Your mat is there for you through every downward facing dog, chatarunga, squat, and lunge. It’s there for you when you are practicing arm balances in a freedom flow class, and it’s there to support you through every sweaty hot minute of your fast and furious fusion class. It’s time to show your mat some love with a good deep cleaning!

Oxygen’s Tips for Cleaning Your Yoga Mat

1. Vinegar bath.
Take your mat into the bathtub and let it soak in the bathtub. Add a cupful or two of white vinegar to the bath water and let the mat soak for an hour or two.

2. Shower rinse.
After your mat has had a chance to soak, drain the bath water and let the shower run over your mat for about 5 minutes.

3. Lay flat to dry.
Before you lay your mat out flat to dry, roll it up in a dry towel and step on it to squeeze out extra moisture from the mat into the towel. Then lay your mat out flat to dry. It will take at least 24 hours for your mat to completely dry. Some thicker mats will take longer.

Other Tips:

  • Add a drop or two of essential oils to the bath stage of the cleaning process. Tea tree oil especially is a natural disinfectant, so that’s a great option! (Check your mat, as some mats are not compatible with Tea Tree Oil)
  • Be careful about putting your mat out in the sun to dry as some mats may crumble.
  • Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 water and vinegar solution and use this to spray off your mat after every yoga class.
  • Lay your mat flat to dry between sessions (try not to leave your mat rolled up and wet after class!)

Some mats are machine washable!

Try to give your mat some extra love with a thorough clean once a month, depending on your practice schedule. If you attend a lot of classes, it might even be worth investing in two mats so you can alternate while one mat is drying! Keeping your mat clean and cared for will extend its life, help the mat to stay “sticky” and help support you throughout all of your practices!