Contrary to popular belief, cleaning yoga mats is not rocket science - not even close to it. Just because yoga has special positions and techniques doesn't mean that special instructions transcend to maintaining its equipment as well. The common sense thing to do is to carefully read the instructions before purchasing the mat just like you would with an article of clothing. This way you judge for yourself if you would like a high-end dry-clean only version or a simple machine washable one.
At Home vs. Professional Cleaning
People take their mats and put it on the floor when they take part in the yoga classes. When outdoors, the yoga mats become dusty and due to unpredictable weather, they become very dirty. The good news is that cleaning yoga mats it is not difficult at all. This can be done in a regular manner - that is washing with soap and water and hanging them in the sun. Another way of cleaning yoga mats is to send them for dry cleaning.
The type of yoga mat cleaning that is right for you can be determined by the type mat you have. The material of the mat can help determine which cleaning method is best suited to make it last longer. The most common material for a yoga mat is thick cotton with a non-slip backing that will stay in place while you practice your positions. Cotton yoga mats can easily be cleaned at home; all you have to do is throw it in the washing machine, or wash it by hand if you have the time, although this is unnecessary in most instances. Either way is fine as according to the care instructions that come on the mat or the packaging, these mats are made for home cleaning with washable fillers in them.
While cleaning yoga mats, however, observe one rule - the mats should not be squeezed dry in the washing machine - since the stretched cloth makes the mat shapeless and practically useless for you. Other than this there is no reason why yoga mats can't be cleaned at home.
As far as the rubber yoga mats are concerned, these mats need to be washed at home in just as you would wash your car mats - with soap, water and a brush. In no time the mat is as good as new. Depending on the wear and tear however, when cleaning yoga mats is no longer feasible, it would be good if you threw it and bought yourself a new one.
