{"id":10656,"date":"2023-01-20T21:20:31","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T21:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yogajournal.com\/?p=108563"},"modified":"2023-01-20T21:20:31","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T21:20:31","slug":"how-often-do-you-actually-need-to-clean-your-yoga-mat-we-asked-a-microbiologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/20\/how-often-do-you-actually-need-to-clean-your-yoga-mat-we-asked-a-microbiologist\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Do You Actually Need to Clean Your Yoga Mat? We Asked a Microbiologist."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you guilty of a common yoga phenomenon? You rush out the door after yoga class for a much-needed coffee and\u2014in the interest of time, of course\u2014neglect to clean your mat. You\u2019ll do it later, you think. And then days or even weeks go by.<\/p>\n

You may figure it can skip a few washes, similar to how you throw on that old sweatshirt on chilly mornings and then toss it aside later. But how often do you really <\/em>need to clean your yoga mat?<\/p>\n

How frequently do you need to clean your mat?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re practicing on your own yoga mat as opposed to a rental at your local studio, you\u2019re likely only dealing with your own microbes, which are tiny organisms that can contain bacteria,<\/a> as opposed to those of other students. (Whew.) In this scenario, you only need to clean it every two or three practices to keep it sweat-free, says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author of The Germ Files<\/em><\/a>. So if you practice three times a week, you could designate one day to be your post-class disinfecting routine to ensure you don\u2019t lose track of the last wipe down.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re using a shared mat, consider a deeper cleaning process\u2014including before you practice\u2014since you\u2019re encountering other students\u2019 microbes. \u201cThat bacteria that you\u2019re picking up on your yoga mat may end up actually getting onto you and that could cause problems,\u201d Tetro says. You may already be familiar with some less-than-ideal instances where this type of bacteria transfer occurred, including in an NFL locker room.<\/a><\/p>\n

As for those times when you\u2019re coming into Salamba Bhujangasana (<\/em>Sphinx Pose),<\/a> your face inches away from your mat, and suddenly you catch a whiff of a not-so-soothing smell? That\u2019s a sign your mat is past due for a cleanse. The stench, which stems from the bacteria\u2019s waste products, is obviously a key indicator that your mat is in need of  disinfecting and not a quick wipe down, Tetro says.<\/p>\n

How do I disinfect my yoga mat?<\/h2>\n

Freaking out and reaching for some disinfectant wipes? We don\u2019t blame you. However, before you start spritzing your mat, consider the cleaner you\u2019re using. As much as you may love DIY all-natural options, it\u2019s best to stick to the tried-and-true products when it comes to cleaning your yoga mat.<\/p>\n

A 2016 report conducted by researchers at Concordia University<\/a> found three all-natural cleaning products\u2014a made-at-home spray with willow bark extract and tea tree oil, Gaiam\u2019s Super Yoga Mat Wash, and Grodi Yogi Yoga Mat Spray from an Etsy shop\u2014to be ineffective in combatting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacteria that can cause staph infections. (And yes, it has been found on yoga mats.) <\/span>Unfortunately, that means your essential oil remedies aren\u2019t going to cut it when it comes to sanitizing your mat.<\/p>\n

Instead, Tetro recommends using hydrogen peroxide, which comes in bottled as well as wipe form.<\/a> After hosing down your entire mat with this disinfectant, make sure the surface stays wet for between 30 and 60 seconds\u2014the optimal time for reducing bacteria levels, he says.<\/p>\n

What is the best way to clean my yoga mat after every few classes?<\/h2>\n

In between those occasional cleanings with disinfectant, stick to the basics. Soap and water, as well as laundry detergent, can help keep the bacteria at a low level, Tetro says. Without that fairly regular wipe-down, bacteria can proliferate and cause those unwanted infections and, er, aromas.<\/p>\n

See also:<\/em> The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Yoga Mat<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/figure>\n

The answer may surprise you. <\/p>\n

The post How Often Do You Actually Need to Clean Your Yoga Mat? We Asked a Microbiologist.<\/a> appeared first on Yoga Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[37,35,36],"class_list":["post-10656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ayurveda","tag-blogs","tag-yoga","tag-yogacourseware"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}