Cleaning your yoga mat is quite simple, but there are certain things that should be kept in mind if you want to get the best life from your mat. Reading the manufacturer’s instructions with care is obviously important. This is of course common sense for any item of clothing since different materials require different approaches. . Losing the manufacturer’s instruction could be a problem. If this happened, the best is to opt for cleaning your yoga mat with the less abrasive method possible.
Washing your yoga mat is very important. Hygiene is always a big concern and dirty mats give bacteria chance to grow. An unwanted fungal and bacterial infection can result from improperly cleaned yoga mats. This also implies that you should never share your yoga mat with another partner.. Using your mat on the floor, or outdoors cause it to become dirty. porous to absorb moisture and this leads to some dirt getting trapped inside the mat.
You could simply wash the mat yourself and leave it to dry, or let it dry clean. Some yoga mats are made of rubber or other synthetic and are thus quite easy to clean. If your mat is only a little dirty, simply spray it with water and wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge. A solution of 3 cups lukewarm water and about 4 drops of dishwashing liquid works quite well. Wipe the yoga mat completely en let it dry. More serious dirt can be washed with soapy water and a soft brush, almost like washing the rubber mats from your car. Sometimes it may be necessary to soak the mat in a solution of warm water and mild soap. Just be careful. .
Be warned: do not use too much soap since it can cause problems later. Even if you thoroughly dry your yoga mat, using too much soap can cause an invisible residue that makes the yoga mat extremely slippery when you start perspiring. . Completely rinse the mat with clean water. Although some prefer to roll the mat in a towel overnight, you can just hang your yoga mat to dry..
Instead of soap and water, some claim the following 4 recipes work great: (1) a few drops of tea tree oil with water, (2) hydrogen peroxide, (3) mixing 2 cups of water and a teaspoon of baking soda and a great smelling alternative (4) a 1/2 teaspoon of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap in a bowl of water.
Cotton yoga mats can easily be cleaned by throwing it into the washing machine, or wash it by hand. The spin cycle of washing machines can damage certain cotton yoga mats. Rather remove the mat before the spin cycle starts. It is preferable to let your mat dry naturally. Tumble drying can cause damage to the fibers of certain cotton yoga mats.
To keep your mat as clean as possible, carry a handy spray bottle and some wipes with you. Taking a spray bottle of water and mixing two drops of peppermint oil, two drops of lavender and three drops of tea tree oil, can give you an excellent all-natural cleaning solution. Simply take the spray bottle and some wipes with you to class. After the session, quickly spray your mat and wipe it down. Try to avoid wipes that contain alcohol since it can damage your mat.
No matter how well you look after your yoga mat, eventually not even regular cleaning will be effective. Just admit it is time for a new mat and throw the old one out..
These tips will, however, increase the life of your yoga mat. For hygienic reasons, you should carefully consider the condition of your mat regularly. At times it is better to get a new mat.
By following these simple tips you can improve the life of your yoga mat for many months to come.
Author Resource:
SJP Babrevian has been writing online articles for more than 3 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://www.cottonyogamats.webatu.com/ A nice page to read is about the best Yoga mat of all: the Manduka Yoga Mat.
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