How to Clean a Yoga Mat?

Your yoga mat is the sanctuary into which you are about to enter on a long inner journey. Caring for your yoga mat means respecting the space in which the magic happens. The space that makes you grow.

If you can't remember the last time you scrubbed your yoga mat, it's probably time to clean it! 😉

After a good yoga session, our mat tends to be covered in sweat, dust and a host of other unsuspected dirt that can, in addition to making it dirty, cause certain skin infections. That's why it's essential to establish a good cleaning routine to increase the life of your mat and enable you to practice your yoga in a pleasant way.

⚠️ It's important to bear in mind that while cleaning eliminates germs, disinfecting kills them. Although each method works individually, you need to do both to completely clean your mat. So here are a few tips you can follow to make your carpet as good as new.

STEP 1: Disinfect your yoga mat with an essential oil spray

Here's a very simple way to disinfect your yoga mat: use a spray with essential oils. There are sprays specially designed to disinfect yoga mats, but they're usually expensive and you can't be sure that the products used are healthy. So you can make your own homemade yoga mat cleaner with essential oils: it's simple, fast, inexpensive and 100% natural.♻️

It's a spray based on water, white vinegar andtea tree essential oil. Tea tree essential oil is an antiseptic and antifungal that effectively kills bad bacteria and fungi that linger on your mat. Add to this the antibacterial properties of white vinegar and you've got a mixture that does double duty in disinfecting your carpet. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil (antiseptic) or lemon essential oil (antiseptic and bactericidal). 

Recipe for yoga mat cleaner :

• 2/3 water
• 1/3 white vinegar
• A few drops of tea tree essential oil (+ drops of lavender or lemon essential oil)

How to use:

Spray the mixture on both sides of your yoga mat and use a clean towel to wipe off the lotion. This should kill any lingering pathogens on the surface of your mat and freshen its smell.

Your mat is now well disinfected, but the disinfection method alone is not enough to clean your mat. When your carpet starts to get dirty and you smell a certain odor, nothing beats a good cleaning with soap and water. 💦

STEP 2: Cleaning your yoga mat

Clean your yoga mat by hand

If stains appear on your mat, or if you feel it's dirty enough to deserve a good cleaning with water, you can wash it yourself in a bathtub or shower. Here's how.

Our advice:

• Put your carpet in a bathtub (or shower) and wet it.
• Add a little natural detergent or Marseille soap (don't overdo it so that your carpet doesn't become slippery 🧼).
• Rub your carpet with a sponge or cloth, insisting on the areas where you most often place your hands and feet, and don't forget to clean both sides.
• Empty your bathtub and rinse your mat with clear water.
• Don't twist your mat to remove excess water, as this will damage it.
• Don't dry your carpet in the sun, and don't put it in the tumble-dryer either.
• Lay your rug on a drying rack, door or chair.

Once clean and dry, roll up your mat and store it in a dust-free place (in its yoga mat bag for example).

Machine-cleaning your yoga mat

Can you clean your yoga mat in the washing machine? This is a much-debated subject, but the answer depends on the mat you have and the manufacturer's instructions. In any case, never machine-wash a cork yoga mat. This could cause irreversible damage.

However, if you can machine-wash your mat, here are a few tips to help you avoid damaging it.

Our advice :

• Always wash your carpet on a cold cycle.
• Don't use fabric softener.
• Use a small dose of natural detergent (do not overdose).
• Do not wring out your carpet.
• Do not dry in the sun or tumble dry.
• Dry your carpet on a drying rack, chair or door.

A mat, especially a thick one, takes a long time to dry, so try to anticipate this before your yoga class (don't wash it the day before your class, for example). If, however, you have several yoga mats, you can rotate them and the problem's solved!

How often should I clean my mat?

If you use your mat regularly, clean it frequently. You can clean it once a month and use the essential oil spray after each use. You clean your yoga mat in much the same way as you clean your sheets, so it's up to you to decide how often.

An effective way to keep your mat clean: use a yoga towel

Sometimes, the best way to minimize a problem is to avoid it in the first place. The yoga mat towels are placed directly over your mat. So it's the towel, not your mat, that absorbs most of the sweat and dirt. They also have the advantage of being non-slip, so you won't slip during your yoga sessions. Yoga towels are particularly useful for hot yoga (Bikram yoga or hot yoga), but they are also suitable for all forms of yoga, especially the more dynamic ones.

💡 Consider buying one or two non-slip yoga towels along with your mat; they're lightweight and machine-washable.

Additional tips:

• Wash your feet and hands before practicing on your mat to avoid soiling it (with cleansing wipes, for example).
• Remember to air your mat from time to time, as this will do it a world of good.
• Store your mat in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• Buy a new carpet if you can't clean it or if it's starting to look damaged.
• Use a cleaning wipe or baby wipe after each use, if you're too lazy to concoct your own essential oil spray.

Namaste 🙏

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