So what makes a good bath mat? Apart from laundering it regularly—and truly, this is crucial—a good bath mat should be appropriate for your climate and sensory preferences. A fluffy, high-pile shag bath mat won’t appeal to all bathers, nor will it retain its fluff if not hung to dry between bathing sessions. And in a humid bathroom, particularly one without a window or an exhaust fan, a bath mat will require extra care.
But regardless of care, you have to start out with a good product. For this review, three Consumer Reports employees took a lot of showers over the course of a month to find which of seven bath mats is the best for your home. Below, CR members can see our evaluations, how we tested the bath mats, and more.