How to Clean a Yoga Mat: A Practical 2026 Care Guide

If you are wondering how to clean a yoga mat without turning it into a slippery, smelly mess, this guide walks you through it. It is written for UK home yogis, studio regulars and anyone doing floor work at home, and it covers the difference between a quick wipe-down and a proper deep clean, a safe DIY spray you can mix in two minutes, drying tips, and the common mistakes that ruin grip or shorten a mat's life.

TL;DR

Wipe both sides after every practice with a damp cloth or a light spray. Sweat, skin oils and floor dirt are what build up and start to smell.
Deep clean roughly once a month (more often if you sweat heavily or do hot yoga), using warm water and a tiny amount of mild washing-up liquid.
DIY spray: 1 part white vinegar to about 4 parts water, with a couple of drops of tea tree oil. Skip the vinegar if your mat's care label says to.
Go easy on soap. Too much leaves a film that makes the mat slippery and dangerous to practise on.
Always air dry fully before rolling. A damp rolled mat is exactly where mould and bacteria thrive.
Never machine wash a closed-cell or PVC mat unless the manufacturer explicitly says it is safe.

Context and audience: why a clean mat actually matters

Your mat spends every session collecting sweat, dead skin, hair, hand cream and whatever was on the floor. That mix is a comfortable home for bacteria and fungi, and gym and studio surfaces are a known route for skin infections like athlete's foot, ringworm and verrucas. The NHS notes that athlete's foot spreads easily on damp shared surfaces, and the same goes for ringworm and verrucas. Your own mat is lower risk than a shared one, but a mat that never gets cleaned still becomes a breeding ground over time.

There is a practical reason too. A grubby mat loses grip. Skin oils and old soap residue build up a slick layer that makes your hands and feet slide in down dog, which is both annoying and a genuine injury risk. Keeping the surface clean keeps the traction you paid for. If you are still choosing a mat, our guide on how to choose a yoga mat covers the materials that are easiest to keep clean.

Cleaning vs deep cleaning: know the difference

People use the words interchangeably, but they are two different jobs.

Daily cleaning (a wipe-down): a fast surface clean after each practice to lift sweat and oils before they soak in. Takes under a minute.
Deep cleaning: a more thorough wash, around once a month, to remove the grime a quick wipe leaves behind. This is where you tackle smells and that sticky film.

Do the quick version often and the deep version rarely, and you will almost never need the deep clean to be a big job. Consumer Reports makes the same point in its guide to cleaning a yoga mat: little and often beats one heavy scrub.

Open-cell vs closed-cell: check before you soak

Before you clean anything, work out which type of mat you have, because it changes the method.

Closed-cell mats (most PVC and TPE mats, including many everyday studio mats) have a sealed surface that does not absorb much moisture. They wipe clean easily and dry fast. A damp cloth or spray is usually all they need.
Open-cell mats (often natural rubber or higher-grip performance mats) are designed to absorb sweat for grip, which means they also absorb whatever you clean them with. Use less liquid, never soak them, and avoid harsh solutions.

If you are not sure, check the care label or the maker's site. When in doubt, treat it as open-cell and use the gentler approach. Not sure which face you have been practising on either? Our quick explainer on which side of your yoga mat goes up clears that up.

How to clean a yoga mat: the daily wipe-down

This is the habit that does most of the work. Do it after every session, while the sweat is still fresh.

Lay the mat flat or drape it over a clean surface.
Lightly mist the top with your spray (recipe below) or use a damp microfibre cloth. You want it damp, not wet.
Wipe the whole surface in circular motions, paying attention to the high-contact zones where your hands and feet land.
Flip it and wipe the underside too. Microbes migrate from the floor-facing side to the top when you roll it, so both sides matter.
Let it air dry for a few minutes before rolling, or hang it while you shower.

The monthly deep clean, step by step

Once a month, or more often for hot yoga and heavy sweaters, give the mat a proper wash.

Fill a basin or bath with lukewarm water. Add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid. A little goes a long way, more is not better.
Submerge or sponge the mat depending on type. Closed-cell mats can usually take a short soak; open-cell mats are better sponged rather than soaked.
Wipe gently with a soft cloth in circular motions. Do not scrub hard, you will damage the texture that gives you grip.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water until there are no suds left. Leftover soap is the number one cause of a slippery mat.
Press out excess water by rolling the mat in a dry towel and pressing. Do not wring or twist it, that creases and cracks the surface.
Hang to air dry fully, ideally indoors or in shade. Both sides need to be bone dry before it goes away.

A safe DIY yoga mat cleaning spray

You do not need a branded product. A simple mix works on most mats:

1 part white vinegar
4 parts water (distilled if your tap water is very hard)
2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil (a natural antifungal) or a drop of mild essential oil for scent

Combine in a spray bottle and shake before each use. Vinegar helps cut through oils and freshen the smell, and Yoga Journal's guide to cleaning a yoga mat recommends a similar water-and-vinegar base. One caveat: some natural rubber mats react badly to vinegar and high concentrations of essential oils, so check your care label first. If it says no vinegar, switch to a couple of drops of washing-up liquid in water instead.

What to avoid

Harsh chemicals and bleach. They degrade the material, strip grip and can irritate your skin next time you practise.
Too much soap. The leftover film is slippery and hard to fully rinse out. Less is genuinely safer.
The washing machine, unless the maker explicitly approves it. The agitation and heat warp most mats and destroy the surface.
Direct sunlight for drying. A short stint is fine, but prolonged UV makes mats brittle and fades them.
Rolling it up damp. This is how mats start to smell and grow mould. Patience while it dries saves the mat.
Tumble drying or hairdryers. Heat is the enemy of most mat materials.

How equipment helps: a mat built to wipe clean

Some of the smell-and-grip battle comes down to the mat itself. A dense, closed-cell mat sheds sweat instead of soaking it up, which makes the daily wipe-down quick and a deep clean rare. The Premium Yoga Mat 8mm from flexa.fit is a good example: 8mm of cushioning for joints, a textured non-slip surface that holds grip even when you are warm, and a wipe-clean finish that does not drink up your cleaning spray.

It is 24.99 with free UK delivery, no minimum spend, and you can use code MEGLIO10 at checkout. If you want the full materials rundown before buying, our guide on how to choose a yoga mat goes deeper on thickness, grip and eco materials.

Shop the Yoga Mat

FAQs

How often should I clean a yoga mat?

Wipe both sides after every practice, and deep clean roughly once a month. If you do hot yoga or sweat heavily, deep clean every couple of weeks. The daily wipe-down is the important habit, it stops sweat and oils soaking in, which is what causes smells and the slippery film in the first place.

Can I put my yoga mat in the washing machine?

Usually no. Most PVC, TPE and natural rubber mats are warped or shredded by the agitation and heat of a machine wash. Only do it if the manufacturer specifically says the mat is machine washable, and then use a cold, gentle cycle with no spin. When in doubt, hand wash in lukewarm water instead.

What is the best homemade yoga mat cleaner?

A spray bottle with 1 part white vinegar to about 4 parts water, plus two or three drops of tea tree oil, works well on most mats and freshens the smell. If your mat's care label warns against vinegar (some natural rubber mats do), swap it for a drop or two of mild washing-up liquid in water.

Why is my yoga mat slippery after cleaning?

Almost always leftover soap. Too much washing-up liquid, or not rinsing thoroughly, leaves a thin film that makes the surface slick and unsafe. Use the smallest amount of soap, rinse until there are no suds, and let the mat dry fully. If it stays slippery, give it a clean-water rinse with no detergent at all.

How do I dry a yoga mat properly?

Roll it in a dry towel and press out the excess water, then hang it to air dry indoors or in the shade until both sides are completely dry. Do not wring, tumble dry, or leave it in direct sun for long, as heat and UV make mats brittle. Never roll a damp mat away, that is how mould and odour start.

Does cleaning my yoga mat stop infections?

Regular cleaning lowers the risk. Damp surfaces can harbour fungi linked to athlete's foot and other skin infections, and your own clean mat is far lower risk than a shared studio one. Wiping both sides, drying fully and not sharing your mat are the main protective steps. This guide is general information, not medical advice.

Can I clean a yoga mat with disinfectant wipes?

On a closed-cell PVC or TPE mat, an occasional disinfectant wipe is usually fine. On a porous open-cell natural rubber mat it is not ideal, because the mat absorbs the chemicals and they can degrade the surface and irritate skin. For open-cell mats stick to the gentle vinegar-and-water spray or mild soapy water.

Conclusion

Knowing how to clean a yoga mat comes down to one simple rhythm: a quick wipe of both sides after every session, a gentle deep clean about once a month, a light touch with soap, and full air drying before you roll it away. Get that habit in place and your mat stays grippy, fresh and safe for years rather than turning into something you would rather not touch. Pair the routine with a wipe-clean mat like the Premium Yoga Mat 8mm and most of the work does itself.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new exercise programme, especially if you have an existing condition or injury, or if you notice a persistent skin problem.