[Max Connor]

Just wondering if the BareEarth Grounding Mat has to stay plugged in all the time to work, or only when you’re actually using it. I haven’t bought one yet and the whole outlet thing is kinda confusing. Can you just leave it connected or does that waste power or something? Also if your outlet isn’t grounded does it do anything at all?

[Luna]

I leave mine plugged in all the time and it hasn’t caused any issues. It’s not drawing power like a charger or anything, so I don’t think it wastes electricity. As for the outlet thing, if it’s not actually grounded then yeah it won’t really do anything. I found that out the hard way at my old apartment.

[Maya Rose]

I actually asked the same thing before I got mine because the outlet part confused me too. From what I understand, it only does its thing while your body is touching it, so there isn’t much point leaving it plugged in when you’re not using it. It’s not like it holds a charge or anything. I’ve been unplugging mine between uses mostly out of habit and it’s been fine. The bigger thing I’d pay attention to is whether your outlet is actually grounded, because if it isn’t, the whole setup kind of doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. I had to check mine with one of those little tester things after realizing one of our outlets wasn’t grounded at all. Not trying to make it sound complicated, it’s just the one part that actually matters here.

[Sam West]

If the outlet isn’t actually grounded, the mat won’t do anything. That part matters more than leaving it plugged in. I’d check that first before buying.

[Jenna Writes]

Leaving it plugged in constantly is what I do and mine still works fine after about a year, so the whole unplugging thing isn’t necessary. The outlet being grounded is the part that actually matters though. If it isn’t, the mat is basically just a regular mat.

[Oliver Brooks]

Mine stays plugged in, zero issues.

[Khan]

Mine sits plugged in behind my couch and I never think about it. Only thing I’d say is the cord is long enough to be annoying if your outlet is far, so placement matters more than the plugging part.

[Liam Cross]

I don’t really buy the whole “it draws nothing so leave it plugged in forever” thing. I had a different mat, not this brand, and I unplugged it between uses mostly because the cord bugged me more than anything. But here’s the part I’d push back on. People keep saying the outlet has to be grounded like that settles it, but unless you actually know your wiring is good, the mat is basically a fancy mousepad. My place is old and I found out half the outlets weren’t grounded when I plugged in a tester for something else. So I’d figure that out before spending money. As for leaving it in, I don’t think it matters much either way. It’s not like a charger. I just wouldn’t assume plugging into any random outlet does anything.

[Tom 2020]

Leaving it plugged in 24/7 isn’t some magic requirement. I had a grounding mat from a different brand and the cord got snagged on a chair leg and pulled loose. Didn’t notice for probably two weeks. When I finally reconnected it, I felt exactly the same as I did when it was hooked up, which was not much. That told me everything I needed to know about whether it “has” to stay connected.

As for wasting power, these things aren’t drawing anything meaningful. It’s basically a wire. But the outlet being properly grounded is the whole ballgame. If it’s not grounded, the mat is just a fancy mouse pad with a cord attached. I tested mine on an old two prong outlet once out of curiosity and got nothing. On a properly grounded one, still not convinced I got anything either, but at least it’s doing what it’s supposed to do on paper.

[Sam Carter]

It’s just a cord that connects to the ground, there’s no power draw to worry about. I’d leave it hooked up if it’s in a spot where the cord won’t get tripped over. If your outlet isn’t actually grounded though, the whole thing is pointless.

[Dave the Curious]

I prefer keeping mine hooked up just while I’m actually using it, mostly because I don’t like the cord running across the floor all day. Whether that matters for how it works, I couldn’t say. As for an ungrounded outlet, from what I’ve read that would kind of defeat the whole point.

[Pete Tilbrook]

Mine only gets plugged in when I’m actually sitting on it, mostly out of habit more than anything. If the outlet isn’t actually grounded though, the mat itself won’t do much, that part isn’t just marketing. Worth checking that before you buy one.

[Chris Miller]

If your outlet isn’t actually grounded, the mat basically does nothing. I checked mine with one of those little plug testers and the outlet in my old place wasn’t grounded, so it was pointless there.

[Devon Lee]

Mine stays plugged in pretty much all the time. I just leave the cord tucked behind the couch so nobody trips on it. No idea if it matters either way.

[Tom Bill]

I wouldn’t leave it plugged in all the time. If it’s not touching you, what’s the point? I keep mine rolled up unless I’m actually using it.

[Emma Ray]

I think it only does anything when you’re actually in contact with it, so leaving it plugged in while you’re not using it is just a cord sitting there. I’d probably plug it in when I sit down and unplug after. If the outlet isn’t grounded though, it’s not going to do anything either way.

[Cecily]

Leaving it plugged in constantly seems like extra wear on the cord for no reason. I just plug mine in when I’m using it at my desk. Takes two seconds and I don’t have to worry about it getting yanked around.

[Mark Carrell]

It only does something while you’re touching it, so the plug part is really just for those sessions. I left mine connected for a couple months straight and nothing bad happened, but it’s not like it’s doing anything when you’re not on it. As for an ungrounded outlet, that’s the one thing that actually matters.

[Jenny__M]

I leave mine plugged in, but that’s mostly because of where it sits. It’s under my desk and the cord runs along the wall behind the printer, so unplugging it every time would mean crawling around on the floor. Not happening lol.

I get why people unplug theirs, but for me the outlet is kind of out of the way and it’s not like it’s drawing anything when I’m not on it. I’ve had mine connected for months now and the cord still looks fine, no weird wear or anything. I did notice once when I moved it that the little connector felt a bit loose, but I just pushed it back in and it was fine.

So I’d say it really comes down to whether reaching the outlet is annoying for you. If it’s easy to get to, sure, unplug it. If it’s tucked behind furniture like mine, leaving it connected is just easier and I haven’t had any issues from doing that.

[Tina Bell]

The no-battery thing is what sold me, honestly. It’s not drawing power like a charger, it’s just a ground path, so leaving it hooked up isn’t really costing you anything. The grounded outlet part is the real catch though. If yours isn’t actually grounded, the mat’s basically just a fancy pad.

[MarkD87]

Mine stays plugged in mostly out of laziness, but I’ve also used it with the cord just sitting there and noticed zero difference either way. If the outlet isn’t actually grounded then yeah, it’s basically a fancy mousepad.

[Alex Morgan]

I’d check your outlet first before anything else. If it’s not actually grounded then the mat is basically just a piece of fabric, plugging it in won’t change that. The little tester things are cheap and take two seconds.

[Kelly Sun]

I don’t think it needs to stay plugged in all day, but the cord placement makes a difference. I tried leaving one connected near a couch and it kept getting bumped, so now I only hook it up when I’m actually sitting there. If the outlet itself isn’t grounded, the mat won’t do much beyond feeling like a regular fabric mat.

[Author]

Posts