HOW TO CLEAN YOGA MATS NATURALLY?
3 natural ways to clean your and your children's yoga mat

By Lizandra Deister
Yoga mats are a sacred space and you want to keep it like that. Cleaning your yoga mat is an act of self-care and you want to make sure you take good care of your mat.ย
Cleanliness or โSauchaโ is one of the โNiyamasโ, or yoga practices for the self. This practice describes purity of body and mind, soย as you clean your yoga mat you are taking care of your space and ultimately yourself.
For both children and grown-ups this is an important task as our yoga mats are prone to the development of germs and bacteria.ย
โYoga mats absorb all the sweat, oil, and grime that theyโre exposed to, which means they can become dirty, smelly, and even contaminated with germs quickly.
โThe fungi and bacteria that are responsible for athleteโs foot, plantar warts, staph infections, and ringworm, among others, are commonly found on yoga matsโ
โTo keep all that gunk off your mat, establishing a consistent cleaning routine is crucial.โ
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1. diy Cleaning Spray
This natural yoga mat cleaner will clean your yoga mat, as well as remove any odors:
- 1 teaspoon tea tree oil
- 3 cups of filtered water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 20 drops of your choice of essential oils
When it comes to your essential oil of choice, I usually chose the citrus (orange, lemon, etc.) as they also have antibacterial properties and give your mat a nice fresh smell and clean feeling.
2. simply wash it with soap
Wash your mat with a good natural soap and water! Use a cloth or bring it to a bathtub, hand wash the mat and rinse in clean water (always check manufacturer recommendations). Let it dry by hanging it, but not on direct sun, or use a dry towel to do it.ย
3. baking soda
To help eliminate odors and absorb oils from your mat, sprinkle and rub on baking soda. Let it sit for about 15-30 minutes, then brush or vacuumย off the excess.
regarding yoga mats...
โ It is also good to clean the other side of the mat as majority of the time we roll our mat and get the โinsideโ in touch with the โoutsideโ;
โ Since microbes like bacteria and fungus thrive in warm, damp environments, ensure your mat is dry before you roll it up;
โ Before you get a yoga mat, look for those thatย have some level of inherent anti-pathogen properties, likeย cork;
โ How often you should clean your yoga mat is debatable, but using the cleaning spray after each session, specially for the childrenโs mat, doesnโt harm.
children love it...
If you give children the spray bottle, they will gladly clean the mat! Besides cleaning the mat โ which is great, they are already learning rituals of self-care which will carry on the future.ย
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Let me know how do you and your kids like it, comment bellow!