There are few things more relaxing than a trip to the bathtub. Whether it’s a relaxing soak or an invigorating shower, we think that we can all agree that bathing is a wonderful activity.

But what about after? When you step out of your bathtub, what is it that you step on? Without some sort of bath mat, you risk getting water all over your floor – this can become a slip hazard and cause you to fall, perhaps dangerously so.

Many people opt for traditional, fabric-based bath mats, but these also have their issues. While they are soft to the touch, they tend to trap water and moisture. If the mats absorb too much water, the water will leak through the mat anyways. You must continuously wash these mats if you don’t want them to become breeding grounds for mildew as well.

We found this not only a pain to keep up with, but it is also a drain on resources. It means more washing and drying than normal, which bumps up the electric bill and the water bill – not to mention how that impacts the environment.

The solution that companies like Sutera have developed is called a diatomaceous earth bath mat, or diomat for short. Diatomaceous earth is a material that is good for drying in particular, which we will explain more about in this article.

Different companies have different ways of utilizing diatomaceous earth, ways that make them better or worse than other brands. Today, we will be looking at and reviewing the Sutera BathStone. After this article, you will know everything you need to know about this bath mat and whether or not it is worth buying.

Without further adieu, let’s jump right in.

*Note – There are be affiliate links within this review. A product purchased through these links may earn us a commission. Affiliate links will not affect the price of the product. The use of affiliate links will never impact the truthfulness of a review.

Sutera BathStone – A Comprehensive Review

We aim to provide a clear-cut, comprehensive review detailing the ins and outs of the Sutera BathStone. To do so, we broke it up into separate sections:

1. The Basics & How It Works – Tells you the basics regarding the product.
2. Eco-Friendly Benefits – If it’s eco-friendly, describe how it is so.
3. Pros – List all the pros of using this product.
4. Cons – List all the cons of using this product.
5. Conclusion – Final result.
6. Wrap Up – Ending thoughts.

Now, let’s talk about the first one.

The Basics & How It Works

As we said before, the Sutera BathStone is primarily made from a material called diatomaceous earth (shortened to “DE”). DE is a naturally occurring mineral made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms.

DE is naturally porous, giving it the unique ability to dry out very quickly. So when you are stepping out of a shower and onto this mat, you could step off of it and watch the water evaporate in real time. It doesn’t take long at all – when lightly wet, the mat can dry within seconds.

Since it dries so quickly, there’s no time for mold or mildew to set in.

Some stone bath mats may opt to infuse their DE mats with other minerals, but Sutera chooses go all in – their mats are 100% diatomeceous earth.

What we like most about DE is how versatile it is. When moisture hits its surface, the material will attract bacteria and parasites. Once they have been lured in, they will be bound to its surface and dried out, effectively killing them. This means that DE is naturally antimicrobial as well.

For people with sensitive noses and hate the smell of mildew-y fabric, DE is a great option. It doesn’t smell or stink since it dries out so quickly. It is rather odorless in our opinion.

Eco-Friendly Benefits

There are a host of eco-friendly benefits to using DE over traditional bath mats.

First, this bath mat is not made with any PVC, a chemical that may be found in other bath mats. PVC is toxic and can be absorbed into our bodies through inhalation and skin contact over long periods. Over a long period, this can develop into PVC poisoning.

According to the CDC, PVC poisoning may lead to:

1. Immune system damage.
2. Hormone disruption.
3. Cancer.
4. Other severe health problems.

Thankfully, it seems that fewer and fewer bath mats are being made with PVC, instead opting for other materials. Even so, these alternative materials may still be harmful to the environment. Here are some examples:

1. Foam bath mats – chemical additives like PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) may cause issues.
2. Rubber bath mats – its production is linked to deforestation and may have chemical additives.
3. Fabric-based bath mats – may have non-ecofriendly materials attached to it and consumes resources when cleaned.

Consider that all of these materials need to be disposed of eventually. Any of the mats that have been treated with chemicals may end up leaching said chemicals into the environment around it, which can spell bad news over time. But hey, at least rubber is recyclable.

DE skips all of that. It doesn’t need to be chemically treated, its harvesting and production are not damaging to the environment, and you can dispose of it guilt-free.

Best of all, DE doesn’t need to be washed, which saves on electricity and water bills.

Pros

Now that we have talked about the benefits of DE, let’s pivot and address the pros about the Sutera BathStone specifically.

PROS

– Great value: comes with a slip resistant mat and sanding tool – Can be used in the kitchen, for plants, in entryways, and even for pet bowls – Provides grip for easy exiting of any bath or shower. – Absorbs and retains heat

What we really like about the Sutera BathStone is the value that you get from buying one. You don’t just get the pad – you also get a slip resistant mat and a sanding tool for free.

The slip resistant mat can be placed right under the mat and lock the stone mat in place. It definitely won’t be going anywhere once it’s in place, giving you the freedom to shift your weight as you please on the mat. No need to worry about slipping and falling.

The sanding tool is a bonus that they give you for keeping up your stone mat. You can buff the mat every few months in order to keep it clean and fresh. This extends its longevity and performance, allowing you to enjoy it for years to come.

The sanding can be rough on the hands though, so we recommend wearing gloves before taking on that task.

It’s nice that the mat is multi-purpose too. If you don’t want to use it as a bath mat, you can also repurpose it as a plant holder (for catching excess water), in entryways (for holding onto shoes), and in pet bowls for messy drinkers (it will catch and dry the water with ease).

If it’s an area that can get wet, this mat can work wonders.

We also really like that the mats were designed for grip. The slip-resistant mat covers the base of the mat, while the design ensures no slippage between your wet foot and the stone mat. The tag-team slip-resistance bolsters our confidence in stepping on the mat – we know for certain that we will be safe.

And while it may be a small point, we found it fascinating that the stone mats retain heat after a bath or shower. This means that you aren’t stepping on cold rock like you might imagine – it’s closer to that of steamed pebbles used during massages, just a bit coarser.

It’s the little things that we come to appreciate after using this mat.

Cons

Now, let’s talk about some of the not-so-great parts of the Sutera BathStone.

CONS

– The slip resistant mat must be properly disposed of – The mat can still be soaked in certain conditions – Can easily stain – May crack with long-term use

Remember that slip-resistant mat? It’s difficult to tell, but it seems to be made of rubber. Remember that rubber is a material that cannot just be thrown away if you care about the environment.

It is important to recycle rubber, as that is the most eco-friendly way to dipose of it. While it can degrade on its own, it will take a long time and possible leach chemicals into its surroundings.

We must also confess that the Sutera BathStone is not a miracle worker. When exposed to excessive amounts of water, DE can be soaked. When this happens, it’s possible for mildew and mold to grow. Granted, this occurs at a much slower rate than with traditional bath mats.

If this happens to your mat, you can usually fix it by taking it out of the wet area and hanging it to dry for a few days. That should fix it. If it doesn’t, then you should reach out to the Sutera company and explain your situation. You may just have a bad mat – if so, they’ll be happy to send you a replacement.

You should also know that DE can easily stain due to how quickly it dries out liquids. If there is coloring in the liquid, it will set it rather quickly. This will not affect the performance of the Sutera Bath Stone, but it may still be an aesthetic issue.

If you want to fix it, detergent works well at removing stains.

Here’s the important tidbit: you will want to get the stains out as soon as possible. If the stains are left alone for a long time, then it will be nearly impossible to remove them.

Finally, there have been some reports that the stone mat ends up cracking after its been used for awhile.

The details of the crackage and the length of time that it takes to crack aren’t well-reported, but it’s something to be aware of all the same. Other brands have had similar problems too, which has usually been handled by the company.

Basically, it means that if your mat starts to crack, you should let Sutera know immediately. They will likely provide you a proper replacement for free or give you a total refund, assuming that the product is defective. Take into account that this issue might also be user error.

Conclusion

So ultimately, is the Sutera BathStone worth buying?

If you are looking for something that soft/fuzzy on your feet and are willing to do the maintenance work, we think that you can safely skip this one.

But if you are looking for something low maintenance, eco-friendly, and highly efficient, then we can’t think of a reason to NOT get the Sutera BathStone. The mat is great at what it does and provides free bonuses on top of that. What’s not to love? Yes, we recommend getting this stone bath mat.

If we had to give a number, then we would give it an 8.5 out of 10. It’s not groundbreaking, but it is a solid option. Other customers seem to think so too, looking at the bevy of high marks on the company’s website.

As you can see, the mat works well and as intended.

Although we think that the Sutera BathStone Mat is great, we prefer the Dorai Home Bath Stone just a little bit more. While the Dorai Home version doesn’t come with added bonuses, the mat itself seems to work a bit better and the customer service is oustounding.

With that said, you won’t be disappointed with Sutera’s mat. We can attest to that!

Wrap Up

And that’s the end of our review! We hope you enjoyed it and found it useful. And please feel free to check out some other content on the site. We appreciate everyone who stopped by.

As always, let’s continue to strive for greener, better living!