Your yoga mat catches every drop of sweat, every downward-dog handprint and floor bacteria — and most people never clean it until it smells. A little care keeps it hygienic and grippy for years. The guide: why mats get gross, how to clean and care for yours and how to make it last.

The Mats-Get-Gross Case

Why yoga mats need cleaning: the the-catches-everything (the the-mat catching sweat-handprints-and-bacteria from the mat-care-cleaning chapter — the the-catches; the the-sweat-and-bacteria; the the-gross), the the-most-never-clean-it (the most-people never-cleaning-it-until-it-smells — the the-never-clean; the the-until-it-smells; the the-neglected), the the-hygiene-and-grip (the cleaning-affecting hygiene-and-grip from the mat-care-cleaning chapter — the the-hygiene; the the-grip; the the-both), the the-buildup-reduces-grip (the sweat-and-oil-buildup reducing-grip from the mat-thickness-grip chapter — the the-buildup; the the-reduces-grip; the the-slippery), the the-a-little-care-keeps-it-good (the a-little-care keeping-it-hygienic-and-grippy — the the-care; the the-hygienic; the the-grippy), and the reframe (the yoga-mat as needing-regular-care to-stay-hygienic-and-grippy — the clean-it; the the-dont-get-gross).

The How-to-Clean-and-Care Breakdown

How to clean and care for your mat: the the-wipe-after-each-use (the wipe-after-sweaty-sessions from the mat-care-cleaning chapter — the the-wipe; the the-after-use; the the-regular), the the-gentle-cleaner (the a-gentle cleaner (mat-spray-or-mild-soap) from the mat-care-cleaning chapter — the the-gentle; the the-cleaner; the the-mild), the the-avoid-harsh-chemicals (the avoid harsh-chemicals (damage-the-mat) — the the-no-harsh-chemicals; the the-damage), the the-deep-clean-periodically (the a-periodic deep-clean from the mat-care-cleaning chapter — the the-deep-clean; the the-periodic; the the-reset), the the-dry-fully (the dry-completely (prevent-mold-and-odor) — the the-dry-fully; the the-no-mold; the the-air-dry), the the-material-specific-care (the care-per your-mat’s-material from the yoga-mat-buying chapter — the the-material-care; the the-check-the-material), the the-dont-soak-if-not-suitable (the dont-over-soak (some-mats) — the the-dont-soak; the the-material-dependent), and the the-store-rolled (the store-rolled-and-dry — the the-storage; the the-rolled; the the-dry).

The Make-It-Last Notes

Making your mat last: the the-regular-cleaning-extends-life (the regular-cleaning extending-life-and-grip from the mat-care-cleaning chapter — the the-regular-clean; the the-extends-life; the the-grip), the the-restore-grip (the deep-clean to restore-grip from the mat-thickness-grip chapter — the the-restore-grip; the the-deep-clean), the the-use-a-towel-for-hot-yoga (the a-mat-towel for-sweaty/hot-practice (protects-mat) from the yoga-mat-buying chapter — the the-mat-towel; the the-hot-yoga; the the-protects), the the-dont-leave-in-heat-or-sun (the dont-leave-in-hot-car/sun (degrades) — the the-no-heat; the the-degrades), the the-store-well (the store-rolled, dry, out-of-sun — the the-storage; the the-rolled-and-dry), the the-replace-when-worn (the replace when-grip-and-cushion-are-gone from the mat-thickness-grip chapter — the the-replace; the the-worn-mat), the the-quality-lasts (the a-quality-mat lasting-longer from the yoga-mat-buying chapter — the the-quality; the the-lasts), and the frame (yoga mat care through the mats-get-gross-case, the how-to-clean-and-care and make-it-last — the wipe-after-use, gentle-clean-and-dry-fully routine that keeps-it-hygienic-and-grippy for-years; the mat, cared-for). Your yoga mat catches every drop of sweat, every handprint and floor bacteria — and most people never clean it until it smells. A little care keeps it hygienic and grippy. Clean it: wipe after sweaty sessions with a gentle cleaner (mat spray or mild soap, no harsh chemicals), deep-clean periodically, and dry it FULLY (to prevent mold and odor) — caring for it per its material (don’t over-soak some mats). Make it last: regular cleaning extends life and grip, use a mat towel for hot practice, don’t leave it in heat or sun, store it rolled and dry, and replace it when the grip’s gone. So it doesn’t get gross.

Your yoga mat catches every drop of sweat, every downward-dog handprint and floor bacteria — and most people never clean it until it smells. A little care keeps it hygienic and grippy for years. Clean it: wipe after sweaty sessions with a gentle cleaner (mat spray or mild soap, no harsh chemicals that damage it), deep-clean periodically, and dry it FULLY (to prevent mold and odor) — caring for it per its material (don’t over-soak some mats). Make it last: regular cleaning extends life and grip, use a mat towel for hot practice, don’t leave it in a hot car or sun, store it rolled and dry, and replace it when the grip’s gone. So it doesn’t get gross.

See It in Motion

Seen here: High Waist 8” Yoga Shorts — shop it on bubblelime.com