Super Fresh Yoga Mat Cleaner Recipe

For the yoga fans out there, this DIY yoga mat cleaner is an awesome addition to your home yoga kit.

In the age of online activities, stay-at-home exercising now forms a much bigger part of our lives. And lately, we have also been getting a lot more use out of our yoga exercise mats at home, the gym, or the yoga studio. This means our beloved yoga and exercise mats have also been picking up more germs and dirt than usual, and have definitely been in need of a little more TLC.

In my quest to make home and cleaning products that are as natural as possible, I created my own essential oil-based yoga mat cleaner. This cleaning spray is super fresh, easy to make, and will take you no time at all to whip up. Personally, I love knowing that my yoga and exercise mat is not only free of germs but that it also smells great.

Selecting the right oils

Adding essential oils to recipes means we reap the benefits of the different properties of each oil. Keeping this in mind I always choose which oils I add to my blends very carefully. In this recipe, I have included oils that can help to sharpen focus and inspire you during your yoga, exercise, or meditation practice.

Depending on your knowledge of essential oils, you can add others to your yoga mat cleaner recipe to personalize or enhance your blend. If you are in the process of expanding your knowledge, then I encourage you to give my favorite blend a try.

The low-down on the cleaning oils

Tea tree

Tea tree oil is our top choice for cleaning products. This is mostly due to its antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. So, for tackling germs and bacteria, it’s an excellent oil to include in your cleaning spray.

Lemon

The zesty aroma of lemon has such an uplifting scent and works well with tea tree oil to soften the smell of the blend. Tea tree oil has quite a strong smell, so adding a bit of citrus oil helps to balance it. Lemon also has antibacterial properties and pumps up the cleaning power of the blend.

Frankincense

This oil, which has been used for hundreds of years in ceremonies and rituals, has wonderful properties that help to calm and focus the mind. Focus is definitely appreciated during my yoga and exercise routines and frankincense helps me with that. I also like the aromatic depth it adds to the blend.

Optional extra

For yoga mats that are particularly dirty or a little on the smelly side, I suggest adding white vinegar to the mixture. To counteract the strong smell of vinegar (although this does disperse naturally upon drying), you can add a couple more drops of essential oil. White vinegar is a great natural cleaner, it deodorizes, helps to lift dirt and acts as a solvent for the essential oils.

Super Fresh Yoga Mat Cleaner Recipe

Ingredients

• 4oz/200ml spray bottle
• 175ml distilled water
• 8 drops tea tree oil
• 8 drops lemon oil
• 5 drops frankincense oil

Optional extra

• 50ml white cleaning vinegar*

*If you choose to add vinegar, reduce the water to 125ml

Method
To avoid spillages, use a funnel and add 175ml of distilled water to your bottle. (Reduce this amount to 125ml if you intend to use vinegar and then add 50ml of white vinegar). Carefully add the essential oils. Replace the top on the bottle and shake well; the mixture is ready to use. Shake well before using each time.

Cleaning your yoga mat
To clean your yoga exercise mat, shake your bottle well and spray a generous amount onto your mat. Wipe the mat down with a clean cloth. Turn it over and repeat on the other side. Hang the mat to dry.

This is a really quick recipe which you (and your yoga mat) will be grateful for trying. Not only are you saving your yoga mat and the environment from the additional use of harsh chemicals, in the long run, you’re also saving money on cleaning products. Once you invest in the key ingredients, you can use them for many other cleaning products and oil blends. This is the beauty of how multi-functional essential oils are.

Happy cleaning!

Did you try the recipe? Were you adventurous and added other essential oils? Share your experience in the comments below.

For more inspiration on cleaners and for using essential oils in the home, read our post: 5 Easy Ways to Use Aromatherapy at Home.