How to Clean Your Yoga or Pilates Mat
What’s the best way to care for you mat without creating a slick, slippery surface? I’ll run through a few quick and easy solutions for cleaning your yoga or Pilates mat and recommend a few great products to make it ever more quick and easy.
After a few yoga classes, you might notice that those sweaty hands and feet have started to take their toll on your mat. To keep your mat fresh, most mat manufacturers recommend keeping your yoga or Pilates mat clean by occasionally wiping it down with a mixture of water and mild detergent. Create a homemade cleaning solution by mixing one part detergent with three parts water. Apply with a spray bottle or a damp cloth and wipe dry. Try this light cleaning every few weeks to keep your mat clean and help it retain its tackiness.
If you mat is more heavily soiled, you’re going to need to give it a more serious washing. Fill your tub with cool water and a few drops of detergent. Wipe your mat down lightly, let it soak for about a half hour and scrub it lightly again. Once you’ve finished washing your mat, wring it out really well. Once you’ve gotten all the water out, hang your mat to dry. Clean it lightly every few weeks with the homemade cleaning solution reviewed above.
For those of you on the run, there are lots of great products out there to help clean your mat in the gym, at home or wherever you practice. Many companies offer great, natural cleansing sprays and portable wipes to make cleaning your mat quick and hassle-free on the go. Give these a try:
Wipes: Stow some of these in your gym bag or car for cleaning on the go. Wipe your mat down right after class to keep it fresh and tacky. (Avoid using baby wipes or other cleaning wipes. The chemicals can damage your mat and make it slick.)
Jo-Sha offers individually packaged wipes in one of four natural essential oil scents that dry quickly. These wipes are all-natural and contain no alcohol or bleach. The packaging is even biodegradable.
Stirlen Chi sells wipes in a dispenser of 20. These wipes are non-toxic, biodegradable. Mad with natural extracts, these wipes leave your mat with a fresh citrus scent. Stirlen Chi also makes yoga mat wash and a yoga mat spray, if wipes aren’t for you.
Sprays: Sprays are a great cleaning solution, especially if you rent or borrow a yoga or Pilates mat, as many are anti-bacterial.
Integrity Antibacterial Yoga Mat Spray is made from all natural ingredients. Sprays come in a variety of convenient sizes, including a personal 4 oz. size perfect for your purse or mat bag. Integrity’s sprays clean, disinfect and deodorize.
Vermont Soap Organics offers a certified organic yoga and exercise mat spray. This spray, which is certified organic, is perfect for washing yoga and Pilates mats, balance balls and other fitness equipment. The spray is a mild, castile soap-based formula that is nontoxic and hypoallergenic. Vermont Soap Organics spray comes in a variety of sizes, including a convenient travel size.
