How to Wash Your Yoga Mat the Right Way?
By: Danielle Durack
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We all know the importance of having a committed relationship with our yoga practice, but gear maintenance is a crucial piece that is often overlooked. Our mats are supposed to be our foundation, but between sweat and dead skin cells, they can become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. It is important to get into the habit of consistent mat cleaning to make sure your yoga practice remains healthy.
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as spraying your mat down with a hose or throwing it in the wash. Each yoga mat often requires different care based on the material it is made from. Many cork or natural rubber yoga mats are extremely porous, meaning anything you put on them will more or less become a part of the mat. And rubber mats have their own specific needs like limited sun and water exposure. Very few mats can just be “thrown in the wash” so to speak, so how you clean them really matters. Here are some yoga mat maintenance best practices to keep your mat clean and in good shape for years to come.
For Non-Porous Materials (Closed-Cell Mats)
Closed-cell mats are a bit more common than open-cell mats. These mats are typically made of synthetic rubber or PVC and feature textured, “grippy” designs, like the popular Manduka Pro or BalanceFrom GoYoga. Water isn’t great for the lifespan of these mats, so we recommend wiping them down with a safe, preferably natural, cleaning solution as opposed to completely submerging them in water.
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For Porous Materials (Open-Cell Mats)
Open-cell mats are popular for hot yoga because of their innate grip, like the Jade Harmony. These mats are typically made of natural rubber or cork and are distinguished by their rough top. They are extremely porous, so in order to reach all of the nooks and crannies we suggest submerging the entire mat in water with a highly diluted cleaning solution.
How to clean:
- Place the mat in a tub or large container.
- Submerge the mat in warm water and a small amount of soap, no more than a tablespoon.
- Lightly scrub both sides of the mat with a soft cloth.
- Rinse the mat until all soapy residue is gone.
- Shake and then hang dry until completely moisture-free.
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What to Use
Most mats are okay with a small amount of soap or even laundry detergent. I have seen diluted vinegar, baking soda, and even salt scrub used to clean yoga mats. What you choose to use as your cleaner is up to you so long as it is gentle and doesn’t go against the care instructions of your specific mat.
It is important, especially on open-cell mats, to use gentle, non-toxic soaps or cleaning solutions, as the porous material will absorb whatever you put on it. We don’t want harsh chemicals undermining all of the good work we’re doing for our bodies during our flow.
It may be worth investing in a yoga mat-specific cleaning solution. Every popular yoga brand seems to have their own version of yoga mat cleaner, so it’s fairly easy to find one that caters to your exact mat. This is probably your best bet as far as keeping your mat from prematurely deteriorating.
Our Favorites:
- Made for open-cell, natural rubber yoga mats
- Plant-based ingredients
- Partners with Clean the World – Jade donates a bar of soap to a person in need with every purchase.
- Safe for all mats
- Comes with a microfiber cloth
- Natural, organic ingredients
- Comes in a variety of scents
- Natural, “earth responsible,” plant-based ingredients
How Often
How often you should clean your mat is determined by how frequently you practice, where you practice, and how vigorous your practice is. It’s good to get into the habit of doing a quick wipe-down after each use for general maintenance. You can do this with a damp cloth or a yoga mat spray. While it’s not a deep clean, this keeps your yoga mat free of sweat and dirt.
Deep cleaning depends more on your use. For those who are frequently practicing high-intensity forms of yoga in a studio, especially a hot yoga studio, deep cleaning once a week is a good rule of thumb. Alternatively, for those who are practicing at home, deep cleaning once a month is sufficient.
When All Else Fails, Read the Instructions
If you are still unsure about how you should go about cleaning your mat, do a quick search on your specific mat. Many mats come with care instructions that are almost always available on their brand website. Whether it’s Lululemon, Manduka, Jade, or Gaiam, their website should have instructions for keeping your purchase clean and in tip-top shape.
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Frequently asked questions
They are certainly not the best option. Most disinfectant wipes contain fairly harsh chemicals that are not the best for your mat and not the best for your body either. If you prefer to use a wipe as opposed to a spray, we recommend finding some fitness equipment wipes. Wipes that are made for fitness equipment are less likely to have harmful chemicals for both your body and common fitness materials.
This depends entirely on where you practice and how vigorous your flow is. A sweaty yoga mat is the perfect breeding ground for fungi and viruses causing ailments like ringworm, athlete’s foot, and plantar warts. If you are doing yoga in a studio where you are sharing the floor with many other yogis, it’s not a bad idea to wipe it down every day.
There isn’t really an average lifespan for a yoga mat, as it really depends on how often you use it and how well you take care of it. However, there are some obvious signs when your mat has reached its final days. It’s time to get a new mat if you smell any persistent odors despite cleaning/sanitizing, experience material flaking off during your practice, or see visible thinning in areas of high activity.
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