There's not much that's more satisfying than stepping out of the shower onto a clean, fluffy mat or bathroom rug. But how exactly do you wash bath mats? Well, it depends what kind of mat you have.

Once a week, toss the bathroom rug in the washer. Wash it on the gentle cycle in warm water and let it air dry (especially if it has a no-slip grip on the back) before putting it back in place.

Give towels, bath mats, and small area rugs a weekly wash in cold water, or hot if someone's sick. Disinfect your sink at least once a week if you can't do it daily. Rinse and wring out your ...