Dori Shevlen is a home design writer who writes about topics like scented candles, makeup mirrors, and her favorite popcorn maker.
When my editor asked me to write a guide for Wirecutter, these were my first thoughts. It’s not that I don’t love my job, my team, or the work itself. I do so much. But the bath mat? Please.
However, due to the demands of work, I started thinking about bath mats. I thought about them while standing barefoot at the sink, brushing my teeth. I thought about them when I got out of the shower, dripping wet. Of course, I think about them at work, too, asking coworkers about their preferences, browsing online reviews, and thinking deeply about how to make a bath mat practical, durable, and beautiful.
At that moment, I was reminded of a scene in Lady Bird where the character, played by Saoirse Ronan, talks about Sacramento to a school nun. “Sure, I’ll probably pay attention,” Lady Bird reluctantly admits, talking about her hometown. The nun asks, “Don’t you think they’re the same thing? Love and attention?”
I remember that scene because I spent hours of my life focused on something I didn’t care about at all. In truth, I didn’t like all of the 20 bath mats I tested for Wirecutter’s guide, though they certainly caught my eye. But there was one that caught my eye more than the rest, and to my surprise, I actually fell in love with it.
This Japanese bamboo fiber paper mat has a nice matte texture that is reminiscent of nature. Although some people may not like the texture.
My super cool friend and coworker Katie Okamoto introduced me to the Japanese Sasawashi bath mat when I was putting together a list of all the models I wanted to test. I didn’t even know what a Sasawashi was until she mentioned it. Turns out, it’s a blend of Japanese paper and bamboo fiber. For those of you unfamiliar, that means it has a dry, rough texture that’s super absorbent (in fact, the only stone mats I’ve tested absorbed water better than this one).
Beyond its performance qualities, standing on the Japanese Sasawashi bath mat is a cerebral experience. Rocking your heels or rubbing them back and forth across the mat’s rough, papery surface can trigger an ASMR-like sensation: tingling. And its non-slip backing is grippy enough to keep the mat from moving, even when it does. (Katie, who’s had her sofa for five years, says the backing may be a little thin, but the cushions still work well.)
One of the occupational hazards of this job is that the people you love most may inadvertently become testers for your writing (which can be a networking perk when you’re testing something like tequila, but not all tutorials are created equal). My boyfriend has also tried out most of these mats, and I absolutely love this one, as does he. He has the softest paws I’ve ever seen, which made me worry that he might find the mat too rough; I ended up buying him one for Christmas.
In Lady Bird, attention means love, but attention also means understanding the imperfections of things. Sure, the Japanese Sasawashi bath mat has its flaws: Because it’s made of paper and bamboo, you can’t throw it in the dryer (though my photo editor did anyway, and it seems to have survived). It’s more expensive than some of the other mats I recommend in the guide. Plus, it tends to wrinkle when folded, and sometimes the corners curl up. But to love is to see the imperfections of something and still love it. Regardless, I loved it.
Wirecutter’s guide to buying bath mats has about eight recommendations, and I don’t necessarily list my favorites; my job doesn’t require me to. I try to find the best bath mat for different people: those who are budget-conscious, those who like bold patterns, and those who have lots of kids jumping in the tub. But when I wrote the guide, the person I imagined wearing this bath mat wasn’t fiction. It was me.
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I was responsible for home improvement, but rarely spent time indoors. I also write frequently for Wirecutter about outdoor gear, personal technology, and health products.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists use a combination of independent research and (sometimes) top-tier testing to help you make buying decisions quickly and confidently. Whether you’re looking for great products or getting practical advice, we can help you find the right product (the first time).