HOW TO REALLY CLEAN YOUR YOGA MAT!
PLUS HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD (REALLY) BE DOING SO!
Nothing disrupts the calm, meditative benefits of yoga like the thought of practicing your poses on an icky mat. Your yoga mat has been with you th...
Our Care Guide
In order to keep your signature Kati Kaia Mat gripping and looking it's best, follow our easy care guide...
Breaking in your new mat...
Your new mat may need a little breaking in at first to activate the top surface and the grip. Unlike other pro mats which need to be ‘salted’ or
chalked, with ours it's simply a case of rubbing the microfibre surface over fairly hard - give it a good scrub! We need to mix up the fibres.
When your mat is new, the fine fibres in the vegan suede are aligned and smooth, but we want them to face in different directions. This will happen over time with good use, so the more you use your mat - the quicker it will wearing in, but you can speed this up with a good few scrubs.
This provides the excellent grip and support you need, whilst remaining soft with a beautiful sensory texture, so you can flow easily through asanas. This top works differently to PVC, PU or more plastic grip bases. Simply scrub over the top with water and a brush or cloth. You don't need to be too gentle with the top vegan suede, it will get better and better with use and with your practice as you flow or move between asanas you can feel the difference.
It can take a little time to wear in, but giving it a scrub down after your sessions, breaks in the top and keeps your mat clean. Adding water when you need it and keeping your mat free from bacteria, oils or hand creams.
How to Clean your Yoga Mat
Our three step cleaning and care guide will keep your mat hygienic, fresh and looking great! Keep your mat performing it's best and it will stay in top condition to support your practice.
Step One.
A Quick Clean...
For in-between a sweaty session (or a few), we recommend a quick wipe down each time with warm water and a little lemon juice, to cut through any oils or sweat on the surface. No need for detergent or soap, which can dry out the rubber, you can also use a Yoga Mat Cleaning Wash, which is specifically designed to clean your mat and keep bacteria at bay.
Depending on your practice you can do this once a week for hot yogis or just a few times a month as needed. This will keep it clean and looking it's best.
Step Two.
A Deep Clean...
Gone on an adventure and got sand, mud and twigs on your yoga mat?! Bravo!
We love taking our practice outside to the best hiking spots and views and wanted to make cleaning your mat afterwards easy breezy...
For a good deep clean, your mat can be popped into the washing machine (hallelujah!) or in the shower with some citrus juice for freshness. There is no need for detergent which can release and break down rubber and fibres.
We recommend the coolest cycle or 30c on a quick wash cycle for a good freshen up.
Step Three.
Air Dry...
Simply hang out to air dry (do not tumble dry). Leaving it clean and pristine for your next practice as you roll out again. You may want to rub over the surface with a cloth or brush to keep the fibres up and ready for practice.
Namaste.
Care Guide: Kati Kaia Eco PU Pad
Kati Kaia Yoga Pads are made from the same natural tree rubber as our signature mats but with an eco PU grip top. This makes it instantly hold grip both on top of the mat and seperately when out and about for asana practice and handstand drills. This top surface need a little more of a gentle touch and care to keep clean. Unlike our vegan suede, which needs to break in and can take a lot of vigour and scrub, the pu surface is instantly grippy, but needs a softer touch, we recommend to keep trainers away from the top and clean the pad regularly from sweat....
Wipe Clean & Air Dry
You can simply wipe down both sides for a refresh and when it's really in need of a deep clean, pop into the bath or sink with mild soap and hand wash only.
Do not use harsh chemicals or rubbing alcohol on your pad and take care not to over scrub as this could damage it.
Hang out to air dry and it will be fresh as a daisy.
Wear + Tear
All our mats are made with Natural Rubber, which with various uses can wear through, just like your favourite trainers, there are ways to care for your mat to increase the longevity and lifespan. These are not PVC or plastic based and so with natural rubber use, your mat will start to show signs of aging, with a daily dynamic practice this can be 1-2 years or with a less frequent or slower asana practice, 2-5 years or more! With correct care, you can keep your mat clean and performing its best.
We recommend you keep your mat out of direct sunlight for long periods, away from radiators and other drying elements. Always roll your mat suede face out to protect the rubber base and make sure your skin is clean of oils, hand or foot creams. As a continuation from above, having clean hands and feet will also help prevent dirt from collecting on your mat.
Cleaning your mat regularly will help to keep it hygenic and fresh, we recommend you wipe the top and bottom after each session and once a month a gentle deeper clean should be considered. It doesn’t take very long to clean, but dirt and sweat can affect the life of your yoga mat.
A good rule of thumb is to try to wipe down your mat after every practice. It goes without saying that this is vital if using a shared yoga mat in a studio, where the wear can be more depending on the practice, shoes, socks, oils and cleaners used.
See our FAQs for more details or our blog 'Yoga Mat Lifespan' for more details.
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"Let nothing dim the light that shines within"
Dr. Maya Angelou
