|
|
| how do you wash your yoga mat and how often (every such and such numbers of uses) do you need to wash it? |
|
| |
|
|
When it starts to smell so bad that your friends won't stand next to you in class, it's time to wash. I wash my in the bathtub with regular detergent. Some folks put it right into the washing maching with some towels--being a denizen of NYC I don't have that luxury.
Get the funk out. |
|
| |
|
| Is that some kind of law: No washing machines shall be allowed in NYC? Or what?
For washing of the mat I would go with as little detergent as possible. You don't want your mat to become slippery.
|
|
| |
|
Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
 
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | How bout just hosing it off in the tub or shower using HOT water or on the driveway on a nice sunny day if you live in a house...then hang it on the line to dry...very simple. Use mild soap if necessary...like I use environmentally friendly dish soap that would work just fine. Probably would not want to put any kind of soap on full strength...in a tub of water diluted would be best. For us Bikramites.....Rinse it off well, wouldn't want to slip on soap during Standing Bow...Yikes!!
Edited by Cyndi 2005-03-23 5:06 PM
|
|
| |
|
Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
  
| Real "soap" is actually not great on man-made materials. It drys them out. Detergent is better - dish or laundry detergent or even shampoo. I don't know what would be best for natural rubber mats. |
|
| |
|
Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | That is why I use environmentally friendly mild dish soaps...that way they won't dry out the mat. Using Palmolive or Dawn dish soaps would eat the material, and most likely discolor it etc. You can usually find these types of soaps at a health food store or one that sells environmentally friendly products...Whole Foods and Earthfare's are a good start. Be careful using harsh or abrasive shampoos such as purifying shampoos or for Dandruff shampoos probably wouldn't be a good choice. I think plain hot water and some sunshine would be perfect. |
|
| |
|
| We rub our mat down with vinegar and then wipe down with water. The vinegar is a good antiseptic/antifungal. No soap.
Audrey |
|
| |
|
| My mat never smells... that bad!
(LOL) |
|
| |
|
Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Mine either yogi-boy. I avoid that yucky sweating stuff as much as possible  I'd probably lose the last few pounds if I did it a bunch more but then I'd have to be washing my mat all the time   |
|
| |
|
| I usually use a Mysore rug over my mat which I hang out after every class, hence no odor. I wash it about every 2-3 weeks.I wash my mat every couple of months or so , or after a couple of weeks of more frequent classes.I wash it, alone, in the washer on regular cycle w/ maybe a tablespoon of Tide. my mat goes through the spin cycle and then I hang it out for a few days. |
|
| |
|
| Due to limited computer time I rarely post here, but had to respond to this. I've struggled with mat issues for years and my mat was typically reminiscent of a slip n slide after cleaning it. Recently, a friend recommended baking soda, which has finally allowed me to resolve the love/hate relationship with my mat. Just the mat in the washer, a tablespoon of baking soda, gentle cyle, no detergent, and drip dry. It's great! |
|
| |
|
| golddust - 2005-03-28 1:09 PM
Due to limited computer time I rarely post here, but had to respond to this. I've struggled with mat issues for years and my mat was typically reminiscent of a slip n slide after cleaning it. Recently, a friend recommended baking soda, which has finally allowed me to resolve the love/hate relationship with my mat. Just the mat in the washer, a tablespoon of baking soda, gentle cyle, no detergent, and drip dry. It's great!
Hmmm...sound very interesting, I'll have to give that a try. |
|
| |
yoga mat
