The Hydro Rug is a rug that you can put in your shower, getting the benefits of a carpeted area in your shower without worrying about it getting moldy and disgusting. Sounds good, but how well does it work when you put it to use?
Overview
Maybe before you saw this product you never really thought about putting a rug in your bathtub, but after you see it it makes a lot of sense. If you have carpeting everywhere else in your home, or rugs in strategic places, the shower might be the only place where your feet are pressed up against a cold and hard surface.
The Claim
The makers of the Hydro Rug say that it’s like putting carpeting into your shower, and that it won’t slip so you don’t have to worry about it becoming a hazard. They say it’s fast drying, and stays clean at all times, and they claim that it never wears out, so you can use it again and again and not have to worry about it getting worn and grimy over time. They say it provides comfort for your feet while you’re showering, in contrast to the typically hard shower floor.
The Appeal
This is the kind of product that most anyone would want, because it solves a problem many of us didn’t even know we have. If you currently have a bathmat in your bathtub and shower, chances are you’re not very happy with it. It is probably made of plastic and you’re using it because you don’t want to slip and fall in the shower. It might provide a little padding between your feet and the shower, and it has probably seen better days, picking up mildew or shower grime in its cracks and crevices. The Hydro Rug seems to address most of the problems with conventional bath mats.
The Cost
The Hydro Rug is $20 plus shipping which is $7 for the slowest method. Compared to other bathmats this is pretty highly priced, no matter how you look at it, but it’s not really an apples to apples comparison. When you compare it to the Aqua Rug you see that the price is right on point with competing products. Just be aware that the Aqua Rug has the buy one get one option, so you can get two for $36.
The Commitment
All that you should really need to do is replace your current bathmat with this one, if you have one. This is definitely a set and forget style product, and once it’s in place you can simply leave it alone and it should provide reliable service day after day.
Evaluation
They’ve made the material a bit like a loofah sponge, so your feet get a nice scrubbing too without having to bend down and get them. The way they’ve made the Hydro Rug so that water can pass through it and it won’t even clog the drain if you put it right over it is pretty smart. That means that even if you have a shower where the drain is right in the middle you can still use this and not worry about standing in ankle deep water.
Final Hydro Rug Review
We’re giving the Hydro Rug the Solid Try rating, based on a solid concept and a good follow through on the manufacturing process. The best feature that we could see is that you don’t have to worry about this building up a lot of mildew and stains, because it doesn’t get soggy the way carpeting would, and it’s dries up fast thanks to the material it’s made of. This means that every time you step into the shower you’re met with a dry and relatively clean mat so that’s ready to scrub your feet and provide padding.
Our Recommendation
If you’re tired of looking at your dirty bathmat and you cringe every time you step on it, it may be time to give this a go and see if it makes a difference. The higher price can be justified by the fact that you shouldn’t need to buy another mat for your shower for several years to come. They have you covered by a 30 day guarantee, so if you get it home and it doesn’t live up to your expectations you can simply return it and they say that it doesn’t matter what the reason is for your return, it’s hassle-free.
I have been using my Hydro Rug for 2 months now. I got it to prevent slipping in the shower/bath. To this end I am well satisfied with it. My only complaint is the discolouration/mildew? … spots that now have taken over most of the rug fabric. I washed it after two weeks thinking I was doing the right thing as 3 of us use it. There was sign of soiling prior to washing it. A few days later I noticed some dark spots appearing on the rug fabric. This is obviously a concern. Even with washing again in the washing machine there has been no improvement. It has to be a live agent causing this problem as it has now covered the entire rug. I have just read about putting it in sunlight to kill bacteria etc. I will report on the outcome.
It’s pretty good, however it’s not 100% stain resistant. Because I had a problem when sewage was coming up the drain and it stained the mat. And it does collect hair from when your hair sheds naturally from shampooing. So cleaning is a must at least one in a while.
Have you tried it? There is absolutely nothing soggy or nasty about the hydrorug. The water drains through completely. I have mine up after you choose to let the water drain. But it’s not really necessary
This is a true blessing for anyone who has the slightest fear of slipping in the shower. After trying several “”. This is the best
No I do not recommend this I have used it for nearly a year. It slips and the suction cups are useless.
I purchased this after falling and breaking my arm December 19th 2013. I can’t keep this product from slipping and the suction cups are useless. It does get stained and mildew on it. I used scrubbing bubbles on mine and scrubbed it. I understand you can wash it in the washing machine and put it out in the sun for 4 hours on both sides to kill the mildew. I am just wondering since it has slipped on me several times if I should continue to use it. I would be afraid to recommend this one.
I bought two for my large walk in shower.
They do get dirty with mould and mildew and I am having real bother trying to clean them.
I have steeped them in a very hot strong solution of soda crystals overnight wth no effect and have tried them in my washing machine with lots of powder on a very hot setting. Still they are not clean.
Buyer beware!!
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board
and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot.
I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
Yeah, I can truly say I’ve never thought about a rug for my shower, but I can see why people might like it. It does seem like a nice thing to have…especially in the winter when my tub gets really cold and takes a while to warm up from the water. And since it doubles as a slip-preventer, I think overall this is a great product. I also like that it doesn’t require washing, but, like Kaila, I think I would be a little grossed out at the thought of others’ dirty shampoo and soap runoff being still in the carpet.
I can see why someone might want something on their tub so they don’t slip, but the idea of a wet rug in my tub grosses me out a little bit. I know the whole point of this type of run is so that it doesn’t get mildewy, but I can’t imagine it staying fresh and clean with soap and hair and whatever else running through it all the time. I just imagine it getting yucky quickly and not wanting to step on a yucky mat.
It does seem nice that you can wash your feet by just rubbing them on the floor, instead of bending down to scrub them yourself, but that’s really the only benefit I see in this product. I wouldn’t try it, and wouldn’t like to step into another person’s shower is they had one, either.
I’m a little clumsy and I’ve already taken a couple of tumbles this year alone in the shower. Maybe it’s my small feet or maybe it’s just the tub getting too slippery after lathering my body with soap, but whatever the case I fall way too often and I’m afraid I might break something one day. As ridiculous as carpet in the shower might sound, it might actually save me from wearing a cast or two in the future.