How to Deodorize and Clean Yoga Mats

By now, 2021 New Years fitness goals are set, and many have jumped ten toes in with strategies for winning. For those who are practicing Yoga, this blog is for you.

Yoga is a great way to clear toxins, stretch, and strengthen the body. To do this, one must commit to working up a serious sweat. Yoga practiced in a heated studio is sure to activate your sweat glands. Yoga mats become a part of your personal space and are not shared unless cleaned between each class.  Therefore, most students bring their mats. After class, the sweaty mat is rolled up and taken home to be cleaned later at a later time. 

 

In previous blogs, we shared simple tips on how to clean rugs and runners. The process is not much different for cleaning Yoga Mats, diaper changing mats, garden mats, interlocking fitness mats, and outdoor foam mats.

 

How you clean your mats varies slightly depending on:

 

• The type of surface that lies below the mat.
• Whether the mat can be moved, lifted, or if it's positioned under heavy equipment.
• During the cleaning process, is the mat going to be exposed to more dirt? Are you lying it on the cement floor?

 

Regardless of how you choose to hang mats to dry, the process for cleaning, deodorizing, and lifting stains from mats mimics cleaning throw and area rugs.
 
When drying carpets, we found it best to hang them over something that would allow the air to flow through the fibers—for instance, hanging the carpet over a chain-link fence or the back of a truck tailgate. We have also seen people attach it to the bottom of a garage door using large clamps or shower hooks through the fringe hem, then attaching it to the garage door while it's fully lifted high, then placing a chair below the carpet, so it doesn't rest on the floor.  These same techniques should be considered when drying your foam mats.

 

Step 1. Vacuum

First, vacuum the entire interlocking-mat surface thoroughly so that dirt doesn't get trapped between the interlocking seams.

 

Step 2. Scrub

Scrub and wipe down the mats using a Powerizer cleaning solution and the least amount of water or a damp microfiber mop like the WonderWedgie Microfiber Mop. 

 

Step 3. Rinse 

Once the mat is wiped with plain water to remove detergent and residues from the mats. During this rinse process, it's essential to use a clean damp microfiber cloth to remove any remaining detergent from the surface. 

 

Step 4. Dry 

Attach a clean, dry microfiber towel to the WonderWedgie Mop head. Quickly wipe the surface to absorb excess water along with detergent residue. If a residue is visible, mist the floor in those areas with more water and wipe the surface with a clean cloth a second time.

 

 

Yoga & Smaller Mats

Mats that can be lifted and moved, such as your Yoga, Kitchen Mats, Non-Slip Shower Mats, and Garden mats, should be placed in an area that allows the mat to be submerged in water or thoroughly rinsed. These mats are dense and don't usually absorb much of the water. Therefore, they can soak and not have to worry about them molding or retaining water. 

Step 1. Identify a Location 

Locate a basin, bin, tub, or clean surface that will allow you plenty of space to safely and thoroughly scrub or wipe away dirt from the surface. 

Step 2. Submerge in Powerizer

Make a Powerizer solution with one (1) scoop of Powerizer or two (2) Powerizer Complete Pods and warm to hot water, place as many mats as you can and let them sit for at least 10 minutes. However, Powerizer contains a powerful oxygen bleach powder, Sodium Percarbonate, which is a safer choice an alternative to bleach. It's an adduct of both Soda Ash and Hydrogen Peroxide. These powerful ingredients remain active for up to 8 hours. We recommend placing each mat in a bathtub, a soaking bin, or placed them on a clean deck or cement surface; either in the garage or outdoors, depending on the weather. 

Step 3. Wash, Rinse & Dry

Reference Interlocking Mats Steps 2-4.

 

Foam Mats

Powerizer makes cleaning up after diaper duty effortless. Foam mats are well known for creating a cushioned place-mat for a baby changing station. We recommend keeping a squeeze bottle filled with Powerizer Complete and plenty of microfiber cloths to wipe surfaces clean after changing the baby. After wiping the surface, spray water onto a dry microfiber cloth to remove detergent and residues from the surface. Powerizer rinses clean and scent-free with plain water. We suggest wiping the surface with water and a split-fiber microfiber cloth to reduce triggering skin or respiratory allergens. If your foam mat is torn, urine and feces may also seep into the foam. It may be time to replace it. Also, if the mat is submerged in water, the foam may not rinse and dry thoroughly.

When Powerizer set out to create a complete detergent and cleaner, it was necessary to use ingredients that are considered safer-choice, non-toxic, and to eliminate fillers and dyes. We chose a synthetic fragrance so it would rinse clean and not lease any oils.

Powerizer Complete is a voluntary participant and has been approved with the USDA Biobased Certification in 4 categories. Laundry, Dish, Multipurpose Cleaning and Carpet and Upholstery.