By: SJP Babrevian
Submitted: 2010-09-01 01:08:44 | Word Count: 696
Although cleaning your yoga mat is easy, a few things should be kept in mind in you want to prolong its life. Reading the manufacturer’s instructions with care is obviously important. This applies to all clothing items since different textiles require different washing techniques. Unfortunately, some lost the original washing instructions for their yoga mats. If this happened, the best course of action is to opt for non-abrasive cleaning techniques.
Hygiene should always be a very important concern for people exercising. If you do not wash your yoga mat correctly, it will give bacteria a chance to grow. Furthermore, never share your mat. Sharing your mat with a sweating partner can result in an unwanted fungal or bacterial infection. Even if you do your best to keep your mat clean, it will be used on floors and even outdoors so it will become dirty over time. porous to absorb moisture and this leads to some dirt getting trapped inside the mat.
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Most people simply wash their yoga mats themselves and hang them in the sun to dry. Others prefer to send their mats to the dry cleaner. Some yoga mats are made of rubber or other synthetic and are thus quite easy to clean. A little dirt can easily be removed by simply wiping the mat with a damp cloth or sponge. A solution of 4 drops of The same principle for washing the rubber mats from your car could apply to more stubborn dirt. Simply wash it with a soft brush and soapy water. Soaking the yoga mat in warm, soapy water can be the only option for very tough dirt..
Do not use too much soap, since it can cause problems. Soap can leave an invisible residue that, even after complete drying, can still become slippery the moment you start to perspire during your yoga session. Completely rinse the mat with clean water. Although some prefer to roll the mat in a towel overnight, you can just hang your yoga mat to dry..
Some people claim that the following can be used instead of soap to clean your yoga mat: (1) mixing 2 cups of water and a teaspoon of baking soda, (2) hydrogen peroxide, (3) a few drops of tea tree oil with water and my favorite (4) a 1/2 teaspoon of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap in a bowl of water. It smells great.
Cotton yoga mats can easily be cleaned by throwing it into the washing machine, or wash it by hand. Just remember to remove a cotton yoga mat from the washing machine before the spins cycle starts. Spinning can damage the shape of certain mats. It is preferable to let your mat dry naturally. Tumble drying can cause damage to the fibers of certain cotton yoga mats.
To keep your mat as clean as possible, carry a handy spray bottle and some wipes with you. A very effective all-natural mat cleaning spray can easily be made yourself. Add three drops of tea tree oil, two drops of peppermint oil, and two drops of lavender oil and mix it thoroughly with water in a spray bottle. After each workout, quickly spray your mat and wipe it down. Avoid using any wipes that are alcohol based, rather choose natural wipes.
No matter how well you look after your yoga mat, eventually not even regular cleaning will be effective. Just admit it is time for a new mat and throw the old one out..
These tips will, however, increase the life of your yoga mat. Still, always consider the condition of your yoga mat with great care. At times it will be more hygienic to buy a new mat.
By following these simple tips you can improve the life of your yoga mat for many months to come.
Author Resource:-
SJP Babrevian has been writing online articles for more than 3 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://www.cottonyogamats.webatu.com/ A nice page to read is about the best Yoga mat of all: the Manduka Yoga Mat.
