Yoga mats can get pretty dirty, pretty quickly. Even if you shower before and after your yoga class, your mat can still end up covered in sweat, bacteria, and all sorts of other nastiness. That’s why it’s important to clean your mat regularly.
But store-bought cleaners can be expensive, and filled with harsh chemicals that you may not want to use on your skin. Luckily, there are plenty of DIY yoga mat cleaner recipes out there that are both effective and gentle on your mat (and your skin). Here are three of our favorites.
Do You Need To Clean A Yoga Mat?
Yes, it’s important to clean your yoga mat regularly! Sweat, bacteria, and dirt can build up on your mat over time, which can be icky—and it can also lead to skin irritation or infection. To keep things fresh and clean, spritz your mat down with a DIY yoga mat cleaner after each use. Wipe it dry with a clean towel, and you’re good to go!
How to Make Yoga Mat Cleaner By Using Simple Ingredients?
Here’s a great DIY yoga mat cleaner recipe for you!
1. The Basics: Water and Vinegar
This is the simplest recipe out there, but it’s also one of the most effective. All you need is equal parts water and vinegar (we like to use apple cider vinegar), and a spray bottle.
Mix the ingredients together in the spray bottle, and then spritz your mat down after each use. Wipe it down with a clean towel, and voila! Your mat is clean and fresh.
2. Upgraded: Water, Vinegar, and Essential Oils
If you’re looking for a yoga mat cleaner recipe with a little bit more oomph, this one’s for you. In addition to water and vinegar, you’ll also need a few drops of essential oil (lavender or tea tree oil are both great choices).
Just add all of the ingredients to a spray bottle and mix well. spraying down your mat after each session, then wiping it dry with a towel.
Your mat will not only be clean, but it will smell great too!
3. Supercharged: Water, Alcohol, and Essential Oils
Want to take things up a notch? This next recipe uses rubbing alcohol instead of water as its base. Rubbing alcohol is a powerful disinfectant, so this cleaner is ideal for people who are worried about bacteria building up on their mat.
As always, start by mixing together equal parts alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Then add a few drops of essential oil—tea tree oil is particularly good at killing germs—and give it all a good shake. After each yoga class, spritz your mat down with the solution and wipe it dry with a clean towel or cloth.
What Should You Use To Clean A Yoga Mat?
Any of the above recipes will work great on your yoga mat. Just choose the one that best suits your needs (and scent preferences!). And remember, it’s always best to clean your mat after each use, to prevent build-up and keep things fresh.
Can I Clean Yoga Mat With Vinegar?
Yes, vinegar is a great yoga mat cleaner! Just mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, and spritz your mat down after each use. Wipe it dry with a clean towel or cloth, and you’re good to go.
How Do You Clean A Yoga Mat Without Vinegar?
If you don’t have vinegar on hand, or if you’re looking for something a bit more powerful, rubbing alcohol is a great alternative. Just mix equal parts alcohol and water in a spray bottle, and add a few drops of essential oil. Spray down your mat after each use, then wipe it dry with a clean towel or cloth.
Can I Use Baking Soda To Clean My Yoga Mat?
Yes, baking soda is a great yoga mat cleaner! Just mix equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste, then rub it onto your mat with a clean cloth. Rinse the mat off with water, and you’re good to go.
Conclusion
Having a clean yoga mat is important for both hygiene and performance reasons. Store-bought cleaners can be expensive and full of harsh chemicals, but luckily it’s easy to make your own at home with just a few simple ingredients. In this post, we shared three easy recipes for DIY yoga mat cleaners that you can make in minutes using things like witch hazel, vinegar, and mint essential oil. So next time your yoga mat needs some TLC, reach for one of these homemade cleaners and give it a good scrubbing!
