• HOME & LIFESTYLE
Dorai Bath Mat Review: A Bacteria-Free Alternative
Reviewed by Nathaniel Lang
Last Updated January 2022
Finding a bath mat that really absorbs water and doesn’t mold may seem impossible. But Dorai Home came up with a solution with their instant drying bath stone.
As a person who regularly showers (I hope that’s the case for everyone), I’m always on the hunt for new bathroom items that are eco-friendly and chic. So, when I first heard about Dorai Home and the concept of a diatomaceous earth bath mat, my interest was piqued.
FEATURED IN THIS REVIEW
EDITOR'S PICK
This chic bath mat, or stone, from Dorai Home dries instantly under your feet! Created with diatomaceous earth, the ceramic-like material feels like a natural stone. Unlike traditional bath mats that absorb moisture and generate bacteria, the Bath Stone™ mat is designed to instantly remove water, actually helping prevent mold. Dorai creates thoughtfully designed home products made of diatomaceous earth, a natural material that dries instantly.
Includes 1 Bath Stone™ in the color of your choice and a rubberized bottom pad to prevent slipping and allow 360-degree drying.
Dimensions: 23.6 in L x 15.4 in W x .4 in H
Pros
- Stylish, modern design
- Resists and prevents mold and mildew
- Comfortable to stand on
- Eco-friendly and made of natural materials
- Fast-drying and absorbent
- Durable and made to last
Cons
- Premium pricing compared to other, traditional cloth and rubber bath mat options
- Could be a bit larger
Ratings Breakdown
The Dorai Home Bath Stone dries instantly, unlike other bath mats on the market. It’s made of diatomaceous earth, or algae, for better absorption. This bath stone not only dries instantly but also prevents mold from growing, for a longer lasting bath mat. It also comes with a rubberized bottom pad to prevent slipping.
QUALITY
★★★★★
The Dorai Home products are all made of diatomaceous earth, which is a fairly hard substance. But the products feel a bit thin, so there is concern with breakage.
VALUE
★★★★
For a bath mat, this product is on the higher end, price-wise. It is really chic and looks great in the bathroom though, so the design value alone may be worth it.
CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE
★★★★★
The instant-drying bath stone works better than other bath mats and is much more aesthetically pleasing to look at.
BRAND
★★★★
The brand seems to care about creating good quality products that are useful to the general populace. They don’t appear to have have tied in a particular philanthropic mission or eco-friendly certifications that we like to see.
Who is Dorai Home?
Dorai Home was founded in 2018 by Jason Klug and Kelsey O’Callaghan. As soon as Jason showed Kelsey the product that instantaneously absorbed water (diatomaceous earth), the idea for Dorai was born. As two diagnosed ADHD individuals, they figured adding one more joint business wouldn’t be too difficult. Especially since this was an idea that was close to their heart.
The couple began their first product launch as a Kickstarter campaign and then grew into Angel investors after that.The couple each had their own businesses running at the time of the idea for Dorai. The initial product offerings were more colorful than the current line they offer. But, that’s probably a good thing with regard to a more chic luxurious product line anyway.
The brand does not currently have any philanthropic mission or give-back programs, which would be really nice to see. They also don’t appear to have any quality certifications. But, they do have 5 patents pending for their rapid-drying technology, which is pretty cool.
Dorai Bath Mat Performance and Testing
When my Bath Stone arrived, I was immediately impressed with the design and weight of it. Upon unboxing the Bath Stone, I found a small amount of 150 grit sandpaper to clean up any stains that may occur on the surface of the stone over time. The spiral shapes embossed on the top of the bath mat add enough design to make it sleek and modern with just a hint of something extra.
I was a bit surprised at how lightweight the Bath Stone actually is. It has the feel and weight of a piece of fiberboard. My initial concern was that it would break. However, it held up to all of the tests I threw at it over my 4-week testing period with no issues, whatsoever.
It also came with a rubber mat to go underneath it on the bathroom floor.
I found that this really helped the bath stone stay put, which is an issue I’ve had with other bath mats in the past. So, I found it extremely helpful to have this underneath the bath stone for added stability.
When I initially put the bath stone in front of my shower, my only criticism was that I wish it was a bit larger. However, over the course of using it for 4 weeks, I found that it wasn’t that big of a deal because I loved it so much.
Every time I stepped out of the shower I loved the feeling of the water being absorbed right off the bottom of my feet. It was actually a really cool sensation and I don’t know how I could ever go back to a regular bath mat again after this experience.
In order to fully test the bath stone, I took 2 ounces of water and dumped it directly into the center of the stone. This would ultimately be more water than I would normally bring with me out of the shower. But I wanted to see how much the bath stone could handle. It worked beautifully!
For the next test, my wife and I used the bath stone regularly for a 4 week period of time. The first time I stepped out of the shower though, I jumped haphazardly out of the shower completely wet to see just how much it could absorb.
Unfortunately, I totally overwhelmed it and ended up with a wet and soggy bath stone. After my initial overzealousness, I began to use it more like I regularly would step out of the shower. By this I mean that I dry off a little bit in the shower before stepping out. That produced a completely different, much more positive result.
The bath stone would absorb the water from my feet and wick it away almost immediately. My wife also enjoyed the same effect every time she took a shower. So, in the end, both of us would take showers at different times of the day (like we normally do) and the bath stone did a phenomenal job of staying dry and ready for water.
Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with this product, and I will never be able to use a regular bath mat again.
Is the Dorai Bath Mat Good Quality?
Dorai Home created their product line to follow a lot of the most common concepts with regard to long term quality. Some of these components include:
- Overall sustainability of the raw materials
- Non-toxic
- Modern design
- Eco-friendly
- Chic, durable, functional style
Since they are using diatomaceous earth as the base for all of their products (sans the coasters), they are inherently more eco-friendly and sustainable than other household products in the same categories. Diatomaceous earth itself is a highly renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly product that’s fairly easy to come by. This raw resource also emits a high level of oxygen into the atmosphere as a byproduct, which is a huge added bonus.
While the brand doesn’t state where they mine their diatomaceous earth from exactly, there are many mines around the world they could get it from. Not all mines are created equally, with regard to quality, of course. However, the brand does state that they have passed the California Prop 65.
This proposition protects California’s drinking water from becoming contaminated with materials known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive issues and is more stringent than the EPA standards. So, this is a really good sign as to the quality of the raw materials.
And as long as you follow the brand’s recommendations with regard to care for your products, they should easily outlast any other conventional counterpart and be better for the environment all in one fell swoop. If that’s not quality, I don’t know what is.
Is the Dorai Bath Mat Worth It?
If you’re someone like me who is tired of spending money every year or so on a bath mat that really doesn’t fully do its job, then these products may just be worth it.
Yes, they are quite a bit more expensive than any other bath mat I’ve run across in the past. However, the technology alone seems to speak volumes regarding how long these products should last. Which should be infinitely longer than any other regular bath mat on the market.
And if you want something that prevents mold from forming (making a healthier air quality environment) and also looks pretty darn chic while doing it, then there’s really no reason to give this bath stone a try.
FAQs
Dorai Bath Mat Summary
Overall, Dorai Home has come up with some really ingenious absorptive product offerings for the home. Their bath stone is absolutely fantastic and works better than any other bath mat I’ve used in the past. Plus it looks very chic in my bathroom, which I am definitely not opposed to. I haven’t had the chance to try their other products yet, but I am leaning towards a few of the kitchen items and coaster.
I love that all of their products are made of sustainable products and appear to be built to last. While the pricing may be a bit higher than some consumers would like to pay, the products seem to be well worth it. Especially due to the modern, sleek style they offer, as well as the potential lifespan of their products.