Easy and Effective Ways to Clean Your Yoga Mat at Home

Yoga mats seem indispensable for yoga practitioners. To maintain their durability and beauty, you must use and clean them properly. If you're unsure how to wash your yoga mat effectively at home, check out this detailed guide!

Simple Instructions for Washing Your Yoga Mat

This is the simplest method you can regularly perform to keep your yoga mat clean. To clean your yoga mat with water, follow these steps:

- Step 1: Lay the yoga mat flat on the floor.

- Step 2: Use a spray bottle to directly spray water onto the surface of the yoga mat. You can also use a sponge to spray and gently scrub the mat surface at the same time.

- Step 3: Drain off any remaining water on the mat surface. Then, simply leave the mat in the shade or under mild sunlight for it to air dry naturally.

Cleaning Your Yoga Mat with Water

After some time of use for your workout sessions, you may want to wash your yoga mat with soap to eliminate any lingering odors and dirt buildup. To clean the mat with soap, follow these steps:

- Step 1: Ensure the sponge is thoroughly wet. Then, apply an adequate amount of soap onto the sponge and lather it well.

- Step 2: Gently rub the sponge onto the surface of the mat to minimize scratching.

- Step 3: Rinse off the soapy residue with water and squeeze out excess water from the mat. You can then use a soft dry cloth to absorb any remaining moisture before air drying the mat in a well-ventilated area.

Cleaning Your Yoga Mat with Soap

Both white vinegar and tea tree oil are solutions known for their effective antibacterial and odor-fighting properties. Hence, this is an ideal solution for cleaning your yoga mat.

- Step 1: Mix together ¼ cup of white vinegar, ¾ cup of warm water, 10 drops of tea tree oil, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Then, ensure the mixture is well dissolved and pour it into a spray bottle.

- Step 2: Lay the yoga mat flat on the floor and evenly spray the prepared mixture onto both sides of the mat.

- Step 3: Use a sponge to clean any dirt spots on the mat. Then, soak the mat in a basin of warm water.

- Step 4: After about 10 - 30 minutes, take the mat out and drain excess water. Finally, simply air dry the mat in a well-ventilated area.

Cleaning Your Mat with White Vinegar and Tea Tree Oil Mixture

The methods above are all optimal ways to clean your yoga mat, but if you're too busy, you can still use a washing machine. However, this method should not be applied to NBR or PVC yoga mats as they are prone to deformation. For other types of mats, you can use a washing machine to clean them following these steps:

- Step 1: Rinse the yoga mat thoroughly to remove any remaining dirt.

- Step 2: Roll up the yoga mat and place it in the washing machine. Then, dilute the soap with water and pour it into the washing machine as usual. For optimal results, use a top-loading washing machine to clean the mat.

- Step 3: Select the regular washing mode and adjust the water level to low.

- Step 4: Once the washing cycle is complete, simply take out the mat and air dry it in the shade. Avoid drying the mat in intense sunlight as it may affect its appearance.

Washing Your Yoga Mat with a Washing Machine

If you have the means, you can use specialized mat cleaning machines to sanitize your yoga mat. This is an optimal cleaning method to maintain the mat's durability. Moreover, you can utilize the dry vacuum feature to shorten the cleaning time.

- Step 1: Place your yoga mat on the floor.

- Step 2: Start the specialized mat cleaning device and move the suction head back and forth over various areas of the yoga mat. The entire process may only take 3 - 5 minutes, so you can perform it regularly to keep the mat clean and maintain its durability.

- Before practicing, you can use a paper towel to quickly wipe the mat and wait for it to dry before starting your session.

- After practice, you should also use a damp paper towel to wipe away sweat and dirt from the surface before storing the mat in your bag.

If you maintain this habit regularly, the lifespan of your mat will be significantly extended.

Regularly Clean Your Yoga Mat Before and After Practice

Hands and feet are often exposed to dust. If not cleaned, this dirt, combined with sweat during practice, will make the mat dirtier faster. This also creates ideal conditions for mold and unpleasant odors. Therefore, remember to maintain personal hygiene before practicing on the mat.

These towels are usually coated with rubber particles to reduce slipping during workouts. Additionally, they have excellent sweat absorption capabilities. Therefore, using specialized towels will help keep your yoga mat cleaner.

Use Additional Specialized Mat Towels

You should only air dry the mat in the shade and in well-ventilated areas, as exposure to direct sunlight can cause the mat to deform. Additionally, store the mat in a dry place, avoiding dampness and dust to maintain its quality.

This article has provided you with super simple ways to wash your yoga mat at home. Don't forget to clean your mat regularly to maintain its durability and avoid impacting your health!

Check out some of the best-selling washing machine models at Mytour Supermarket: