How to Clean Your Yoga Mat

Good mat hygiene is a necessary part of an ongoing yoga practice. As clean as you might try to be when you arrive in class – you are still removing shoes, walking on shared floors, and most likely, sweating during your practice. This can lead to germs, viruses and bacteria being introduced onto your mat and from there – onto your body.

Cleaning your yoga mat is a simple job to keep it fresh, sanitary and odor-free. You don’t want to be too aggressive with your cleaning. Retaining the "sticky" grip of your mat is essential for a safe practice. It’s easy to keep your mat fresh and germ-free. Just follow the simple steps below:

Cleaning Your Yoga Mat

1. Shake the bottle to ensure a good mixing of ingredients.
2. Lay your mat out and spray the mat cleaner liberally over the surface of your mat
3. Wipe off with a damp cloth and repeat on the other side.
4. Allow your mat to air dry (should take 5-10 minutes) before packing it away.

Keep It Clean

You can spritz your mat lightly and wipe it down each time you use it. A light spray after each practice is all it needs - you don’t need to saturate it each time you do yoga. If possible, hang your mat between classes rather than keeping it rolled up.  

You should really clean your mat once every couple of months or so, depending on how often you use it. Follow the steps above to ensure a clean sanitary mat.

As an ongoing policy - don’t share your mat and wash your feet before practice. If you sweat a lot, you could consider buying a yoga mat towel that fits the length of your mat and is made of material that dries very quickly. Some yoga towels have rubber nubs to prevent slipping. A yoga towel can be washed out easily, reducing the need to clean your mat as often.

Serving You Well

Good mat hygiene will extend the life of your mat – and keep you healthier as well. As long as it stays "sticky," your mat should last many years and serve your practice well.