# Should I just get rid of these rugs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596 "2014-06-12T02:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/1 "2014-06-12T02:37:35Z")
I bought [two bath rugs](http://www.target.com/p/threshold-natural-texture-bath-rug/-/A-14617701#prodSlot=large_1_27&term=bath+mat) from Target. They are supposed to be washable and today I tried to wash one of them. It was pretty much a disaster because the load would not balance, so the washing machine was walking all over the place. So, lacking a spin cycle, I tried wringing out the rug. It weighed approximately one million three pounds. I was able to get some of the water out of it and then tried to dry it. It took all day. So, I think washing these things with my laundry facilities is not feasible. I could go to a laundromat, but that’s a pain. I could have them laundered, but that also seems like a pain (though we do have my husband’s dress shirts laundered, so it’s not like we never use a laundry). The sheer amount of water these things pick up and their incredible weight makes hanging them to dry seem pretty infeasible, too, but maybe a doper has a brilliant idea. It would be a shame to get rid of them because they are super comfy on the feet, but I don’t know what else to do with them. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/2 "2014-06-12T02:51:19Z")
A single rug will be on one side of the washer, and it will making it unbalanced. Maybe they would balance better if you washed both of them together, taking care to start them on opposite sides of the washer. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/3 "2014-06-12T02:59:07Z")
I really don’t believe this incredible weight. I would simply hang them on my outside clothes line, where I dry all my other clothes when it is a nice day out. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/4 "2014-06-12T03:13:41Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I really don’t believe this incredible weight. I would simply hang them on my outside clothes line, where I dry all my other clothes when it is a nice day out. The most useful suggestions are always the ones that assume the OP is lying. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/5 "2014-06-12T03:18:10Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > A single rug will be on one side of the washer, and it will making it unbalanced. Maybe they would balance better if you washed both of them together, taking care to start them on opposite sides of the washer. They definitely might. I’m a little nervous about trying at this point because if it doesn’t work then I’m stuck with two rugs that I can’t dry instead of just one, but I guess I could toss them at that point, since bath rugs I can’t wash aren’t worth anything to me. My plan was to donate them. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/6 "2014-06-12T03:29:56Z")
There are area rug cleaning services where you take them in and drop them off and they clean them for you. Or take it outside, drape it over a solid object, and then hose it down. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/7 "2014-06-12T03:31:03Z")
I wash bathroom rugs in my home machine all the time and I’ve never had a problem as long as I balance out the weight with two rugs or one rug and a bunch of towels. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/8 "2014-06-12T03:31:57Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > A single rug will be on one side of the washer, and it will making it unbalanced. Maybe they would balance better if you washed both of them together, taking care to start them on opposite sides of the washer. Or she could just wash them with a load of towels. Either way, an unbalanced load is less likely. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/9 "2014-06-12T03:37:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Or she could just wash them with a load of towels. Either way, an unbalanced load is less likely. That’s how I tried it today. I tried shifting the load around after it started clanking and walking and never found a balance. Then I pulled the rug out, tried to wring it out, etc. I could hear the dryer slamming and creaking every time it turned this thing over. It took over 6 hours to dry. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/10 "2014-06-12T03:42:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > That’s how I tried it today. I tried shifting the load around after it started clanking and walking and never found a balance. Then I pulled the rug out, tried to wring it out, etc. > > I could hear the dryer slamming and creaking every time it turned this thing over. It took over 6 hours to dry. Cant you just leave it to hang outside in the sun? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/11 "2014-06-12T04:03:25Z")
I would hand-wash them in the bath tub or basement sink, which admittedly is a pain. Then put them in the washer for the spin cycle, and dry them outside. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/12 "2014-06-12T04:10:52Z")
How frequently would you need to wash them? I occasionally take a load of area rugs, bathmats, etc. to the laundromat. For $5 and two hours, it’s worth it every few months. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/13 "2014-06-12T13:41:37Z")
> [@susan](#): > > How frequently would you need to wash them? I occasionally take a load of area rugs, bathmats, etc. to the laundromat. For $5 and two hours, it’s worth it every few months. Yeah, I think this will have to be what I do if I keep them. I live in an apartment, so no way to do anything outdoors with them. Thanks, all. The one from yesterday is still damp as of this morning. Crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/14 "2014-06-12T13:50:47Z")
I’m curious what sort of bath mat it is. I wash mine in the washing machine and then throw them over the shower rod and they’re always dry by the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/15 "2014-06-12T14:00:46Z")
The OP linked to the webpage on Target’s website showing the bath rugs she’s talking about. They’re made of 100% cotton. The ones I’ve bought are made of nylon and those dry far more quickly. (But occasionally the rubber backing on my bath rugs disintegrates in the washing machine.) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/16 "2014-06-12T14:21:00Z")
I must have nylon ones then, because I got mine from Target as well. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/17 "2014-06-12T14:31:59Z")
They wouldn’t have been so wet if they’d been through the spin cycle! If you’d just balanced the load, either by doing both carpets at once, or adjusting it once it started to be off balance by adding some more weight to the other side, like towels say. If you’d done that, it would not have taken all day in the dyer. Or, it would have been dry enough to hang on a fence or railing, preferably in the sunshine. Once it’s down to just damp you ought to be able to hang it on the line without difficulty. The solution was balancing the load, when it happened, instead of yanking it out and running the dryer all day long. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/18 "2014-06-12T14:38:44Z")
The cotton ones hold a lot of water if they’re not spun at the end of the wash cycle. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/19 "2014-06-12T14:52:18Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > They are supposed to be washable and today I tried to wash one of them. It was pretty much a disaster because the load would not balance, so the washing machine was walking all over the place. So, lacking a spin cycle, I tried wringing out the rug. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > That’s how I tried it today. I tried shifting the load around after it started clanking and walking and never found a balance. Then I pulled the rug out, tried to wring it out, etc. > [@elbows](#): > > They wouldn’t have been so wet if they’d been through the spin cycle! My goodness, I never thought of that. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596/20 "2014-06-12T14:56:46Z")
> [@susan](#): > > The cotton ones hold a lot of water if they’re not spun at the end of the wash cycle. Yeah, this is some sort of cotton chenille, not the kind with the rubber backing (which would have been more of a disaster in the dryer). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-just-get-rid-of-these-rugs/690596.md?page=2)