The inspiration for this post is from my new friends I met at yoga the other night. I had just laid my mat down in the room and was spraying it with my Balance Yoga Mat Cleaner when one of my fellow yogis asked what I was spraying. I showed the bottle to her and explained that I normally wash my mat, but that I use this natural spray to freshen it up. She told me she had never washed her mat and that it smelled “plastic-y.”
As I walked back to my mat it occurred to me that many people may not wash their yoga mats, may not know how, or where to begin. So, I thought I would share with you how I keep my mat clean.
Why wash your mat? Well, if you think about it, you put it on the ground, where everyone’s feet have been walking around all day. Then, you lay on it, put your face all over it, put your feet on it, and generally roll all around on this thing during class. I have no scientific research to prove that there are probably germs all over it, but common sense tells me it is something that is probably dirty, and I should probably wash it.
I generally wash my yoga mat after each practice. Especially if I did Bikram yoga…
Note: Please check if your mat is biodegradable. If it is, this method is not for you. If you submerge a biodegradable mat in water … it will most likely disintegrate.
What you will need:
- your dirty yoga mat
- laundry soap
- fabric softener/disinfectant
How to:
- I start filling my washer with hot or warm water.
- I then add about 1/3 cup of my natural laundry soap.
- Next, I add my natural fabric softener to the rinse cup. My fabric softener also doubles as a disinfectant.
- Then I put my yoga mat in like so:
For the visual learners 🙂
(I can fit 2 yoga mats in at the same time.)
- I set my washer to a normal wash.
- Once the wash cycle is over, I hang my yoga mat to dry. I am fortunate enough to have a drying rack, I just lay it over the top and let it air dry. If you don’t have a drying rack, you can put it over the shower rod, or even over the top of a door to dry.
Do you wash your yoga mat??? If so, please comment below and tell us how you do it!
Until next time, I send you peace, love and good energy!
~Sharon
The Crunchy Journal 
This is a funny story, lol… yeah… good thinking… and looks easy to do.
You are so right, Suellen! It is very easy.
I was just reading an article about the dirtiest every day items that no one ever thinks of cleaning. Car keys, kitchen knobs and cell phones made the list. Also a yoga mat. I’m embarrassed at how long I’ve had mine and have never cleaned it. THANK YOU for this post. I will absolutely try it this weekend! – Ashley
You are very welcome, Ashley! Thank you for commenting.
Very nice post! I had no idea yoga mats are machine washable. I spritz mine and wipe with a cleaning spray from Gaiam. Very helpful 🙂
Just be sure to check with the manufacturer of your mat. Some yoga mats are biodegradable and therefore, not suitable to put in the washer.