5 Best Antimicrobial Bath Mats—and Why You Need One, According to a Germ Expert

Bathrooms are where we go to clean up. And from practiced (and sustainable) skincare routines to sudsy soaks, your want of a

spa session can be easily carried off at home.

For these reasons and more, ensuring that the bathroom itself is as hygienic as possible is the first step toward feeling our best. Perhaps the biggest offender in this pursuit is also fairly universal: that damp, disgusting bath mat. The solution? Replacing the outdated rug with an antimicrobial option.

"Bath mats tend to have high surface area, retain wetness, and are filled with all sorts of organic material making them a haven for bacteria and fungi," says microbiologist 

Jason Tetro, author of 

The Germ Files. "Based on studies in

the UK and

Japan, there are usually hundreds of thousands of bacteria and fungi in a standard plush bathmat."

According to Tetro, you should be cleaning your bath mat as often as you clean your toilet: about once a week. Though feasible (and necessary), this

constant cleaning increases the water and electrical footprint of your home—just one load of laundry requires

15 to 45 gallons of water.

And though more severe conditions, like gastrointestinal infection, are possible should your nose or mouth get close to a dirty bath mat (something parents would do well to consider), the main risk is the potential for fungal infection of the toes and feet.

Fortunately, there's a cleaner, sleeker, and all-around healthier option. Say hello to antimicrobial bath mats.

An antimicrobial bath mat is a rug made from materials that discourage the cultivation of bacteria.

Stone mats made from

diatomaceous earth (a highly absorbent material made from the fossils of tiny aquatic organisms), wood-slatted mats that naturally repel water, or even options made from quick-drying organic cotton all qualify as antimicrobial—and make your step out of the shower a cleaner one. And while all bath mats require cleaning and sanitizing, these iterations make the process easier and more effective.

Interested in making the switch? Here are five antimicrobial bath mats to make your bathroom a more sustainable and sanitary place.