The Best Way to Disinfect a Yoga Mat
If you use your yoga mat every day or even a few times a week, it can get very dirty. You may not realize how dirty it is until you are in a yoga pose with your face planted on the mat. There are many ways to clean and disinfect a yoga mat, and the process is very simple to do.
Items Needed
- Water
- Milk oil-free detergent
- Sponge or soft cloth
- Towel
- Spray disinfectant
- 8 ounce spray bottle
- Lavender
- Ti-tree essential oils
- GSE (grapefruit seed extract)
- Put a few inches of lukewarm water into your bathtub. Add a few drops of a mild oil-free detergent to the water. You do not want to use very much soap, as it will be hard to rinse it from the yoga mat.
- Place your yoga mat into the bathtub and completely submerge it. Allow it to soak for at least five minutes, but if it is very dirty, you can let it soak longer.
- Use a sponge to rub the mat down on each side. Make sure you use the soft side of the sponge, or you can just use a soft cloth or your hands. This will help your yoga mat get a grippable surface on it.
- Rinse your yoga mat with clean water very thoroughly. Make sure you remove all soap residues from the mat.
- Lay the yoga mat on a dry towel, and then roll the towel and mat up together. Press it with your hands to remove any excess water. Unroll the yoga mat, hang it up and allow it to completely air dry. Make sure it is completely dry before you store it so mold or bacteria will not grow on it. It can take up to 24 hours for it to dry.
- Disinfect the yoga mat by spraying it down with a disinfectant. You can purchase a disinfectant for your yoga mat at any yoga studio or online. You can make your own disinfectant, if you prefer. Purchase an 8-ounce spray bottle. Put 4 drops of Lavender, 3 drops of ti-tree essential oils, and 3 drops of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) into the spray bottle.
- Fill the spray bottle with plain water and put the cap on it. Shake it up very well. All of these ingredients can be purchased at any health food store, online, and at some grocery stores. Spray down the yoga mat after each use to keep it disinfected.