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Yoga mats are one of the most commonly used pieces of fitness equipment. Whether you have your own yoga mat or use one at the gym, it is important to know how to keep your mat clean and prevent bacteria from growing on its surface.
“Basic grooves, crevices, and other patterns give yoga mats a three-dimensional effect, increasing their surface area and making them more pleasant to the touch, but also giving bacteria more opportunities to grow and hide,” explains Jason Turtro, a microbiologist and bacteria expert known as “The Microbe Guy.” Turtro notes that the soft surface can quickly and easily trap a variety of water-based contaminants, such as bacteria. “When the surface dries out, some bacteria survive and are transported when it becomes wet again,” he explains, as shown in a study published in the journal Microbiome.
The average yoga mat can contain about 100,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter, Trow said, but some studies he analyzed found millions of bacteria on some yoga mats.
Because yoga mats are high-touch surfaces, Tetro says most of the bacteria commonly found on yoga mats are skin-borne, including:
Yoga mats should be cleaned and then disinfected. Ideally, your yoga mat should be wiped down after each use to remove dirt and sweat. You can use any cleaning products available at your gym for this purpose. However, to properly disinfect your yoga mat to effectively kill germs, there are two key requirements: using the right disinfectant and allowing the disinfectant to remain on the surface of the mat for the required amount of time.
“Disinfection involves using an active ingredient that is known to kill microorganisms (like hydrogen peroxide or citric acid),” explains Tetro. “The active ingredient must then be sprayed onto a surface and left there for a certain amount of time — what we call contact time or dwell time.”
To effectively disinfect a surface, Tetro says you should apply an EPA-registered disinfectant to the entire surface of the yoga mat and then leave it wet for the full “soak time” recommended by the product manufacturer.
The dwell time depends on the type of product. Disinfectant wipes are a common cleaning method used in many gyms, and their dwell time can be anywhere from one to three minutes depending on the formulation. Most gym-goers quickly wipe down their mats without fully wetting them or allowing them to dry, meaning that bacteria on the mats are not effectively killed.
Another concern is the natural disinfectant sprays that are common in some gyms and yoga studios. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree, and lemongrass are becoming increasingly popular as a more natural option for cleaning your yoga mat. They may make your yoga mat smell nice, but they don’t do much to kill bacteria, says Tetro. “Lemongrass oil won’t have any effect on bacteria unless you let it sit on your yoga mat for at least 20 minutes,” he says. “Tea tree oil takes about 15 minutes to work and should be undiluted. Lavender oil has some antimicrobial activity, but it also takes a few hours to kill bacteria.”
After each use, wipe down your yoga mat with a damp, warm cloth or your choice of cleaning solution. If you only use your yoga mat at home, you can disinfect it every few times, Tetro advises. If you take your yoga mat to the gym or fitness class and lay it out on the floor, you should disinfect your mat after each use in public to avoid bringing germs home.
When choosing a sanitizer, choose one that does not contain bleach, such as Clear Gear, to avoid damaging your yoga mat. Tetro recommends using the 3W sanitizing method: wet, wait, wipe.
If you’re looking for an all-natural way to sanitize your yoga mat, Tetro recommends using hot water or even a steamer. “Hot water (over 180 degrees Fahrenheit) instantly kills germs,” explains Tetro, so if you have a bathtub, briefly soaking your yoga mat in hot water is a free way to sanitize it. You can also use a handheld steamer. For best results, Tetro recommends holding the steamer on each area of ​​your yoga mat for about five seconds.
Whatever method you choose, be sure to let your yoga mat dry completely before storing it. Rolling up a yoga mat that is not completely dry can create a moist environment for bacteria to grow again. Don’t let your hard work go to waste!
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