A shower mat provides safety during personal hygiene. Properly laid out in the bath or shower pan, it reduces the risk of accidents by preventing slipping on slippery, wet surfaces. It is available in many stores in numerous colors and shapes.
What is a shower mat?
A shower mat provides safety during personal hygiene. Properly laid out in the bath or shower pan, it reduces the risk of accidents by preventing slipping on slippery, wet surfaces. A shower mat is a flat insert made of plastic or wood that is placed in the bath or shower tub before showering. It is also known as a shower liner. The plastic version is flexible to ideally adapt to the shape of the substrate. The surface is roughened by small elevations of the material. On the underside it has suction cups in different numbers, depending on the model. These are made of the same material as the insert itself. Most plastic shower mats are provided with drainage holes. The rectangular ones are up to 95 cm long and up to 38 cm wide. The square ones have a length and a width of up to 54 cm, respectively. The suction cups have a diameter of approx. 50 to 150 mm. The wooden mat must be made to fit the tub exactly. It is equipped with slots, instead of round holes, for draining water. Its surface is sealed to be waterproof.
Shapes, types and types
A shower mat is made of either natural rubber, rubber, polyvinyl chloride or wood. Widely used are shower mats in the classic rectangular or square shape made of plastic. The choice of colors is very wide. They can be both opaque and transparent. A pebble-look mat consists of rounded and differently shaped components that adhere to each other. When viewed from above, this is reminiscent of many pebbles lying next to each other. The choice of colors ranges from transparent to black. Mixed color variants or models with different patterns are also available. The model in loofah design is made of sponge-like PVC fibers and thus has a very rough surface. There is no drain hole in it, as the water can flow through the porous material. There are also shower mats that are modeled after the shapes of animals or flowers. Plastic shower mats can be found in online stores, plumbing supply stores and home improvement stores. A wooden mat is largely natural. Swelling of the wood due to contact with water is prevented by a protective glaze. Due to the nature of the natural material, the surface is also slightly roughened. A wooden mat can be purchased from a specialist dealer.
Structure and mode of operation
On the rough upper side of the plastic mat, the foot of the person taking a shower finds a secure grip, even if it is moistened. Due to the small elevations of the material, the skin has enough grip on the ground. On the bottom side there are the numerous suction cups, which prevent the insert from slipping in the tub by creating negative pressure. The mat is first unrolled or unfolded, then spread out in the tub and smoothed. With gentle pressure it is pressed to the bottom. It is important that it has found adhesion with all suction cups on the floor before starting the shower process. The mat is usually equipped with holes in an arrangement that depends on the model (grid, staggered or individual), so that the water can drain freely during the shower. This prevents too much moisture from collecting on the surface of the mat, which again increases the risk of slipping. Some, very rough, models have only one or no hole. The wooden mat already provides enough grip to the foot by nature. It is simply inserted into the tub, with the top facing upwards.
Medical and health benefits
When getting in and out of the tub, the foot has a secure grip on the rough surface of the insert. This reduces the risk of accidents and prevents injuries. The plastic insert stays firmly in place due to the suction cups adhering to the floor. A shower liner is hygienic. It can reduce the risk of transmission of athlete’s foot and other diseases. To prevent the formation or spread of mold, bacteria and fungi, the mat should be allowed to dry completely as often as possible. It is recommended that the wet mat be hung up to dry after use.For the plastic version, this is best done by pressing it flat against the tiled wall with the suction cups. It can also be hung over the edge of the bathtub, the shower wall or a bathtub clothes dryer. It should not be dried on the heater, as this is harmful to the material. Some models can be washed in a washing machine at 40 ° C. For manual cleaning, a brush and lukewarm water with a splash of dishwashing detergent are suitable. The wooden mat can be placed vertically in the shower tray to allow the adhering water to drain. There are also models with nubs for a foot massage. This relaxes and invigorates. This also stimulates the foot reflex zones. Thus, the shower mat can provide well-being throughout the body. An insert equipped with brushes thoroughly cleans the soles of the feet. Dirt particles from the fine grooves of the skin are thus gently removed.
