How to clean your yogamat?

When should you clean your yoga mat?

It depends on how often you train. We would recommend once a week if you work out almost every day. If you work out once a week, cleaning the mat once every other month should be fine. But it also very much depends on you, on what makes you feel good and how often you feel the need to clean it so you can focus on your workout and not on the germs.

Why is it important to clean your yoga mat?

It will last longer!

It keeps it healthy. You will avoid infections and allergies. A yoga mat is an active breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria that can cause various skin problems or even warts or staph infections. We put our naked feet and hands on the yoga mat, we sweat on it, and there is at the very least dirt, dust, cat or dog hair, our hair, and dead skin and it all goes right onto the mat.

A dirty yoga mat can trigger athlete’s foot, warts, and even a cold. The influenza virus can live for up to 24 hours on a yoga mat, so instead of going home relaxed, you go home with a cold; not cool. Your workout should be a time for you to relax, center, and be you, not be a time when you are worrying about catching a cold or a wart.

Cleaning the mat

First, please check the instruction manual. Some mats have specific instructions when it comes to cleaning.

• Shake the pour nous yoga mat cleaner before using it and spray it onto the mat. Use a moist cloth to scrub the mat, then leave it to dry before you roll it back up to store.
• If your mat is very dirty and you want to give it a deep clean, dip it in a bathtub or a laundry basket filled with water and a tiny bit of pour nous laundry detergent. Don’t use too much, or you may leave a slippery layer on the mat. Leave the mat in the water and scrub it with a cloth or a sponge. Don’t scrub too hard; be gentle.
• Empty the tub and rinse the mat until the water runs clear. I tend to use the showerhead to get it all off. Shake the mat in the tub, so most water is removed, lay it on a towel, then roll it in the towel. The towel will absorb most of the water. Never wring the mat. Let it dry before rolling it up for storage.

Beware! Only roll the mat up once it is completely dry.

When should you replace your yoga mat?

As soon as the mat has developed dented or sagging sections, usually where you put your feet and hands the most. These areas will be slippery. Also, when tiny bits start shedding.

And, of course, when it starts to smell, this is a good indicator that you need to change your mat.

Tip: wash your hands and feet before every session. This will help wash off most bacteria, creams, and bodily fluids that transfer to the mat.

For more great content like this one, sign up to our newsletter and get 10% off on your first order.