Yoga Mat Care: How to Safely Clean and Maintain Your Mat

October 23, 2025

Shaubha is one of the "Niyamas" in yoga philosophy, meaning "purity," "cleanliness," and "purification."

This practice also extends to cleaning the yoga mat you use every day.

Manduka staff have collaborated with researchers and yoga studios to create the following guidelines for the proper care of yoga mats and props.

How to Care for Your Yoga Mat

Proper care of your yoga mat is crucial for maintaining a comfortable experience, preserving its original performance and durability, and ensuring hygiene.
Manduka is dedicated to helping you care for your valuable mat so you can enjoy it for longer.
Here are the items you need for mat maintenance.

Mat Wash Refresh & Restore

Yoga mat cleaners made from 100% natural organic ingredients. We offer two types: "Refresh" for all PVC and TPE materials, and "Restore" for natural rubber yoga mats.

Material Characteristics of Manduka Yoga Mats

Before cleaning, it's essential to understand your yoga mat. Knowing the material of your Manduka yoga mat is important for choosing the appropriate cleaning method. Since each series uses different materials, the optimal care methods also differ.

PRO Series
PRO, PROlite, PRO Travel – these mats use closed-cell material.

eKO Series
eKO, eKO Lite, eKO Superlite, these yoga mats are made of natural rubber and are also closed-cell material. These mats are also easy to clean but need to be dried properly.

GRP® Series
GRP, GRP Lite, Adapt, these yoga mats are made of open-cell PU (polyurethane) and rubber materials. They are designed to absorb moisture and provide excellent grip even when wet. Therefore, they require the most careful handling during cleaning.

Mat Wash Refresh

Naturally cleanses and refreshes your mat

・Naturally cleanses and refreshes your mat
・Formulated for daily use
・Made with natural essential oils
・Suitable for all yoga mat materials

Manduka's Yoga Mat Refresh is made with 100% naturally derived ingredients and is formulated to remove dirt and stains from the surface of your yoga mat, while maintaining a fresh scent. Using it after every practice helps keep your mat clean and prevents odors.

It contains a double-strength fragrance to keep your yoga mat smelling fresh without compromising its performance. The innovative high-output spray delivers greater cleaning power with less effort.

・100% Natural
・Non-irritating
・Pet-friendly
・Subtle scent

Click here for Mat Wash Refresh >>>

Mat Wash Restore

Conditions and restores natural rubber yoga mats

・Maintains and enhances mat performance and longevity
・Contains natural essential oils
・Suitable for all natural rubber mats

Manduka's "Natural Rubber Yoga Mat Restore" is made from 100% natural ingredients and helps maintain the performance of natural rubber yoga mats, including the eKO series.

It is designed to minimize fading and discoloration due to oxidation, which is characteristic of natural rubber, and restore the mat's original beautiful luster. Regular use (approximately once a month) will allow you to use your mat comfortably for longer.

・100% natural ingredients
・Non-irritating
・Pet-safe formula
・Actively supports mat longevity

Click here for Mat Wash Restore >>>

■ Please refer to this blog as well.
How to Clean Your Yoga Mat >>>

FAQ

Q: How does Manduka's "Mat Wash & Refresh" compare to homemade cleaners?
A: In short, it's the difference in "ingredients" and "manufacturing method."

Indeed, Manduka's products also use water and essential oils, which may seem similar to homemade cleaners at first glance. However, as you know, water and oil don't naturally mix. That's why we include a plant-derived fragrance solubilizer, in addition to organic cosmetic-grade essential oils, to uniformly disperse and stabilize them in purified water. This prevents the oil from separating and floating on the surface.

Furthermore, these three simple ingredients are thoroughly mixed in an industrial mixer rotating at 1700 rpm, about six times faster than a household mixer. This ensures that the water and essential oils are always in an optimal balance on your mat every time you spray from the bottle.

Yoga blocks, like yoga mats, are frequently touched by hands and feet, raising hygiene concerns. Accumulation of dirt can also lead to a decrease in grip.

Q: Why is it important to use purified water?
A: For safety and quality.

If you've ever looked at the bottled water aisle in a grocery store, you know there are many different types of water, from natural spring water to reverse osmosis water. Many cleaning product manufacturers use "deionized water" to remove minerals. This is a relatively inexpensive and quick method, but it actually cannot remove microscopic organic molecules.

Therefore, many such manufacturers need to add "biocides" to their formulations to maintain product quality and shelf life.

Because our products touch your mat, we choose a safer and cleaner method. We use a more advanced water purification process that removes not only minerals but also microscopic organic matter, thus eliminating the need for chemical additives such as biocides. While this may increase costs, it ensures a quality you can use with confidence.

Q: How often should I clean my yoga mat?
A: It depends on frequency of use and environment, but a basic cleaning routine is important.

Every time you use your yoga mat, skin oils and sweat adhere to its surface. Over time, these can lead to bacterial growth and cause odors.

Using Manduka's "Mat Wash & Refresh" after every practice can help prevent the accumulation of dirt and odors.
We recommend refreshing your mat at least once a week according to the instructions.

Deep cleaning should be limited to when your mat feels unhygienic or has visible dirt. If you practice at home and no family members are ill, frequent deep cleaning is not necessary.

On the other hand, if you are using your mat in a shared space like a studio, it is recommended to thoroughly clean both sides after each practice.

Q: Why are disinfectant wipes not suitable for yoga mats?
A: Considering the mat's material and safety, they are not highly recommended.

While disinfectant wipes may seem convenient, there are several issues with using them on yoga mats.

"Wet time" is crucial for effectiveness.
　For disinfectants to be effective, the mat's surface needs to remain visibly wet for 4-5 minutes or more. Wiping lightly with a wet wipe may not meet this condition.
May shorten the mat's lifespan.
　The active ingredients in disinfectants can degrade the material of yoga mats (especially natural rubber and polyurethane), potentially harming their performance and durability.
Can cause skin problems.
　If the disinfectant used on the mat is not thoroughly rinsed off, residual ingredients can come into contact with the skin, potentially causing allergic reactions or irritation.

For these reasons, we recommend using a dedicated cleaner for your yoga mat. Products designed for your mat's material can help maintain cleanliness while preserving the mat's original performance and safety.