Natural Ways to Clean Your Yoga Mat

Is your mat starting to get a little aromatic? Do you fear child’s pose? Is it time for the practice of “saucha” (cleanliness)?

Finding a product that keeps your mat clean and free of bacteria can be a challenge; as well as finding a product that doesn’t use harsh chemicals. Which one is right for me? Do they work? There are so many yoga products to choose from, and not all of them are reasonably priced. To relieve you of the mat cleaner dilemma, and to make child’s pose more pleasant, here are a few ideas on how to clean your mat without harsh chemicals . Please make sure you read the manufacturer’s advice on what to use or not use on your mat. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations first.

According to research done by the National Institutes on Health, essential oils that have antibacterial properties include: tea tree, lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint and orange oils. Essential oils that contain anti-

fungal properties include: geranium, lemongrass, citronella, orange, palmarosa, eucalyptus and peppermint.You can make your mat clean and smell amazingly wonderful!

One recipe you can try:
1 Tablespoons of white vinegar
2-cup spray bottle (or larger)
10 drops tea tree oil
Your favorite antibacterial and antifungal essential oils
Fill the spray bottle to the top with cold water. I like to add a 10 drops of tea tree oil and couple drops of each or your favorite anti-bacterial or anti-fungal oils (4-5 drops). Replace the top to your spray bottle and shake to mix. Too much oil will make your mat slippery, so I recommend using no more than 3 oils. Spray your mat with your new mat cleaner, wipe down with wash cloth or sponge. Hang to air dry. Leave plenty of time for your mat to dry. In your solution, the white vinegar acts as an antibacterial with the water diluting its strength to avoid harming your yoga mat as well as reduce the strong vinegar odor.

Once in a while, you may want to give your mat a bath! Submerge your mat in your bath tub filled with water and any of the above mentioned products, get out your soft scrub brush and give it a good scrub. I definitely recommend doing this on a sunny day, because it can take 24-48 hours for your mat to completely dry!
I hope these recommendation are a fun and aromatic way you can clean your mat, which is – after all–your sacred space. Enjoy!