My personal favorite, the Lululemon yoga mat it’s one of the best yoga mats on the market that you can invest in. It is compact and easily foldable, so you can take this mat with you anywhere. If you practice often you might be wondering – how to clean Lululemon yoga mat? what is the best do-it-yourself method? I hope this post will give you some answers.
Different types of yoga mats will require special solutions and cleaning strategies. So you have to know which method works best for your specific type of product.
Lululemon mats are created of natural rubber and a polyurethane coating. If you are looking for a nonslip yoga mat for exercise polyurethane coating is the best choice. It absorbs sweat and moisture, and is safe for exercise, doest’s let you slip. This mat provides a firm grip during the yoga practice. It helps you find the balance.
In addition to that Lululemon yoga mats have antimicrobial properties which help to prevent the appearance of fungi such as mold and mildew. It’s just perfect!
Why Do You Have to Clean Lululemon Yoga Mat Regularly?
You may wonder that, especially if you don’t smell or see any visual dirt on the yoga mat surface. During the yoga practice, your skin comes into physical contact with the mat. Plus, during the breathing exercises microscopic bacteria also land on the mat. Lululemon mat it’s a great choice for people who practice hot yoga. These sessions involve a lot of oil and sweat coming from the body. All this process turns your yoga mat into a perfect place for bacteria.
How Often Should You Clean Your Lululemon Mat?
We recommend cleaning your yoga mat after each session. Make this a part of your routine. This habit will prevent bacteria from growing and spreading, these germs will not have enough time to develop. Moreover, regular cleaning will help you to get rid of the natural rubber smell of the mat.
There are many reasons why you should clean your yoga mats regularly, below are just a few of them.
- Regular cleaning helps to avoid the deep hard cleaning. If you clean the mat every time after use, you won’t have to worry about the serious cleaning once in a while, because your yoga mat will always look and smell clean. You will thank yourself later.
- Regular cleaning will prolong the life of your mat. Without staining bacteria and different germs, your mat will not lose its original appearance. We recommend using natural cleaning solutions because they are friendly for the covering and the environment.
- Having a clean mat every day is simply pleasant. Nobody likes to practice on a stinky and smelly mat. You don’t want to be the person in class who has the dirtiest mat.
- Regular cleaning is good for the health. As we said earlier, a dirty mat will stimulate the growth of bacteria and fungus. They are harming the health and may cause respiratory/skin problems.
Below we will offer the most popular cleaning methods for the yoga mats.
Baking Soda and Lemon
In a previous post, we already spoke about the benefits and tips for cleaning mats with baking soda. The same technique can be applied to the yoga mats.
What you will need for the process:
- Baking soda – around 1 teaspoon
- Lemon juice – 10 drops
- Lukewarm water
- Clean cloth
To begin with, put 10 drops of lemon juice into a bowl and add around 1 teaspoon of baking soda. The chemical reaction will start in the mixture and will become bubbly. Add around one glass of lukewarm water and mix it well. Pour the mixture on the yoga mat, blot it and wipe with a clean cloth.
If needed, scrub the yoga mat just a little, and leave the mixture on top for a few minutes. After that, wash the mat with clean warm water and leave it to dry.
How does the soda solution work? Baking soda creates a mild abrasion and at the same time, it doesn’t cause any damage to the mat surface. Lemon helps to get rid of harmful bacteria. Moreover, lemon will leave a pleasant citrus scent.
Using Soap and Water for Cleaning
You know it’s time for thorough cleaning of your yoga mat when it starts to lose the stickiness it once had, when it starts to smell, or when you just get the feeling that it’s dirty, which is especially the case if you’ve participated in several hot yoga sessions.
This is the simplest and most cost-effective way of cleaning your mat using items you probably already have in your house. It only takes a few minutes to perform a thorough cleaning.
- To clean your yoga mat, we recommend using castile soap and a warm bath to get the job done. Fill the bath with warm water. Add some soap.
- Place the yoga mat in the water and let it soak for ten minutes.
- Clean your mat by wiping it down with a clean cloth in all directions.
- Rinse your mat well in clean water to remove any remaining soap.
- Finish by drying your mat.
Manufacturer’s Recommendation
The official website states that the mat’s color may change over time, and this is a normal process. To clean the Lululemon yoga mat, wipe it clean with a damp cloth after every practice, and let it air dry before rolling and storing it out of direct sunlight.
The mat does smell awful of rubber at first, after purchase, however, this smell will fade away quickly during use. That’s why it’s recommended to leave it flat to air out during the first days of use.
Readymade Yoga Mat Cleaners
There may be days when you’re too tired or lazy to create a cleaning solution and use it after the training. For this, you can get a ready-made cleaning solution. These are the products available in the market, that we recommend for cleaning the yoga mats. You can look for them and buy them online and in all large supermarkets.
Other alternative cleaners:
- Wipex Natural Gym & Fitness Equipment Wipes
- Mind Over Lather 100% Natural Yoga Mat Cleaning Spray
- Manduka Organic Yoga Mat Cleaner
- ASUTRA Natural & Organic Yoga Mat Cleaner
- Tidy Mat Yoga Mat Cleaner Wipes
Cleaning Dont’s
Before cleaning the product, it’s always recommended to get acquainted with cleaning don’ts. These will save you from stress and unnecessary expenses.
- Do not leave your Lululemon yoga mat outside in the sun for drying. Drying your rug in the sun may seem like a good idea (it works with T-shirts), but it can really dry it out. It will just start to crumble and you won’t be able to use it anymore.
- You may read in some articles that you can also clean Lululemon mats with essential oils. We don’t recommend this method because Lululemon producer says that oils may build up over time, and even close the pores of the yoga mat, so it won’t be absorbent anymore, and will become slippery.
- Do not leave the mat on a radiator or dryer, don’t dry it with a hairdryer. If stains appear on the mat after washing, wipe/rinse it again. The rug may have absorbed excess cleanser.
Conclusion
Simple things like washing your hands and feet before practice will help keep your Lululemon mat clean for a long time. If you are doing strength or hot yoga, you can lay on a towel or even use a separate cotton mat. The fabric will absorb moisture and keep your mat dry and clean.
True yogis believe that the longer you practice on the same mat, the easier it is for you to perform the asanas, and the deeper and better are your meditations. You can prevent the rug from having to be thoroughly cleaned by sprinkling and wiping it with warm water before or after each yoga session.
Always read the product care instructions before attempting to clean the Lululemon yoga mat with any DIY methods. This will guarantee that your Lululemon mat has a long lifespan and stays in good condition. By following the simple care guidelines, you won’t have to buy a new Lululemon yoga mat every six months. Take care of your mat, and it will serve you faithfully for many, many years.