Chances are prior to COVID you didn’t think about cleaning your yoga mat. Yoga mats are on the ground and they come in contact with the sweats and oils from your skin as well as the dirt from the floor. Many gyms use communal yoga mats, but we suggest getting your own, especially during COVID. Keeping your yoga mat clean is more important now than ever before and here’s how to clean it.
If you’re using a communal mat, make sure you clean it with alcohol wipes prior to using it to get rid of bacteria and germs. You can also lay a towel down over the mat to protect you from germs. If you have your own mat, post-workout, take a sponge and body soap to deep clean it. By washing your mat with soap and water, you’re pulling the virus apart, dissolving it in water, and disinfecting it.
The best way to deep clean your mat is to bring it in the shower with you. Work up a lather on the mat with soap and body wash before rinsing it. Then, let it hand dry over the shower curtain rod or outside on a chair or bench. If possible, let it dry in the sun as the UV rays kill bacteria and virus.
When you don’t have time to thoroughly clean your mat, use an alcohol wipe that’s bleach free. After you’ve wiped it down with a wipe, clean it off with a wet paper towel to get rid of any chemical additives from the wipes that might irritate your skin.
