Yoga Mat Care: How to Clean, Dry and Store Your Yoga Mat at Home?

June 21, 2022
Yoga Mat Care

The world celebrates International Yoga Day on 21st June 2022. If you are already a yoga practitioner or if you are planning to kickstart yoga activities, you may already have a yoga mat. But are you sure your yoga mat is clean for your yoga activities in the following days? If not, don’t worry, we've got you covered with tips on how to take care of and clean yoga mats at your home. Get ready for some yoga mat care!

Yoga Mat Care Tips You Should Know

Know When to Wash Your Yoga Mat

Yoga mats will get sweaty and stinky with use, thereby turning your yoga experience unpleasant. You should wash your yoga mat once in two months, or even more often if you do yoga daily. In addition to extending the mat's life, this practice will also prevent the spreading of bacteria. Wash your yoga mat once a month if you practice yoga on it daily, and get a new one if you see that your mat is peeling. 

Start by Soaking the Mat 

Soak your yoga mat in a bathtub filled with a solution of warm water and dish soap or any other mild detergent of your choice to remove sweat, unusual odours, dirt, and oils. Dish soap is one of the best mild cleansers you can use on your yoga mat. Do not use too much detergent as it could make the mat slippery even after washing. The advised amount to clean a yoga mat is a tablespoon of dish soap or laundry detergent for one gallon of lukewarm water. It is okay if you don’t see bubbles in the solution - you only need enough cleaning power and not too much of it with bubbles to make the mat slippery.   

Since many sources suggest using vinegar to clean yoga mats, we’d like to warn you too. Be very careful if you prefer to wash the yoga mat with vinegar as it can leave a lasting smell on it, which some people would not like later.

Follow by Hand Washing the Mat

Take a soft cloth and wash both sides of the yoga mat after you have soaked it for 5-10 minutes. Wipe both the sides of the mat using the cloth and clean areas your hands and feet touch more while doing yoga - those areas will have a slight colour difference when compared to the other areas of the mat. Be careful while wiping the mat - do not pull off any of its chunks. 

Rinse the Mat in Clean Water 

Drain the tub in which you had soaked the mat, rinse, and clean it using clean water to remove soap residues from its surface. You should wash the mat until you see that the water is clear. Wash the mat again by wiping with a soft cloth and fresh water if you notice that the water does not clear quickly. 

Get Rid of Excess Water 

Start by shaking off the mat to remove the excess water after washing, lay it flat on a dry towel and roll the cloth and towel together to squeeze out the remaining moisture. Do not wring your mat at any cost as it can lead to tearing of the mat. You can also step on the rolled-up yoga mat and towel to squeeze out extra water. 

Hang to Dry the Mat 

Unroll the mat from the towel after squeezing extra water from it and hang it up somewhere until it is thoroughly dry. You can drape your yoga mat over a laundry drying rack to dry both sides of it effectively. Make sure to never put your yoga mat inside a clothes dryer as it can even cause a fire at your home. You can check if the mat is dry by squeezing a portion of it between your fingers to feel moisture. 

Maintaining Your Yoga Mat at Home

Doing simple tasks to maintain your yoga mat can help prolong its life other than having the benefit of decreasing the frequency of washing. Here are some simple things you can do while practising yoga to keep the mat clean. 

Clean Your Hands and Feet Before Doing Yoga

Your hands and feet will be in constant touch with your yoga mat. Hence it is important to keep them clean. Always do yoga with clean skin to extend your yoga mat’s life. It will also help prevent the spread of bacteria from your body to the mat and vice-versa during the next use. You can also use gentle baby wipes to wipe your soles and palms if you cannot wash your hands and feet before doing yoga.

Wipe the Mat After Each Use 

Wipe your yoga mat using mat-specific wipes or gentle baby wipes after doing yoga every day. You can also wipe the map using a cloth and mild soap and roll it up after it dries up. This practice will help keep the mat sweat-free and clean and extend its life. Yoga-specific wipes are available in sports stores and online. 

Consider Placing a Yoga Towel During Yoga 

As part of yoga mat care routine this hack helps, especially if you sweat a lot during the workout. Place a yoga towel on top of the mat to absorb excess sweat and moisture, as using regular towels on yoga mats could sometimes result in slipping. These towels are available at most online yoga speciality retailers. 

Yoga and Gym Wear Cleaning Services

Too tired for yoga mat care and cleaning your activewear after workout? Fret not! Book a laundry service on the Sendhelper app in less than 2 minutes. Our anti-bacterial washing method will ensure your yoga mats and clothes are germ-free and completely hygienic. Our services are so fast that your items will be delivered to your home before your next yoga session. 

Download the Sendhelper app today for premium and affordable laundry services in Singapore.

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