Oh I totally get where they fall on the furniture scale. Don’t want to think about meatballs at this point :). But for things like bath mats?
If the reporters live in Georgetown or other older parts of town, the houses are very old – and have been built up/out over the centuries. Brick walls may be original to the houses. Clay is plentiful here (DC/MD/VA) too, so was a logical building material.
Our IKEA bookshelves survived two moves. I hoped they wouldn’t, but dagnabbit they did. Thank goodness a young family adopted them. Also, IKEA closet system called Pax seriously rocks. There are “Pax hacks”
all over the web - people repurpose these for kitchen pantries etc. Speaking of kitchen, IKEA kitchens get good reviews. I would not buy any upholstery there though.
I’ve had IKEA two sided bath mats maybe 5 years and they’ve held up fine. Better than the rubber backed ones that eventually shred in the dryer.
This really isn’t an intense analytical issue, where one line comes out so superior… Get what you like, at the right price for you. Imo, by the front door is more important, a guest’s first view.
I’m looking for bath mats, not door mats.
My Ikea bathmats are fine – well, adequate, let’s say – but the minor rubber backing they used to have has dissolved. DH and I aren’t getting any younger, and I’m looking to eliminate as many trip risks as possible.
For mats that have a rubber backing, I don’t put them in the dryer – just let them airdry.
Thanks for the tips. I hadn’t thought of some of these places for bath mats.
@VeryHappy, we’ve tried both the ones with and without the rubber backs. We usually get rubber backs, because otherwise the water would leak through and leave the floors wet and yucky underneath the rug.
I haven’t done a thorough analysis - I’m usually looking for color more than quality. I think I have have purchased at Costco, Sears, Macy’s and Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Thanks for bringing up bath mats. We like the rubber backed ones and ours are old and needed to be replaced. Just ordered these from Costco
https://www.costco.com/charisma-bath-mat,-2-pack.product.100408817.html
They’re on sale, and if they are the same as the ones in the store, are very nice.
We don’t put them in the dryer - they dry pretty quickly.
These are fabulous mats. Five years and counting. 
I air dry them.
Is there some sort of key combination that will allow me to show a password? I’m thinking especially of when I sign in to CC. My sign-in info is prepopulated with my screen name, which I have to delete and then add my email address, and every day I have to also delete the PW info that’s there and type in my real PW. But I’d like to know what PW is pre-populated – I might need to only add a number or symbol instead of deleting the whole thing and typing it in again.
I use Google Chrome, Windows 10, and a Dell PC, if any of that makes a difference.
I think when anyone lumps a big place like Ikea into one category (all their stuff is fabulous! or all their stuff is awful!) I’m not going to really trust their judgement.
Re: bath mats - go look and analyse the quality in the store. Does the product have the features - fabric, size, thickness/thinness you are looking for? Give one a try - you’re not going to pay a fortune and it can be a research experiment. 
Shifting gears with a new Random Question: Do you have a facial moisturizer that you love? My foundation has a fairly high SPF and I like it fine but, in these days of isolation, I don’t wear foundation daily. Outside activities require SPF on my face but it seems the drug store brand moisturizers with SPF always go on all ‘glommy’ and feel icky! They just don’t go on nicely or feel good once on. I realize I’m not using scientific language here but would appreciate any recommendations. from this learned group!
@VeryHappy normally when you change login id or password you should get prompted to update the new credentials stored by the browser. Do you have that disabled?
You should also be able to delete the credentials completely from your browser. I don’t remember exactly where that is in the settings, it’s usually near where you can clear the cache/delete cookies etc.
I like in this summer.
@Panhandlegal1, I use Cerave, and it has been recommended by others here.
Yes, easier when one’s able to touch and feel but many are trying to stay out of stores right now so that is where asking for recommendations here can come in handy.
Look in your browser settings under privacy and security. There should be a section about autofilled passwords from which you can manage them (or remove old logins that are no longer valid).
Thank you! I found it.
Re: moisturizer- I use La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50 dry touch gel cream first, then The Ordinary moisturizer over. I think it’s around $8 for a 3.3 oz tube, so cheap enough for a trial. This combo doesn’t get goopy or run into my eyes.
I use CeraVe AM every single day. It has SPF 30.
BTW, when you put on sunscreen, don’t forget the backs of your hands. That’s where people look old from sun.
Right on suncreening backs of hands. Mine are a mess, and washing hands a lot does not help them stay sun protected.
It is not moisturizer, but after the Oil of Olay mentioned above, Clinique City block is an all day sort of sunscreen that blends in very nicely, as it is tinted SPF 25 and has has all mineral blocks, unlike the SPF 40 which has a chemical ingredient. I have used both. Everything else runs and burns my eyes when biking or gardening.
Bathmats. I have reflected on how finding the same Ikea bathmat in many airbnbs world wide makes the world rather monotone. Or comfortingly homogeneous, depending on your viewpoint.
My most recent bathmat is from Macys and very soft, if synthetic with a very good rubber backing. If trained to dry feet post shower, I prefer cotton, but not everyone does that, so I decided for once I’d go synthetic. https://www.macys.com/shop/product/martha-stewart-collection-spa-19.3-x-32.0-bath-rug-created-for-macys?ID=4336727&CategoryID=76201&swatchColor=Walnut