DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner

I must admit that I haven’t provided proper care for my yoga mat, which it deserves taking in all that sweat from hot yoga classes. Doing hot yoga 5 days a week right before heading to the office leaves me no time to let it air out and dry (no such place in my office). When I get home 10 hours later it is time to give my mat a good spray, wipe-down and let it air-dry until the next morning.

I make my own yoga mat spray and alternate these two recipes, sometimes switching the oils based on whatever scent I’m in the mood for. I’m using essential oils from Aroma Foundry that are hand-bottled here in California.

My Basic DIY Yoga Mat Spray:

• 3 drops of tea tree oil
• 2 drops of eucalyptus/peppermint oil
• 2 drops of lavender/ lemon/ patchouli/ lemongrass oil or whatever you like
• Water to fill up the bottle

I use this spray daily just spraying it liberally over the mat and wiping it down with a towel. Let air-dry at least 10-15 mins, I leave mine to dry usually overnight.

My Stronger (antibacterial/antifungal) DIY Yoga Mat Spray:

• 1 part warm water with 3 parts white vinegar
• Add 8-12 drops of essential oils (eucalyptus, lemongrass, mint, or tea tree oil)

  Spray Cleaning Instructions:

  1. Spray your yoga mat cleaner liberally over your mat. If your mat seems especially dirty or stinky, let the spray sit and soak in a bit before wiping it off.
  2. Wipe the yoga mat with a wet cloth or sponge. When the cleanser has been thoroughly removed, rub the mat down with a soft dry cloth, like a small towel or washcloth. Now repeat on the other side.
  3. Allow your mat to air dry, which should take only about 5 to 10 minutes. If it takes longer than this, try rubbing your mat down more with the towel to remove the excess water and speed up the drying time.