For obvious reasons, it’s really important to keep your yoga mat clean. Different mats have different washing instructions. Some you can throw right in the wash, and some you need to wash thoroughly by hand in a large sink or tub. Either way, if you do yoga frequently, you’re going to need to wash your mat frequently.
There’s no way I can feasibly wash my mat in the washer or tub every time I use it. It’s just not practical. But I am extremely fussy about keeping my mat clean and fresh. So, what I use is a yoga mat spray wash.
There are a couple on the market that I really like. My go to one is the Aurorae yoga mat spray wash. I like it because it’s super easy to use and it smells really nice without being overpowering. The daily cleaning directions are simply, “Spray 3 times onto wet towel. Wipe and dry”. Can’t really get any easier than that!
The front of this yoga mat spray wash bottle lists its selling points:
- Cleans and Disinfects
- Safe and Non Toxic for Daily Use
- Made with Organic Oils
- Restores and Refreshes
- Made in the USA
All natural yoga mat spray ingredients
I love the fact that it’s all natural, and biodegradable. Here’s the list of ingredients: Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive and Jojoba, Natural Essential Oil Blend, Organic Aloe Vera and Rosemary Extract.
The Aurorae yoga mat spray comes in a four ounce ounce bottle. Since you don’t need very much to clean your mat it lasts quite a while, even with frequent use. I like this yoga mat spray so much that I even use it to wipe down my stationary bike after a workout.
Another yoga mat spray wash I like is the one by Gaiam:
It’s also very simple to use on a daily basis. It has three different sets of instructions, one for daily cleaning, one for medium cleaning, and one for deep cleaning and restoration. Here are the instructions for each:
- For daily cleaning, “Spray three times onto a wet cloth or paper towel, scrub mat lightly. Wipe mat down with clean cloth. Air dry”.
- For medium cleaning, “Lightly spray onto mat. Rinse with water, wipe mat down with clean cloth. Air dry”.
- For deep cleaning and restoration, “Spray mat liberally. Rub with cloth until foam lathers. Wipe mat down with a clean wet cloth. Air dry. Repeat if needed”.
How deeply you want to clean your mat really depends on how porous your mat is, how much you perspire, and the cleanliness of the surface of where you place your mat when you practice, whether it be outdoors, at home or at a yoga studio.
I would imagine you can follow the same instructions for any yoga mat spray, but it’s nice to have these specific instructions. The only trouble is that Gaiam’s directions are printed so finely on the small bottle it can be hard to read.
The list of ingredients for the Gaiam yoga mat spray wash are: (Purified Water), Organic Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide-KOH (Lye), Organic Olive Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Extract, Organic Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil.
I do like the scent of Gaiam yoga mat spray as well. It’s ever so slightly stronger than the Aurorae yoga mat spray. It’s hard to tell since there are a variety of oils in it, but i think it’s the lemongrass and cedarwood oils that are most noticeable in the fragrance. Yet perhaps if you asked someone else, they might say it it smells mostly of lavender or rosemary.
Save money and reduce packaging
One I have not yet tried is the yoga mat spray wash by Manduka. It’s also made with certified organic oils. What nice about the Manduka yoga spray is that it comes in a variety of scents, so you have some options. You can choose between Energizing Gingergrass, Soothing Citrus, and Tranquil Lavender.
The Manduka yoga mat wash also comes in a variety of sizes. There’s a two ounce travel sized spray (great for bringing to the studio or gym), an eight ounce spray, and a 32 ounce refill. I love having refills of anything. It saves money and reduces packaging.
There are also many recipes out there to make your own yoga mat wash. And in a pinch you can always use soap and water with a cloth. Just be sure to wipe it off thoroughly so you don’t end up with any soapy residue.
If you have any of your own suggestions for keeping a yoga mat clean and fresh, we’d love to hear them!
Can I use the Gaiam spray on my Tapas Ultra mat? I know different mats sometimes come with different care instructions based on what they’re made of and how they interact with certain ingredients.
Hi Adriene,
Yes, the Gaiam spray is safe for your Tapas Ultra mat. In fact, Gaiam says it is usable on all mat materials.
Namaste,
~Maria/HathaYoga.com
Hi Maria, what would you think about recycling water bottles and screwing a spray trigger cap on the top?