay attention to the suction cups.
• Soak occasionally in a mild disinfectant, then rinse well. Do not leave strong bleach on the mat for long periods, which can degrade the rubber.
• Check underneath the floor for stains and black mould, and wash the floor too.
• Replace when the mat is stained, torn, hard, curled or no longer clings. Many mats last a year or two, depending on heat and use.

Also check that the mat does not hide leaks or cracked tile. See pest, damp and mould at home.

Slippery Indian floors: practical notes

• Glossy vitrified tiles and polished marble are slippery wet and also when covered in soap residue. A mat can help in the shower but will not help if the whole bathroom is slick. Think about an anti-slip coating or tape on the main walking path.
• Hard water scale can leave a white film on the floor, which reduces suction. Descale the floor before placing a mat, and keep cleaning.
• Sloped floors to the drain mean a flat mat may not sit evenly. Choose a mat sized to fit the flat portion of the floor and keep clear of the drain.
• Bucket and mug washing sprays water widely. Use a splash zone, a curtain, and a grippy surface where the person stands and sits.
• Heat. Black plastic mats can be hot on a summer afternoon, and hot water softens the rubber.

What mats cannot do

A mat is a small piece of the picture. It will not help an unsteady person who cannot stand. Add a shower chair and a grab bar where needed. For a person who shuffles, or who has poor balance, a mat can itself be an obstacle. Ask a therapist.

When to ask a professional

An occupational therapist can look at your parent's walking, balance and bathroom floor and advise whether mats, tape, coatings or other changes are best. A physiotherapist can help with balance and gait training, and a doctor should review any dizziness, numbness in the feet, repeated slips or new unsteadiness. A podiatrist or doctor can check the feet if your parent cannot feel the floor.