After a powerful yoga practice, your yoga mat needs a cleaner that is as strong as you are! In this blog post, I want to share with you how you can clean your yoga mat - using natural and gentle ingredients that are effective enough to keep you and your yoga mat healthy!
After a long and sweaty yoga practice, it can be easy to forget to clean our mats; especially when life gets busy. However, our yoga mats withstand a lot & overtime they can accumulate dirt, grime, and bacteria. Having a clean yoga mat is important for your health and the health of your mat. Regular cleaning of your yoga mat can limit your exposure to harmful bacteria and prolong the life of your mat.
So how often should you be cleaning your mat?
Ideally, you want to disinfect your yoga mat after every practice, especially if you sweat. The more you wipe down your mat, the better. However, the cleanliness of your mat depends on your practice and how often you practice. If you notice your mat looking dull & dirty, it's time to clean it. A deep clean once a week or after every 5 practices should be sufficient enough.
Clean up your yoga mat using these safe & effective ingredients:
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: An antimicrobial that is effective at killing bacteria. Apple cider vinegar also neutralizes and eliminates odor.
TEA TREE OIL: A natural antifungal. Tea tree oil is also an effective antibacterial that will cleanse your yoga mat and leave it smelling fresh. It also has antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antiviral properties.
LAVENDER OIL: An antiallergenic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic. Lavender oil is a great choice for cleansing and also has amazing aromatherapy benefits.
DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner:
5 fl oz spray bottle
Apple cider vinegar
water
10-15 drops tea tree oil
10-15 drops lavender oil
Fill 1/3 of an empty spray bottle with apple cider vinegar. Add in your essential oils and fill the remainder of the bottle with filtered water. Shake well before using. Combine some warm water and a few drops of dish soap to a large bowl. I use the basil scented Meyer's Dish Soap. Soak a clean dish towel in your water solution and wring out excess moisture. Spray your yoga mat with your cleansing spray until fully saturated. Use your dampened dish towel to wipe down your yoga mat.
Allow your yoga mat to completely dry before putting away. This is very important! Bacteria grows in moist places so make sure your yoga mat is COMPLETELY dry before rolling it up.
Give this natural cleanser a try to keep your mat clean and your practice safe!
Stay well & keep shining, my friends!
Love,
Faith