Easy Recipes For An All-Natural Yoga Mat Cleaner & Disinfectant

A good yoga class will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, a newfound ease—and a sweaty mat.

And while our mats are the pathway to Zen, they can also be a direct line to germs and bacteria. "Making skin contact with a dirty yoga mat covered in germs and bacteria can lead to skin infections, acne, toenail fungus and even transfer of the herpes virus and staph and strep infections in susceptible individuals," David A. Greuner, M.D., FACS, FICS, a double board-certified surgeon, writes on mbg. This means that you'll want to avoid using other people's mats when possible and always stay diligent about cleaning your own.

Here, Julia Watkins, the author of Simply Living Well: A Guide to Creating a Natural, Low-Waste Home, shares her recipe for two yoga mat cleaners. One is a more gentle refresh that can be applied after every flow. The other is a more involved heavy-duty disinfectant that can be whipped up once a month or whenever your mat looks or smells like it could use a thorough clean.

For the cleaner, I use distilled water, witch hazel (or white distilled vinegar), and essential oils. The witch hazel and vinegar are great for cleaning surfaces, and the essential oils add aromatherapy and disinfectant qualities. My favorite antimicrobial oils are tea tree, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. For aromatherapy, I use lavender to bring a sense of calm or peppermint to uplift my spirits.

You'll be catching a whiff of these essential oil(s) when you're in child pose or savasana, so be sure to choose ones that appeal to you. If you are sensitive to smells, you might want to experiment with using less oil.

Add all the ingredients to your spray bottle, screw on the cap, and mix well. To use, spray generously on your mat, wipe it dry with a reusable cotton towel, and allow to completely dry before rolling it up.

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and spray generously on your mat. Wipe it dry with a reusable cotton towel and allow to completely dry before rolling it up.