There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Here’s what you should probably know to decide howand how oftento give your yoga mat a wipe down.
And how often do you oughta clean it?
Credit:Thianchai Sitthikongsak / Getty Images
“There’s no perfect answer,” says Claudia Gunsch, Ph.D., professor and microbiome expert.
“I think about this very much the way we think about thebathroom showeror thekitchen sponge.
“But the question of how often and what you clean with is very individual.”
Credit:Helen Norman
To help you decide the right cleaning schedule, consider these factors.
Claudia Gunsch, Ph.D., is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University.
She’s the Director forPreMiEr,the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center forPrecision Microbiome Engineering.
She also serves as an Associate Director for theDuke Microbiome Center.
How Thick Is Your Mat, a What Is It Made Of?
(Always let the mat dry completely after cleaning it, too.)
“Think about your yoga mat like socks,” Gunsch says.
How Often Do You Use It?
Take the sock comparisonif you use the mat every day, you probably want to clean it more often.
But ensure it’s dry between uses.
Where Are You Using It?
If youre practicingyoga at home, you’re mostly only exposed to your own microbes and germs.
Also consider the overall environment of the gym or yoga studio: Was it hot and crowded?
Was someone near you coughing, sneezing or sweating a lot?
These factors may prompt you to clean your mat more often.
Helen Norman
4.
What’s the Season?
More cold, flu and other viruses that spread through the air are usually circulating October through February.
Come spring, it’s allergy seasonso you may becleaning for allergensin addition to microbes.
And if you’re using your mat outdoors, your mat may be exposed to more allergens.
How Much Do You Sweat?
Moisture creates the environment for the microbes to multiply and thrive.
What Should You Use To Clean?
For Gunsch, there’s no perfect answer to this question, either.
“What does clean mean?
You don’t want to over-clean; there are good microbes, too,” she says.
Also, if you use a very harsh cleaner, the material of the yoga mat could break down.
