A bath mat is a heavy towel or mat on which people stand while drying themselves after a bath. Generally, they are thicker than the normal bath towels. It helps in better absorption. People can either choose a bath mat which is complementary with the style and color scheme of the shower curtain or they can coordinate it with with the rest of the bath towels.

TYPES
Based upon the place where they are placed and their uses, these mats are of two types:

• One type of bath mat is put outside the shower or bath tub to absorb the excess water when one steps out after a bath or shower.
• The other type of bath mat is placed inside the bath tub to prevent one from slipping. Bathtubs with bathmats or bath strips reduces the chance of a slip injury.

HOW TO CHOOSE BATH MAT

Some wise choosing of bath mats are necessary to ensure that bath mats serve their purpose to the maximum:

• Regular towel mats without any backing should be avoided as they can easily slide when walked on, causing a fall.
• Bath mats with a self-adhesive is a very good idea to increase safety while taking a bath.
• Some bath mats come with covered air pockets, with a suction cup backing each pocket which in turn make them incredibly slip-proof inside a bath tub.
• Rubberized slip-retardant backing will help to prevent bath mat from slipping underfoot.

MATERIALS USED
While choosing the materials for making these mats, the main criteria are that they should not be susceptible to damage through constant exposure to water, should absorb well, should not be slippery and should dry fast. Some of the most common materials used to make bath mats are:

• Vinyl
• Silicon Rubber
• Cotton
• Linen
• Foam
• Chenille
• Bamboo

Another common problem with these mats is that they are accident prone, people tend to slip or trip over them. When not in use bath towels should be hung on the side of the bath tub to prevent slipping.