Each yoga mat will comes with its own specific cleaning instructions depending on the material (for our integrated combo / towel mats refer to the specific instructions), however read on for a general guide to giving your mat a little bit of love beyond the contact it gets from your practice.
As our friends at Create Flow say "Our rule is to keep it simple, fun, and maintain a toxic free environment for your breath and asana."
To reduce those sweaty odours and clean your mat, grab a spray bottle and mix the following:
3 parts water
1 part white vinegar
3 drops of your preferred essential oils that contain antibacterial properties such as tea tree, lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus. But beware, just a few drops of oil as a little goes a long way and too much can make the mat a little slippery.
Spray your mat down, allow the solution and then wipe down with a clean dry cloth. It’s important that your mat is completely dry before you roll it up and store it away, make sure you avoid direct sunlight when drying as this can soften the natural rubber in the mat.
For natural rubber mats - be aware they do not like to get wet as it acts like a sponge soaking up the moisture, taking a long time to dry and at times changing the composition of the rubber. If your mat does get wet, make sure you dry it as soon as possible. If you use the mat in a very sweaty or a bikram class, use a towel on top to absorb some of the moisture, as sweat pooling on the surface of the mat can result in staining. If sweaty yoga is part of your regular practice, consider one of our combo mats which as an integrated towel.
Increase the life span out of your mat by keeping it dry.
There you have it, a few simple ideas for keeping your mat fresh and extending its time as your trusted yoga companion.