Hammam towel as a bath mat: practical or not?
A hammam towel as a bath mat in front of the shower – that sounds unusual at first. Classic bath mats are thick and soft, but take ages to dry and block half the washing machine. A folded hammam towel is thinner, dries quickly and goes through the wash with your normal laundry. Whether this works in everyday life depends above all on one thing: slip resistance. In this article we show you which towels are suitable, how to fold them properly and what to look out for in terms of safety and hygiene.
Contents10
- Why a hammam towel instead of a bath mat?
- Bath mat and hammam towel compared
- Safety first: risk of slipping
- Which hammam towel is suitable as a bath mat?
- How to fold the hammam towel properly
- After showering: hang it up instead of leaving it on the floor
- In the guest bathroom, the camper van and on underfloor heating
- Washing and changing
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why a hammam towel instead of a bath mat?
Most bath mats have a thick pile or a foam layer. That feels nice underfoot, but has drawbacks: they stay damp for a long time, quickly smell musty if they are not washed regularly, and take up a lot of space in the machine. A hammam towel, on the other hand, is flat-woven. It absorbs water but also releases it again quickly.
More reasons for making the switch:
- Less laundry: The towel simply goes in with the hand towels instead of needing a load of its own.
- Flexible: Bath mat today, beach towel after the next wash – one towel can do several jobs.
- When travelling: Holiday flats, camper vans or hotels often lack a bath mat. A hammam towel in your luggage solves the problem.
- Second life: An older hammam towel that you no longer take to the sauna gets a new job.
However, the towel also has its limits. Flat-woven cotton absorbs well, but is thinner than terry cloth. If you step out of the shower very wet, you notice it: a single layer is quickly soaked through. That is why folding it in several layers is so important. And if you love the soft, thick cushioning of a high-pile bath mat, a hammam towel will not fully replace it.
Bath mat and hammam towel compared
| Classic bath mat | Folded hammam towel | |
|---|---|---|
| Drying | Slow, especially with thick pile | Fast when hung up unfolded |
| Washing | Takes up a lot of space in the machine | Goes in with the hand towels |
| Slip resistance | Often with a non-slip backing | None – non-slip underlay needed |
| Cushioning | Thick and soft | Thinner, pleasant when folded in several layers |
| Space in the cupboard | Bulky | Folds small |
| Use | Bathroom only | Bathroom, beach, sauna, travel |
Safety first: risk of slipping
This is the most important point. A towel on smooth, wet tiles can slide away as soon as you step on it with wet feet. Therefore:
- Use a non-slip underlay: A thin rug underlay or non-slip mesh from the DIY store, cut slightly smaller than the folded towel, keeps it in place.
- Without an underlay only on non-slip floors: On textured tiles, wood or vinyl a towel stays put better than on glossy tiles.
- Not in the shower or bathtub: A hammam towel does not replace a non-slip mat in the shower area.
- Take extra care: If children, older people or people who are unsteady on their feet use the bathroom, better stick with a bath mat that has a firm non-slip backing.
Which hammam towel is suitable as a bath mat?
In principle, any hammam towel works. The differences lie in format and weight: the heavier the towel, the more cushioning you get when folding.
| Towel | Format / weight | As a bath mat |
|---|---|---|
| Diamant mini hammam towel (€15.90) | approx. 90 × 45 cm, approx. 120 g | Folded once approx. 45 × 45 cm – thin, but dries quickly |
| ADRIA hammam towel (€21.90) | 180 × 100 cm, approx. 290 g | Folded in six layers approx. 60 × 50 cm, light |
| Ocean hammam towel (€29.90) | 180 × 100 cm, approx. 400 g | Somewhat thicker when folded in six layers |
| MAHINA hammam towel (€32.90) | 180 × 100 cm, approx. 440 g | One of the heavier towels, pleasantly substantial when folded |
The ADRIA is traditionally woven on the Aegean coast of Turkey and is available in turquoise, pink, dark blue, beige and black – each with light stripes. That makes it a good match for most bathrooms.
How to fold the hammam towel properly
- Halve it lengthwise: Fold a 180 × 100 cm towel once lengthwise to create a strip of about 180 × 50 cm.
- Fold into thirds: Fold the strip twice crosswise. Result: about 60 × 50 cm in six layers – roughly the size of a typical bath mat.
- Fringes inside: Fold the fringes inwards so that no toes get caught in them.
- Underlay beneath: Non-slip underlay on the floor, towel on top, test once with your foot.
With the mini hammam towel, folding it in half once is enough. For more cushioning you can also fold it into quarters, but then the surface is only about the size of a foot.
After showering: hang it up instead of leaving it on the floor
The biggest advantage of a hammam towel is the short drying time – but only if it does not stay folded and damp on the floor. After showering, hang it up unfolded over the edge of the bathtub, the radiator or a hook. In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 60 minutes indoors and about 30 minutes in the sun. How quickly different towels dry is explained in the article How quickly does a hammam towel dry?
In the guest bathroom, the camper van and on underfloor heating
The solution is especially practical where a thick mat gets in the way or is missing:
- Guest bathroom: When visitors arrive, a fresh towel that matches the guest towels is quickly ready. After they leave, it simply goes into the wash.
- Camper van and holiday flat: In small wet rooms every centimetre counts. A towel can be hung up outside after showering and is quickly ready to use again.
- Underfloor heating: A thin, folded towel lets the warmth through better than a thick mat, and it dries even faster on the warm floor.
- Small bathrooms: Where a large bath mat bumps into the door or toilet, the towel can be folded to fit the space.
Washing and changing
Treat a hammam towel used as a bath mat like a hand towel: change and wash it regularly, at the latest when it no longer smells fresh. Care for our towels is easy – wash at 30 °C, do not use fabric softener and let it air-dry. Fabric softener coats the fibres and can reduce absorbency. How often hand towels should generally be changed is covered in the article How often should you change towels?
A practical rhythm: two towels in rotation. One lies in the bathroom, the other is in the wash or drying.
Related reading: Bathroom decor with hammam towels: 6 ideas · Hammam towel as a wall hanging: how to hang it · Bathrobe instead of towel: drying off after a shower
Conclusion
A hammam towel as a bath mat is a practical alternative to a thick terry mat: it dries quickly, goes in with your normal laundry and can be used anywhere. Safety is what matters – on smooth tiles it needs a non-slip underlay, and in bathrooms used by children or older people a bath mat with a firm backing remains the better choice. Folded in six layers and hung up after showering, the towel is dry again by the next time.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hammam towel non-slip as a bath mat?
No, a hammam towel has no non-slip coating. On smooth floors you need a non-slip underlay beneath it.
Can I use an old hammam towel for this?
Yes, that is a good second use for a towel you no longer take to the sauna or the beach.
How often should I wash the towel?
Like a hand towel: regularly and at the latest when it no longer smells fresh. At 30 °C, without fabric softener.
Which hammam towel is the thickest?
Among the towels mentioned, MAHINA at approx. 440 g is the heaviest and gives the most cushioning when folded.
Does the towel get softer over time?
Yes. For ADRIA and Ocean, our product descriptions state that the cotton gets softer with every wash. That is why a towel that has been washed more often usually feels more pleasant underfoot than a new one.
Does this work when travelling too?
Yes. A hammam towel is light, folds small and helps wherever your accommodation has no bath mat.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.