Practicing on a clean yoga mat is important. Some of the best antibacterial essential oils are lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. As the bacteria feeds off this chemical, the bacteria produces 3M3SH, a type of sulpherous molecule called thioalcohol. Keep your Mat in a Case or Holder. It's designed to be rolled this way, to ensure it rolls out nice and flat every time you use it. Note, the vinegar has a stronger smell than the witch hazel. It is also a personal preference, as some people habitually clean the mat after every practice while some clean every other day or once every week. How to clean cork yoga mat if it's used on a sandy beach, soil, and rocky surface? Avoid cleaning chemicals. Yoga Product Care & Storage •. Steps you need to follow. In the Corona-era, we use alcohol based solutions to clean just about everything. Because cork mats are porous, they are definitely not machine washable.
- How to clean cork yoga mat
- How to make a cork yoga mat
- How to clean cork yoga mat.com
How To Clean Cork Yoga Mat
If you are wondering how to clean a cork yoga mat to keep it in top condition for as long as possible, then continue reading. This may cause a pungent odor or worse, damage its surface. Add either white distilled vinegar or witch hazel, whichever you have handy. Although the price is a little more expensive than a regular mat, its quality is worth every penny. This will prevent bad smells in the first place. However, if you have a foam mat, clean it more often. How to Clean & Disinfect Your Yoga Mat. If you use the mat daily, you may want to tidy it a little sooner. Some cork yoga mat users choose to simply wipe their mats down with a cloth soaked in warm water, and that is completely fine. Sweat's other important function is to provide grip for the palms of our hands and soles of our feet. The cork mats insulate the heat and cold, and they easily repel dust, hair, and small particles that tend to stick to other yoga mats. A renowned physician, Dr. David Anthony Greuner, also explained how unclean yoga mat can carry diseases.
Recycle or reuse an existing empty spray bottle or (glass spray bottle is better than plastic). These can really help protect your cork yoga mat, and come in a wide variety of designs and colors. You can also add your favourite essential oils like lavender, tea-tree or eucalyptus to create a relaxing aroma.
Thanks to the natural antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities of cork, keeping this mat clean is way easier than a regular yoga mat. Oftentimes, there will also be a small amount of essential oils in it such as tea tree oil for its additional antimicrobial effects. If your mat is especially stinky, add a teaspoon of baking soda to your solution. Let the mat dry flat before rolling back up to store. There are many things, just like household cleaners, that are not safe to be used on a cork yoga mat. How to Clean a Cork Yoga Mat in 3 Steps | CHUCHKA Life. This is why it is used often in skin care and hair products. You need to dilute it with water both to reduce its strength, so it doesn't damage your mat, and to dilute the strong vinegar smell. For a deeper clean, add a touch of gentle soap or essential oil and give it a good rub***. Since sweat and germs will stay on the top layer of the mat, scrubbing is not necessary like it would be with other mat materials. Moisture and warmth are breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi, so it's important to clean that up before it gets out of hand. The good news is that cork mats are naturally anti-microbial, which means that bacteria can't live on them. "You can use a mild, organic, natural cleaner if you need, but water and a cloth usually does the trick. It can also begin to break down the materials because of the water that it holds.
How To Make A Cork Yoga Mat
Combined with the 6mm natural rubber underlay means it's pretty durable and helps to smooth out any uneven surfaces. You do not want to go overboard on the soap since you really only need a little bit to wipe down the surface of your mat. But if you've ever laid your head on a yoga block mid-pose and suddenly been unable to think about anything other than the germs crawling all over it, you're not alone. See what floats your boat and happy posing! You will also want to have an empty bucket nearby, as well as paper towels or old rags that can be thrown away later on. How to clean cork yoga mat. Nonetheless, if you happen to sweat a great deal or make use of the mat daily, you can clean it much more frequently. We recommend rolling your mat cork side facing out.
Rather than using harsh materials such as rough sponges, or paper towels which will break down and leave pieces all over your mat, use a washcloth or towel that is damp with warm water to wipe it off. I was also delighted to learn that natural cork has built-in anti-microbial properties that resist bacteria, germs and smell, which make them perfect for hot yoga. Cork is naturally antimicrobial, meaning that you don't need to disinfect them with a vinegar solution as often. If the mat gets very wet the mat should be dried first before rolling it back up. This is good for your mat because it is not hard and will not rub your mat raw and break down the particles. Like all life forms, the three fundamental requirements related to bacterial life are temperature, oxygen and food, and it isn't a surprise that bacteria love the environment of your gym gear. Don't shake it otherwise you'll create unwanted suds. However, if you need to wipe your mat down quickly after using it, especially if you happen to sweat a lot during your practice, it is fairly simple to do so. How to make a cork yoga mat. Additionally, since cork is inherently antimicrobial, there's really no need for any aggressive soaps or cleaners. If your mat isn't very dirty, you don't have to let the cleaner sit, but you can if you'd like to ensure that it works properly. As a yogi adventurer, you may want to clean your mat more often due to dirt and oil build up. Do you want to learn more about our mats?
Achamana cork yoga mats are made from eco-friendly materials. How to clean cork yoga mat.com. Don't use anything with a rough surface. Cork mats are so popular because of just how many benefits they offer. Cork tends to lose grip with time though as cracks can form over prolonged usage, necessitating an update to a new mat at least every year or two. You should give your mat a quick rub down after each workout, especially if you're a heavy sweater.
How To Clean Cork Yoga Mat.Com
Luckily for you, cork yoga mats are naturally antimicrobial, meaning that bacteria do not stick to them easily. While some yoga mats need quite a bit of scrubbing to get them clean, the beauty of cork is that germs do not penetrate into the mat. After the rug is wiped clean, hang it on a rounded base (no creases) to air dry. As soon as dry, roll up the mat with the top (the cork side) facing the outside. It's important to know that this process doesn't harm the tree, and cork oaks absorb more carbon dioxide in their stripped form than otherwise.
There are several options to cleaning your yoga mat by hand. One study, and it was the micrococcus that absolutely loved to breed on polyester. This will ensure that that mat always lays flat everytime. And since cork is a natural material, the harshness of the alcohol can cause the cork to degrade over time.
Don't use any soap or detergent, just lightly spray your mat with water and wipe it dry. Be careful not to harm your mat by rubbing it hard with an unpleasant sponge. These essential oils are suggested because of their sanitizing qualities. But what is in that spray bottle? Cork is naturally antimicrobial, it contains compounds called Phenolics which kills bacteria and fungus. HOW OFTEN A CORK YOGA MAT SHOULD BE CLEANED. The yoga mat is one of them. It's also true that some surfaces harbour bacterial growth much less than others, which is what we call anti-bacterial. Gently wipe the mat with a soft, damp towel or non-abrasive sponge. If any of the contraindications occur, use the cleaning solutions detailed below. Thanks to the Phenolic compound which kills bacteria and fungi. A natural surface like cork works with the body's natural functions by providing natural absorption of moisture, which actually improves natural grip which is essential even for the lightest of yoga sessions. STEPS TO DEEP CLEAN A CORK YOGA MAT: - Shake the spray bottle.
Besides being eco-friendly, our cork yoga mats come with optimum durability and lighter weight. When comparing a synthetic mat to a natural cork mat, it's a light-bulb moment. Cork is a very dynamic material and the antibacterial characteristic of the material certainly helps.