If you have a flat-woven or backless bath mat, I’m sure you have experienced the annoying way they refuse to stay put. But it’s not just aggravating to have a bath mat that’s constantly moving around—it can be a serious safety hazard too!
But I recently discovered a very simple solution to my migrating bath mat problem, and I’ll be sharing it with you in another edition of my “Problem Solved!” series. (Check out the rest of the series at the bottom of this post!)
The Problem: Bath Mats That Won’t Stay Put
One of my biggest home decor pet peeves has got to be small rugs that won’t stay put! This is especially frustrating in the bathroom because I don’t like to limit myself to rubber-backed bath mats. They aren’t usually very cute, and there are too many other more appealing rugs out there.
In addition to not being very attractive, another drawback of rubber-backed bath mats is that they tend to deteriorate when washed. A regular rug (or a backless bath mat) will look better and last longer after several washes.
I’ve considered a few different solutions to get my small rugs to stay put in the bathroom, but none of them were particularly promising. But I eventually did come across a very useful hack that fixed my problem in seconds!
The Simple Solution: Shelf Liner
Recently, I read a comment from a reader that advised using shelf liner to keep your rugs in place. It made perfect sense to me, because when you think about it, liners are made to stay put without staying stuck.
It also made sense to me because it’s a very frugal solution! You can get a 10-foot roll for less than $10, and have plenty of liner to use under several different rugs around the house.
I ended up choosing this roll of Easy Liner Super Grip Shelf Liner from Walmart for a few different reasons. First, because the material itself has Clorox antimicrobial protection that prevents the growth of mold and mildew—a handy feature to have in a humid environment like the bathroom!
It’s also extremely easy to cut, which is a helpful feature for this particular project. Especially if you have several rugs you want to use it under, you don’t want to struggle with a liner that’s difficult to cut.
Here’s how it’s done!
How To Turn Any Rug Into A Non-Slip Bath Mat
You’ll need:
- A small rug or mat
- Shelf liner
- Scissors
Directions:
Unroll a section of the shelf liner, then cut a piece that is approximately two-thirds of the size of the rug you’re going to put it under. (Don’t worry about being super precise or cutting in stick-straight lines, because you won’t see the liner when it’s under the rug!)
Lay the piece of liner down where you want to put the mat, then lay the mat down over the top. Now you’ve got a cute bath mat that will stay put, without having made a single alteration to the rug or floor!
More Ideas You'll Love
The “Problem Solved!” Series
- To refresh your memory of other solutions or check out other posts in this series you might have missed, check out my complete archive of posts from the “Problem Solved!” series!
- Click here to explore the “Problem Solved!” series archive.
Do you know of any other creative uses for shelf liner?
In fact, you won’t have to worry about this if you find a great non-slip bathroom mat, like this Cosilyt non slip microfiber bathroom mat
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just a word of caution – it may not be safe on vinyl flooring as other materials like these permanently discolor the flooring!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sadly, it looks like this product is no longer available on Amazon. First the link didn’t work, and then I couldn’t find it by name. Is there something similar?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you want your bathmat to last longer, do NOT put it in the dryer. The plastic back will melt and start to peel. I have bathmats I have used for several years and they wash like a dream and still have the backing on them because I do NOT dry them in the dryer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also I hate the grit left after washing the bathmats in my machine. Wash the bathmats last. Leave the lid up and let the moisture dry. Then take the utilities hose on your vacuum or a damp paper towel to remove the grit from the tub. I usually use the self clean feature on my machine but the vacuum does a really good job getting rid of the the unwanted leftovers.
Are you talking about ‘bath mats’ or rugs? I have never had a bathmat get so dirty that it leaves grit or dirty residue in my machine, as it is only stepped on with bare feet right out of the shower. My throw rugs generally always leave my machine a bit dirty. Also…after you do laundry you should always leave it open so that the inside of the drum dries out. Keeps it from getting stinky from mold. When I bought my last machine that is what the sales rep told me, anyway.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a small square under my cutting boards to keep them from sliding around during use.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Could i use it in my tile floor shower for non slip?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Rugs with latex backing will discolor your flooring. Ruined mine in front of my cook stove and kitchen sink, floors were white, turned the white to a dirty brown color. Tried everything to get it up but nothing worked. Sold the place as is, but I sure learned a lesson the hard way, and I loved my rugs, had place mats to match, bird houses, bumblebees, sunflowers still have my place mats. Oh well, that is life…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jar Openers: I have cut it up into squares large enough to cover your largest jar lids (though a smaller piece will often do). I keep a couple around my kitchen and use them as jar openers! And there’s plenty to share or give as well appreciated gifts.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have 3 uses:
1) I had problems with my futon sliding off the frame when set up as a couch. I put the shelf liner under the seat portion, and it has stayed put for years!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.2) My sewing machine pedal would slide too, I cut a piec a little larger than the pedal, placed it under it and that solved the problem.
3) when I had small pieces left over, I cut them to either put between my non-stick frying pans to keep from scratching, or I put them between my china. Both work great!
I use a piece under the foot control that is on the floor for my sewing machine. It used to slide around on the wood floor but I folded a piece and taped it under the pedal. It stays in one place so I am not stomping my foot around trying to land on it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a piece under my wool ironing mat to keep it from slipping around.I’m a sewist so it comes in handy when sewing small things like masks where i don’t need the big ironing board.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.LOL! I’ve been doing this forever! I just bought a new rug for the bathroom because it matched well but no rubber back! Voila! Rubbery shelf liner!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a piece of this liner under the plate when transporting a cake in a cake carrier. Also put a piece under the cake carrier itself to keep it from sliding around in the car.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s a great idea! I am definitely going to use your idea… Thanks for sharing it. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve usually used double stick tape in the corners. When ready to wash just pull it up, clean the floor underneath and your good to go again till the rug needs another wash. Usually there isn’t much that needs to be done and by the time the rug needs cleaning the floor does too. Thanks for the tips and ladies thanks for the comments of what not to do, which is just as important.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think you also probably use this on a kitchen rug. Another idea I’ve heard but haven’t tried is to put puff paint on the back of the rug and then just use a hairdryer to get the gripping effect with the paint.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Word of advice from someone who has experienced this issue. If you’re going to use that shelf liner under a rug, be sure to take it up and inspect it often. If you don’t, and you leave it sitting in one place too long, it’ll proceed to adhere to the flooring beneath it, in our case, wood. Took a lot of work and time on hands and knees with plexiglass windshield scrapes to remove, as it was under a large area rug fo quite some time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the warning!! Good advice.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I put a piece under my rear when riding the motorcycle with my husband. Jeans on a leather seat will slide all around when accelerating and braking. Now I stick in one place. Works like a charm
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have cut smaller pieces that fit the dots on metal mesh desk accessories to stop them from slipping. Smaller pieces also com in handy under table decor to stop decor from scratching the tables, or glued on top of decor liners so they don’t slip either. Won’t stick to the table because you obviously lif them up every time you dust.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Am curious if the shelf liner in your article is safe on vinyl laminate floors. Rubber and latex backed rugs are not safe and just curious about what’s used to make this shelf liner. Thx in advance!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would agree, we had laminate wood look flooring in our previous house and I had rug grippers underneath large area rugs (which is also rubbery and pretty much a larger version of shelf liner). When I moved the rugs to clean, it left a haze on the floor that made it look dusty but it was clean. Later I read that they shouldn’t be used, so I don’t know what you are supposed to do about sliding rugs on laminate flooring.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also use a piece to open hard to open jars/bottles. (:
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Me too… it’s better than any actual jar opener product I’ve ever used!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Back when we had a camper, we cut this into circular pieces to put between the dishware we carried in the camper to keep it from jiggling around and damaging it we didn’t mess with paper or foam plates). You could buy them ready cut at the big camper supply stores and pay way more for them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a length of it on my glider on the lanai to keep the cushion from sliding because this cushion has no ties. Love the idea for trays and dashboard too. Great blog, Jillie! Thanks for all of your creative ideas!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is this liner washable in the dishwasher or washing machine?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I believe it can be used in the washing machine (especially with a washing machine that does not have an agitator, but I wouldn’t dry it in the dryer. I would only air dry it. Plus, it dries very quickly, anyway! (:
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As Jo Duke, I also have a piece for under my chopping board, there’s a piece in the dashboard well, a length on the trays to stop the mug of tea sliding or the meal if we have our meal on our lap, and my Scientist husband who has many computers has two pieces which he has on his desk to stop the computers sliding about.
Like you say, it is a cheap fix to keep things secure
I have learned much from you over the years, thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use mats under cutting boards and shower mats too. They make many things safer.
Thank you for your kind words! You made my day. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you think it would work as a shower mat itself?
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