Do you borrow a yoga mat at the gym or your studio?

Maybe you wipe down the mat or use a sanitizing spray after class. Maybe you use a towel over top of it.

Community-use mats are often cleaned frequently.

But what about your mat at home?

When is the last time you thought about how clean your yoga mat is?

Take a closer look

Chances are, your yoga mat is picking up all sorts of dirt and debris. Small particles of dust can stick to your body and be transferred to the mat, or sweaty palms or feet may be spreading bacteria onto the mat as you practice. Hot yoga and Bikram yoga can be especially sweat-intensive, too. As time goes along, without the proper cleaning you may begin to notice discoloration or odor from your mat.

Choose the best cleaner for your mat

Most yoga mats can be washed frequently without wearing down the material. I suggest a thorough wipe down at the end of each session. Depending on what material your mat is made out of, you’ll want to choose the specific option that’s best for you.

Rubber Yoga Mats – these mats are closed cell, meaning that nothing will readily soak into the fabric of the mat, but while you can give them a fairly vigorous wash-down with mild soap and warm water, you should make sure that they are completely dry before rolling them up for storage.

Foam Yoga Mats – these mats tend to be the cheapest yoga mats available, and open cell foam readily absorbs sweat and other fluids. Foam yoga mats may begin to take on an unpleasant smell or show color discoloration more easily than other mats. Consider soaking your foam mat in a bath tub with mild soap and hot water, or washing in your machine on delicate. Rinse thoroughly to remove soap and then dry completely in the shade (note: direct sun can cause them to dry out and lose pliability).

PVC Yoga Mats – these sturdy mats can be washed or wiped down as needed, and should be left to dry thoroughly before being put away. While mild soap can be used, some manufacturers of high-end yoga equipment produce proprietary cleansers, such as the biological mat cleaner recommended for Manduka yoga mats by the manufacturer.

Remember, yoga mats can be thoroughly cleaned and the technique depends on the material of your mat. Get in the habit of wiping yours down after class and you’ll get more use out of yours for the years to come.

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