Cleaning a yoga mat is a simple task to ensure that it is clean, hygienic and odor-free. Bacteria, viruses and bacteria like places to sweat. For example, ringworm is a fungus that can grow on common surfaces such as yoga mats. Even the mats shared in the studio and gym may be a virtual riot of fungi and bacteria! Practicing your own mat is the best way to maintain hygiene-as long as the mat itself is clean.

Please note that you do not want to clean too aggressively. Maintaining the "sticky" grip of the yoga mat is essential for safe and beneficial exercises. Keeping your cushions fresh and sterile is easy! Just follow the steps below and you will immediately have a sterile and odorless mat.

Clean
You can scrub the mat in several different ways. If it is not too dirty, soap and water are fine. If it is rough (or has been shared), then a disinfection solution is your best choice. Moreover, if you are short of time or space, the washing machine should work normally.

Soap and water
There are two good options to remove dirt and clean your mat. The most basic way to clean the mat is to use diluted dish soap and water. Create a solution made with two glasses of water for every two drops of dish soap. Be careful not to use too much soap! Doing so will leave residual slippery material on the mat, making future yoga practice dangerous.
Wipe the dirty area with a damp sponge or cloth. Do not use steel wool or any other type of coarse scrubber, as they will damage your mat. Rinse the mat thoroughly with clean hot water. If the mat is very dirty, immerse it completely in a solution of warm water and detergent or a neutral detergent (such as Woolite).

Disinfection solution
You can buy pre-made mat cleaning sprays, or you can make your own route. It is easy to make your own disinfectant spray with water and essential oils. Tea tree oil is a good choice because of its antifungal properties. Lemon and lavender essential oils also have mild antibacterial and antifungal properties. Make sure you are not allergic to the essential oils of your choice. In addition, do not spray mats in public places, because other yoga students may have adverse reactions to these ingredients.

Make sure your water to oil ratio is very high:
Pour one or two drops of essential oil into a spray bottle with clean water.
If your mat is particularly smelly, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the solution.
Shake well.
Spray a fine mist of the solution on the mat.
Wipe clean with a hot damp towel.
Commercial pad disinfectants sometimes contain bleach or alcohol. The bleaching solution can be used to destroy most viruses and bacteria, but the solution can be very irritating to the skin. Although tea tree oil is effective, it is less irritating. If you choose not to use essential oils, try to make a solution of three parts water and one part hydrogen peroxide or isopropanol. You can also use freshwater witch hazel (astringent).

Dry
To dry the mat, roll it up and squeeze out the excess water. Wipe dry with a towel cloth and hang to dry. If your mat is very absorbent, spread it on a dry towel. Roll the mat and towel together. You can step on the mat to squeeze out more water. Then unfold the mat and hang it to dry. It usually dries overnight, but it may take longer in wet weather. Do not place the mat in a tumble dryer or on a radiator or space heater.

Keep it clean
Wash the mat every two months, depending on your practice schedule. Hang your mats between classes instead of rolling them up. Every time you use it, use a commercial cleaning pad spray or homemade solution to spray it downward. Just a light wave after each practice is fine-you don't need to soak it in every yoga session.

To avoid potential fungal or bacterial infections, please do not share foot pads and wash your feet before practice. Buy your own and bring it into the classroom instead of using one of the shared mats in the studio or gym.

If you sweat a lot, you may want to consider buying a yoga towel. These mats are designed to fit the length of your entire mat and are made of excess absorbent material for quick drying. Some of these yoga towels even have rubber blocks at the bottom to prevent slipping! Yoga towels can be hand-washed or thrown in the washing machine. This is an easy way to keep your mats clean for a long time.

Health care
Keeping the mat clean will extend its life! As long as it remains "sticky", your mat will last for years. Maintaining hygiene will help you enjoy all the benefits of yoga practice.