
I feel like so many of my posts have started out with…
“On Facebook, I asked you about x,y, and z and you gave me 5 gazillion suggestions.”
Well, you’ve done it again. Do you charge a fee for this service? Maybe we can put it on my tab… =)
This time, I pestered you for tips on homemade or store-bought yoga mat cleaners.
It turns out there are a million and one ways to clean a yoga mat. Or maybe more. What began as an innocent journey into making my own mat cleaner, turned into a ton of reading and researching online.
There are as many different options as there are opinions on what to use. If you make your own mat cleaner, chances are you have your favourite mix. I think a good place to start when figuring out which mat cleaner will work for you is to check with your mat brand and see what they recommend. The “right” cleaning methods and ingredients can vary a lot from mat to mat.
Of course, I didn’t take my own advice! I started by making my cleaner first, only to find out later from a discussion with my mat brand- Lululemon – that they don’t recommend using essential oils on their mats because it can clog the pores of the mat.
Do as I say, not as I do!
However, I’m in the market for a new mat because my mat is cracking all over the place. The Manduka pro mat (or maybe the lite?) is high up on my list right now since it has a lifetime guarantee and is rated very well. I’m still not sure though.
I went on Manduka’s Facebook page and asked them if essentials oils would clog the pores of their mats.
Manduka: “Well, our mats don’t exactly have pores. We use a closed-cell technology on both sides of the PRO series mats and on the practice side (the one with the sea grass texture) of the eKO mats. Which means, essential oils after a cleaning should be just fine! A few drops in your cleanser is a great way to do both – that’s how we make our organic Manduka Mat Washes.”
good to know! I suggest checking with your mat brand to be sure.

This is what I used to make my mat cleaner:
- White vinegar
- purified water
- tea tree oil
- essential oil

I did a lot of reading online about various homemade cleaners and most people suggest using white vinegar. I used 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, but the mixtures can vary a lot. You can also use witch hazel or lemon juice, but I find white vinegar to be more cost effective. If you are concerned about using vinegar on your mat, you can try using alcohol-free witch hazel which I’ve heard also works.
Here’s my yoga mat spray “recipe”
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1 tsp tea tree oil
- Essential oil (about 10-30 drops depending preference) peppermint, lavender, and thyme are nice, but use anything you like!
1. Place all ingredients into a large spray bottle and shake before each use.
2. Spray down your mat on one side and let it sit for a few minutes. With a damp cloth, wipe it down. Finally, wipe it with a dry towel or simply let it air dry.
3. Repeat on other side.
Thanks to ehow, 3 Healthy Chicks, and Eco Yogini for the tips.
Obviously this isn’t the only solution for cleaning your mat and I will probably play around with different methods at some point!
If you want to give your mat a super deep clean, you can place it in a bathtub with hot water (just an inch over your mat- not a full tub), some vinegar (maybe 1 cup?), and essential oil and let it soak for at least an hour. You can then rub it down on both sides with a soft cloth while it’s in the tub. Rinse it and then hang it on a clothing rack until completely air dry (note: this can often take 48 hours to dry completely, so be warned).
Also be careful with using liquid soap in your cleaner because it can get into the mat and suds can seep out while you practice. Some people get away with just adding a couple drops to a big bottle of water though, so I really think it depends on how much you add.

As for me, I’m still loving the classes that I’ve been doing since my knee injury:
- Hot yoga (in various styles) 1-2x week
- Hot Pilates 1x week
- Yoga with weights 1x week
- Yoga Spinn (45 mins spin class followed by 15 mins yoga!) 2x week
- Walking
It’s a wonderful balance of cardio, strength, and flexibility (and might I add, my spiritual practice and emotional well-being). I feel stronger than I think I ever have and I look forward to the variety each day.

My knee has been feeling great for the past couple weeks, so yesterday I finally decided to go for my first run in a month. It went very well and I had zero pain, although admittedly, I felt a bit out of my running groove. Regardless, it felt so good to be out there running again, even if it was just a shorter one. My plan right now is to slooowly build up my running, while still enjoying my other classes for variety. Injuries are frustrating, but sometimes they force us to try new things and discover a passion in other forms of exercise. For that, I’m very grateful.
I’ve been practicing yoga for 8 years and definitely have an opinion about yoga mats. :) I started off using regular sticky mats, but the double-thick kind and I layer 2 of them because I’m bony and need the cushion. I also find that they have the best grip. About a year and a half ago, I got a Manduka and I really don’t like it. I slip badly on it and find that it has absolutely no cushion; it’s hard and heavy. I went back to using 2 double-thick sticky mats. That being said, lots of people in my yoga classes (I do level 2-3 Vinyasa) love their Manduka mats and my closest yoga friend has gone through 3 Jade mats. She loves how the Jade feels, but they keep warping in her car, which is why she’s on her third.
The spritual and emotional connection that I’ve made since starting yoga has been life altering. Hot pilates, I’d love to try that one! Namaste!
All hot yoga & pilates talk has me thinking I need to try one … finally!
Great job on the run! Its best to EASE back into things and always feels nice!
I LOVE my Jade Pro Teal Yoga Mat. It is AMAZING, fair trade, and I believe a little less expensive than Manduka. It’s made from natural rubber and it has treated me very well. Plus I love the color and overall a great buy, in my opinion :)
I am a Pilates instructor. The way our machine manufacturer asks us to clean our equipment is with a spray bottle filled with water and 16 drops tea tree oil. That’s it! And good enough to use between clients! So vinegar is unnecessary, if you are not a fan. Adding a few drops of lavender or peppermint would enhance cleaning power and experience, of course:). Sounds like you have a great workout schedule now, I would really enjoy that week! Glad your knee is feeling so much better!
I see some people have already suggested it, but look into Jade as well – they’re made from natural rubber. I just got one at the Yoga conference :)
I practice yoga daily and I am in love with my Manduka Pro mat for a regular practice! Usually not slippery, and just the right balance of cushion and firmness. The only drawback is the weight of the mat, but as long as you are not walking miles to practice, you’ll be okay. I also own a Jade travel mat. It is lightweight and great to throw in a suitcase, harder to clean and wears out more quickly. Good luck deciding!
Just wanted to say that I use the exact same thing as a daily shower cleaner. In an effort to cut down on chemicals in my home, I searched for something I could make that was safe and inexpensive. Turns out to be this recipe: 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar and several drops (I use quite a lot b/c my husband hates the smell of vinegar) of essential oil (we use lemon). It’s terrific!! Now you have a product that’s two for one!
Glad you are feeling better. Injuries are never fun but at least you seem to have found other great forms of exercise while you heal.
I have a Manduka Pro mat, and finally decided to spend the money after I kept shredding my regular $30-40 mats… I use my mat mainly for bootcamp, and plyo exercises so I cannot comment on how it faired for yoga. My sneakers kept shredding the mat, and the lifetime warranty was the selling point for me! I have had mine for about 8 months and have had NO issues! It is well cushioned, and non-slip! The regular manduka is not as cushioned, so if that is important to you I’d move up to the pro.
Thanks Nikki!
I did’t know that you had the injury… But glad you are better now. Beautiful recipe, I have to make it for my mats. Yoga almost every day sound just amazing! I practice it daily also, and now started to involve my three years old. He’s doing a fantastic job, and it makes me very very proud!
mothers day was a nice episode of AngelaRecipes in my house :) LOVED the breakfast/desert strawberry apple cobbler (fresh picked strawberries for the win!) and your cookie-dough balls were a huge hit. Needless to say most of them disappeared in the kitchen before they made it out to the family, but hey, I doubled the batch for a reason. Also made banana soft serve and poured it into gingersnap crust, and think that was one of my better decisions. Thanks for all your help around my kitchen! I’ll tweet a picture of the results if they’re any good :)
So glad your knee is feeling better. If you get a chance, can you share what you eat in the couple of days before your half marathons? I’m looking for some suggestions. : )
Hi there,
Just discovered your blog and it’s so inspirational!! I’m transitioning to a plant-based diet and love yoga too so it’s great to find such a perfect blog for me. The recipes look amazing and I’m going to try a few this week.
Thanks again!
Hi Angela! I’ve been following your blog for years and still love it. I hope your knee feels better. I’ve been battling runner’s knee on and off for about a year and it’s always challenging to stay active while trying to heal.
Thank you I hope yours feels better too!!
Great tips! Quick question…how often do you find that you need to clean your mat after doing yoga? Mine gets pretty gross even after just 1 class :(
I try to clean it after each class….I swear so much in hot yoga!
LOL I meant to say SWEAT but yes I occasionally swear too. lol
Try a Jade mat, they are awesome! All natural rubber, great warranty and tacky as heck(will transform your downdog)
Hey there! First off, I absolutely LOVE your blog! I’ve been reading it for months and can’t stop pinning your recipes :) I just came across this post…I just got my Manduka Pro Lite mat in the mail last week and LOVE it! It came as a recommendation from my yoga instructor. You have to give it a few times, you know, to sweat into it for it to get nice and sticky but it’s fabulous! Happy practicing!
What a great idea; my mat always smells so funky!