How to Clean a Yoga Mat: 4 Methods and How Often to Do It

By The Becketts Active Team · Published July 13, 2026 · Last updated July 13, 2026

To clean a yoga mat, wipe both sides with a lightly damp cloth after every practice, then deep clean it about once a month with warm water and a single drop of mild dish soap. Wipe off the suds with a clean damp cloth, then air dry the mat flat or hanging until it is completely dry, never in direct sun and never in the dryer. That two-step routine covers almost every mat on the market, keeps the surface grippy, and stops the smell that builds up when sweat and body oils sit on the surface for weeks.

Below is the full routine, how often to do each part, what to avoid, and what to do about the other half of this problem: a mat that has gone slippery.

Table of contents:

• How often should you clean a yoga mat?
• How do you clean a yoga mat after every practice?
• How do you deep clean a yoga mat?
• Can you put a yoga mat in the washing machine?
• Which cleaning method should you use?
• Why is your yoga mat slippery, and how do you fix it?
• How should you dry and store a yoga mat?
• When should you replace your yoga mat?
• FAQ

How often should you clean a yoga mat?

It depends on how much you sweat, not on how many classes you have done.

• After every practice: a quick wipe of both sides. Takes 30 seconds.
• Once a month: a deep clean, if you practice a few times a week in a normal room.
• Every 1 to 2 weeks: a deep clean if you practice hot yoga, train daily, or sweat heavily.
• Straight away: any time the mat smells, feels tacky, or has visible marks.

The reason the wipe-down matters more than the deep clean is that sweat, body oil, lotion and sunscreen are what actually degrade a mat. Left on the surface they soak in, feed bacteria, and eventually create the slick film that makes your hands slide in downward dog. REI makes the same point in its mat care guide: light and frequent beats heavy and rare.

How do you clean a yoga mat after every practice?

Keep it simple. You are removing sweat, not sanitizing an operating room.

1. Lay the mat flat, top side up.
2. Lightly mist a microfiber cloth (not the mat) with water or a diluted mat spray. Spraying the mat directly puts more liquid on it than it needs.
3. Wipe the whole surface in overlapping circles, paying attention to the areas your hands and feet land on.
4. Flip and wipe the underside. It picks up dust and floor grit that transfers back onto the top when you roll it.
5. Leave it open for 10 to 20 minutes before rolling it up.

A simple homemade spray: fill a small bottle with water, add a splash of white vinegar (roughly 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water) and, if you like, 2 or 3 drops of tea tree or lavender oil. Skip the essential oils entirely on natural rubber mats, since oils can break the material down over time.

How do you deep clean a yoga mat?

Once a month, or every couple of weeks if you sweat a lot, give the mat a proper wash by hand.

1. Fill a tub, a large sink, or the bathtub with warm (not hot) water.
2. Add one small drop of mild dish soap. One drop. Too much soap leaves a residue that is itself slippery.
3. Submerge the mat or lay it in the tub and wipe it down with a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge. No scrubbing brushes, no scouring pads.
4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water until no suds appear when you press the surface.
5. Press the water out with a dry towel. Roll the mat inside a large towel and press along its length, which removes far more water than wiping.
6. Hang or lay it flat to air dry completely, out of direct sunlight. This can take several hours, so do it on a rest day.

Do not use bleach, ammonia, alcohol wipes, or heavy-duty household cleaners. They strip the top layer of the mat, which is exactly the layer providing your grip.

Can you put a yoga mat in the washing machine?

For most mats, no. PVC, TPE, and natural rubber mats can crack, stretch, delaminate, or lose their texture in a machine, and the spin cycle is rough on foam. Unless the manufacturer explicitly says machine washing is fine, hand wash it.

The exception is a cotton or microfiber yoga towel or rug, which is designed to be machine washed on a cold, gentle cycle. If you sweat enough that you are tempted to put your mat through the wash, the more sensible fix is to practice on a towel and wash the towel instead.

And never put a yoga mat in a tumble dryer. Heat warps foam and rubber permanently.

Which cleaning method should you use?

Method	How often	What it fixes	Watch out for
Damp cloth wipe	After every practice	Sweat, dust, everyday grime	Spraying the mat directly instead of the cloth
Water and vinegar spray	Weekly, or after a sweaty session	Odor, light buildup	Essential oils on natural rubber mats
Hand wash with mild soap	Monthly (or every 1 to 2 weeks for hot yoga)	Deep grime, stubborn smell, slick film	Too much soap, hot water, abrasive sponges
Machine wash	Only if the maker says so, or for towels and rugs	Nothing a hand wash cannot	Cracking, stretching, delamination

Why is your yoga mat slippery, and how do you fix it?

Slip has three common causes, and each has a different fix.

1. The mat is brand new

Many new mats ship with a thin manufacturing film on the surface. It feels smooth and faintly greasy. The fix is to break it in: practice on it, wipe it down after each session, and give it a hand wash after the first week or two. Most mats grip properly after a handful of sessions.

2. Sweat, oil, and product buildup

If a mat that used to grip now slides, this is almost always why. Lotion, sunscreen, and skin oil sit on the surface and act like a lubricant. A proper deep clean usually restores the grip in one go. If you sweat heavily, add a towel over the mat during practice so the sweat lands on cotton, not on the mat.

3. The mat is worn out

Grip comes from surface texture. Once it is polished smooth, no amount of cleaning brings it back. If the mat has shiny patches where your hands and feet go, or the top layer is flaking, it is finished.

Foot slide in particular is often solved faster with grip socks than with a new mat. Silicone dots on the sole bite into the surface, and unlike bare feet they do not transfer skin oil onto the mat, so the mat stays cleaner too.

How should you dry and store a yoga mat?

Drying is where most mats get ruined. Three rules cover it:

• Dry it completely before rolling. A damp mat rolled up in a bag is how mats start to smell. If the mat feels cool to the touch, it is still wet.
• Keep it out of direct sun. UV makes foam and rubber brittle. An airy indoor spot or shade outdoors is better than a sunny balcony.
• Roll, do not fold. Folding creases the mat, and creases become permanent weak lines. Roll it with the top side facing out so the surface you practice on stays flat.

Store it standing up or lying flat somewhere dry. Do not leave it in a hot car, which is one of the fastest ways to warp a mat.

When should you replace your yoga mat?

Cleaning fixes grime. It does not fix wear. Replace the mat when:

• It is slippery even straight after a deep clean.
• You can see thin, shiny, or flaking patches where your hands and feet land.
• The cushioning is compressed and your knees or wrists feel the floor through it.
• The smell will not come out. Once odor is in the foam, it stays there.

A well-treated mat used a few times a week typically lasts a year or two. If your wrists and knees ache in kneeling poses, thickness is worth paying attention to, and an extra thick mat is the simple answer.

FAQ

Can you use vinegar to clean a yoga mat?

Yes, diluted. Roughly 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water in a spray bottle works well for odor and light buildup. Spray the cloth rather than the mat, and let the mat air dry before rolling it. Undiluted vinegar is too harsh for repeated use.

Can you use disinfectant wipes or alcohol spray on a yoga mat?

It is not a good idea as a routine. Alcohol and strong disinfectants dry out and degrade the surface, and the grip goes with it. Mild soap and water handles ordinary sweat and grime. Consumer Reports gives similar advice on avoiding harsh cleaners.

How do you get the smell out of a yoga mat?

Deep clean it with mild soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry it fully. For a lingering smell, wipe the mat with a diluted vinegar solution, let it sit for a few minutes, wipe again with clean water, and air dry. If the odor keeps coming back after that, it has soaked into the foam and the mat is due for replacement.

How long does a yoga mat take to dry?

After a wipe-down, 10 to 20 minutes. After a hand wash, several hours, and sometimes overnight. Rolling a damp mat inside a dry towel and pressing it first cuts that time significantly.

Should you clean both sides of a yoga mat?

Yes. The underside collects floor dust and grit, and that transfers onto the practice surface every time you roll the mat up. It takes 15 extra seconds.

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