I’ve been practicing Yoga on and off for the past 10 years. It’s a very satisfying fitness activity that most people can do. You can practice yoga in your own home anytime that you want or join a group in your local community. It’s great exercise for your body, mind and soul. I find it to be a great stress reliever during stressful times in my life. With that said, it’s important that you keep your yoga mat clean.
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Like all fitness equiptment…it gets dirty and yes…it can harbor bacteria, fungus and other germs. After using it, you should wipe it down with a Yoga Mat Cleaning Spray or Cleaning Wipe. You can purchase them from various retailers, including Amazon. If you don’t want to go that route…you can make your own homemade soltion at home. I like to fill a spray bottle with water and add 1/2 teaspon of liquid dishwashing soap. You only need a tad of a mild liquid soap. Spray a cotton cloth with the solution and wipe down the mat. Take a cotton towel and dry it. Always make sure it’s thoroughly dry before rolling it up.
Every 2-3 months I like to give mine a deep, overall cleaning. I take it outside and spray it down with the garden hose. I then spray a Yoga Mat Cleaner over-the-top. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then use my garden hose to rinse it off. If needed, I’ll use a cotton cloth to get any dirt off that the cleaner didn’t remove. Pick up the mat and shake-off the excess water. I then hang it up on my clothesline to air dry.
Extra Tip – I have a separate small clothesline that is in the shade on my back porch. I don’t like the hot summertime sun beating on something like a yoga mat for hours at a time. I find it best to hang it up in the shade on a warm weather day. Hot sun can cause damage, so I avoid it.
With proper care…your Yoga mat won’t be transferring germs to your skin and will last you for several years.