No one really think about cleaning a yoga mat, especially if you don’t even own one!

If you do and practice at home with clean bare feet it may even take a while before your mat gets (visibly) dirty, but if you use it constantly including outdoors, you probably understand the necessity for a little bit of care. So what are we exactly dealing with here? Mainly sweat, oil, smells, germs… and hopefully, they are all yours… ;-) When I first started yoga, I didn’t have a home practice, so it didn’t occur to me to buy my own mat. What for? I was going to class after work so why would I trade a few square millimetres of extra space in the metro (in Paris indeed) for a piece of rubber that was even not considered a fashion accessory at that time, let alone available for free use at my local studio?! I never questioned the sanitary situation of the mats I was borrowing, which is quite surprising considering the semi clean freak that I am… but who knows how many different students those mats were hosting every week and were they even cleaned every now and then??!!! When I finally bought my own mat, I was using it exclusively at home for that very reason: to keep it clean and to fully enjoy my practice without dreading laying my face on the floor. Nevertheless, I kept using the studio’s mats for a while… until I realised it was truly GROSS!!!!! So I started to expose my mat to the world out there and it felt so much better, believe me, I will NEVER EVER borrow an anonymous mat again!!! Funnily enough, I then never questioned the level of hygiene of my OWN mat for a while, I occasionally wiped it with a damp cloth until… it started to show some ‘signs of attention’. So I did my homework, and relieved, I realised I was far from being the only yogi who never went into the trouble of keeping their mat clean! Are you one of them? ;-)

In classical yoga, the Sage Patanjali placed the yamas and niyamas (=ethical guidelines) before the asanas (postures) on the eightfold path. Most modern students learn the asanas first, without reference to the other essential limbs on the tree of yoga. One of the niyamas is saucha, translated as ‘purity‘ or ‘cleanliness‘. But saucha, at its root, is concerned with keeping different energies distinct, it ensures and protects the sanctity of the energy around us. Saucha can be practised through focusing on the grossest physical concerns (such as keeping a yoga mat clean) as well as more subtle energetic issues.

There are a few simple and easy methods to keep your mat clean and sanitary as well as more durable!

1) Give it a bath:

Assuming you have a bathtub, I have tried in the shower and it doesn’t work. Soak your mat in warm water with a little bit of mild soap (no matter how keen you are to get your mat clean, don’t be excessive with soap, as any residue will make your mat slippery + using less will also make it easier to rinse). Use your hands to stir it a little to loosen the dirt and stains. Scrub your mat gently with a clean sponge or a wash cloth. Don’t be too surprised if the colour of the water turns! Drain the (dirty) water , rinse well and make sure you get all the soapy residue off or your mat, believe me, I made the mistake for you. Then lay your mat flat on a large towel, roll it up, squeeze it to get the water out. Finally, unroll and hang it on a drying-rack or over a door, avoid direct sun exposure which may damage your mat. Allow it to air dry for at least 24 hours if not a few days. If your mat is not completely dry, the remaining moisture will come out during your next practice and it will be wet and slippery, compromising your safety in the next 3 legged dog pose you’ll get into!

2) Machine-wash it:

Although this method seems to work for some people, I would not risk it, it may cause tears in the material and ruin your mat entirely. It is always an option but the decision is yours…

3) Make your own all-natural (disinfectant and antibacterial) mat cleaner:

This is my favourite! I believe that if you spray and wipe your mat after each use, you shouldn’t need a more radical solution. Sprays can be bought pre-made but it is much more fun to make your own, plus it is more eco-friendly and super easy, here is how…

Supplies:

* Clean Spray Bottle (250ml): I made sure mine was BPA free but it is a personal choice!
* Lavender Essential Oil: antibacterial and antiseptic, it is relaxing, smells lovely and has balancing qualities to it.
* Tea Tree Essential Oil: anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial (very few of the essential oils are actually anti-fungal, so this is a good choice since we are dealing mostly with feet).
* Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE): a very powerful antibacterial.
These are readily available at health food shops and online. Be sure to buy real (pure) essential oils, of course, organic is always best but can easily cost double. Organic or not, this may seem like a bit of an expense just for cleaning your yoga mat, yet if you only use these products for that particular purpose, you probably have invested in at least a five year supply of consistent use!

To make your yoga mat spray:

* Mix 4 drops of Lavender, 3 drops of Tea Tree and 3 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract into your spray bottle (remember these are very concentrated substances and a little goes a long way).
* Fill the bottle with pure water, cap it and shake well, and it’s done!

Shake it before each use, you can spray this lightly or generously onto your mat. It makes the mat and the room smell fresh and clean. Most importantly you can rest assured that any funkiness has been effectively dealt with! Leave the mat out to air dry completely before rolling and storing. This is one of the easiest and quickest ways to maintain and clean your yoga mat. I am using my spray every day and I absolutely love it! But I also decided to have two mats: one for teaching, and one for my home practice! Gotta keep my sacred space… sacred! ;-)