How To Deep Clean A Yoga Mat

One major difference between practicing yoga at dwelling vs. at a studio (other than an IRL instructor, obvs) is that your yoga mat isn't getting cleaned on the reg unless you're doing information technology yourself. Not sure how to clean yoga mats then they'll actually exist germs and stank free? No worries. Hither's everything you need to know about disinfecting and deep cleaning yours, according to pros.

Start things first, your yoga mat is dirty. Lamentable to break it to y'all, only it is. Merely how dirty are yoga mats? Well, scientists aren't exactly researching this, but your personal yoga mat, if you're not cleaning information technology often, could incorporate up to four times more bacteria than a loaner at a studio, according to a report from ABC13 News in Houston, Texas, which tasked an environmental testing bureau to investigate.

Now, more ever, it's super important to clean the surfaces you come in contact with regularly, and that includes your home gym equipment similar workout and yoga mats. "The rule is, the sweatier or dirtier your mat gets, the more important it is to clean it subsequently every practise," says Lauren Porat, yoga instructor and founder of YogaSpark.

How To Clean Yoga Mats

It'southward a two-step process to clean yoga mats properly. Each step serves its own purpose, so it's of import to non skip either of 'em.

To disinfect yoga mats

Killing germs, bacteria, and fungus—including the kind that causes athlete's foot, plantar warts, and ringworm, which, FYI, could all be living on your yoga mat—is key to sanitizing its surface. At a studio, this is what the spray bottles and towels or antibacterial wipes are for.

At domicile, you can disinfect yoga mats with the aforementioned solution most studios use: Combine water with white vinegar and tea tree oil, both of which have antibacterial backdrop. You should use equal parts H2O and vinegar, plus a healthy dash of tea tree oil.

If you don't feel comfy DIY-ing your own cleaning concoction, yous can purchase a pre-made yoga mat cleaning spray online instead.

Brand sure to clean both sides of your yoga mat, and let the solution prepare on information technology long plenty for the mat to air dry out (or for however long the maker of your spray suggests) before cleaning it.

How often you need to disinfect your yoga mat depends on how frequently you do at home, just Craig Stiff, head of hardgoods for the yoga mat company Manduka, recommends disinfecting at least once a week if no 1 effectually you is sick. If you lot are going back to a studio, and so y'all should disinfect your mat before and after each utilize.

To clean yoga mats

To really take intendance of sweat, clay, and grime buildup, which happens over time, yous'll desire to wash your mat regularly. How ofttimes should you make clean your yoga mat? That's upward to you, but Stiff suggests thinking about your mat the aforementioned fashion y'all practise your sheets: "Some people wash their sheets multiple times a week and some wait, well, way too long," he says.

A skillful general rule of thumb is that you should clean your yoga mat after every other practice (or every practice if it gets super sweaty).

You can clean your yoga mat the same style you lot wash your hands—with water and dish lather. Porat recommends putting your mat in the bathtub or shower and giving it a good scrub and rinse. "Let information technology air dry so roll it up," she says—she also suggests investing in a yoga towel to help proceed your mat from getting then dirty/sweaty in the showtime place.

"I recommend finding a chair or other bar outside that you can throw it over to become maximum air menstruation, but if the weather condition is besides cold, indoors will practice—y'all just desire to create maximum surface surface area," she adds. Also, avoid hanging your mat in the shower or over the bathtub (unless you won't exist showering soon) since the humidity volition hinder the drying process. Follow these simple tips and your mat will nama-stay (had to) ick free and set for your asana practice.

Can I clean a yoga mat in a washing machine?

Good question! Technically, some brands, similar Xanthous Willow, for instance, make yoga mats that are actually machine washable. Just know that while the thought of tossing your mat in the wash along with your yoga pants sounds tempting, yous should exist sure to read the instructions first and practise exactly equally described past the manufacturer (or else, your mat may come out in less-than-usable shape).

Common no-nos include turning on the spin or tumble cycle and adding harsh detergents—and definitely don't put it in the dryer.

Tin I utilize Clorox wipes on my yoga mat?

If you tin can even find Clorox wipes for sale right now, consider yourself lucky! But you should relieve them for surfaces other than your yoga mat as they comprise harsh chemicals and you can practice the same type of disinfecting with less-annoying options.

If you exercise opt to disinfect your yoga mat with Clorox wipes, Stiff says you should plan to clean it after y'all've waited long enough for their chemicals to impale germs. "In order for a disinfectant to exist effective, the entire surface needs to exist visibly wet for a certain period of time," he says. (You should be able to detect this info on the label of the disinfectant wipes you're using.) "After waiting the appropriate fourth dimension, you absolutely must rinse your mat off and wipe information technology clean to remove as much of the product every bit possible."

This way, yous can become rid of the germs, but you leave less time for chemicals to sit and potentially pause downwardly or affect your mat—you besides reduce the chance of them causing skin irritation next time yous utilize it.

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Source: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a28244345/how-to-clean-yoga-mat/

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