When you first start practicing yoga, you roll out your mat, you practice, you feel amazing, you ask yourself "why haven't I been doing this my whole life?", you roll up your mat… wait… that's not right!!??
Let's try that again.
You roll out your mat, you practice, you feel amazing, you ask yourself "why haven't I been doing this my whole life?", you CLEAN YOUR MAT, you DRY YOUR MAT, you roll up your mat, and you continue about your day. Ok, that’s better!
WHEN should I clean my mat?
Does that mean you should clean your mat after ever practice? Yes!
I recommend disinfecting your mat after every practice, and cleaning it a few times a month. Personally, I use a disinfectant every day, and a cleaner once a week.
If you were able to see the fungi and bacteria that grow on dirty yoga mats, you wouldn't think twice about cleaning it. It's the same type of fungi and bacteria that can cause athlete's foot, ringworm, plantar warts, to name a few. If you haven't flinched yet, I dare you to Google Image search any of the 3!
WHAT should I use to clean my mat?
Before we continue, I would like to add a little sidenote. If you decided to go wild (like I did), and buy a top-of-the-line yoga mat (like the Manduka PRO at $150+), it would be best to follow the cleaning directions provided by the manufacturer, especially if your mat comes with a warranty.
1- Disinfectant:
â—‹ DIY Disinfectant: Most people opt for this option to disinfect their mats daily. It's simple, cheap, and eco-friendly. All you need is:
â—‹ A spray bottle
â—‹ 1/2 cup of water (preferably spring water or distilled)
â—‹ 1/2 cup of white vinegar
â—‹ A few drops (3-5) of Essential Oils (preferably Tea Tree Oil, but other ones like Peppermint work well also)
Simply add the water, vinegar and essential oils to the spray bottle, give it a good shake, and you're ready to go! (Remember to shake the bottle before every use.)
Tea Tree Oil is a favorite of mine. It has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, among others. Couple that with the super disinfectant powers of vinegar, bacteria and fungi don't stand a chance!
â—‹ Meg's Pro Tip: Some mats can become slippery over time due to the essential oils. If that's the case with your mat, you can try using a cleaner once a week to remove any excess essential oil, or you can simply use a store-bought disinfectant.
â—‹ Store-bought Disinfectant: If you're not a "Do It Yourself" kind of person, you can buy any eco-friendly disinfectant at your local supermarket/drugstore. Some good ones are Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner and Attitude All Purpose Cleaner Disinfectant 99.9%.
2- Cleaner:
â—‹ DYI Cleaner: This is super easy, and you most certainly already have everything at home. All you need is:
â—‹ A spray bottle
â—‹ 1 cup of water (preferably spring water or distilled)
â—‹ A few drops (2-3) of dish soap
Combine the water and dish soap in the spray bottle, shake-shake-shake, and voilà !
â—‹ Store-bought cleaner: Again, if "Do it Yourself" is not your jam, you can buy a yoga mat cleaner wherever you bought your mat (though this will likely be the pricier option), or you can get an eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner from your local supermarket/drugstore, like Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner.
HOW should I clean my mat?
1- Wipe:
Whether you are using a disinfectant or a cleaner, spray your mat, and wipe the product off with either a microfiber towel, the soft side of a sponge or a J Cloth.
â—‹ Meg's Pro Tip: For extra disinfecting/cleaning power, leave the product on your mat for a few minutes before wiping clean. This is especially useful after a super sweaty yoga class.
2- BUT WAIT! Do the other side!
Remember to flip your mat over, and clean the other side! You will end up rolling up your mat when you're done, so whatever bacteria/fungi is on one side will transfer over to the other if not cleaned.
3- Dry:
You can either hang your mat somewhere to dry (I hang it over my railing), or you can dry it with a microfiber towel. As long as it is dry before you roll it up, you're good!
I know this may seem like a lot at first, but I promise, once you have your products in hand, and you clean your mat a few times, the process will become so quick and easy! And you will be happy and clean!
Namaste.
Meg
