Don’t you just love a nice clean smelling yoga mat to start your practice? I do! It just gives a beautiful feeling of peace, calm and relaxation before you have even started your yoga practice. As they say, the first step is just to step onto your mat.
So I simply had to put together for you a simple DIY Yoga mat spray recipe using non-other than those amazing natural essential oil.
Why you need to clean your yoga mat
After each practice, cleaning your yoga mat can help remove dirt, germs, and unwanted smells caused by bacteria and sweat that can build up in the mat.
Although you will see they always have spray cleaners in yoga studios around to clean your mat after your class, but cleaning your mat is also important if you practice at home.
Of course, you can buy yoga mat cleaners, but it’s also easy, economical and ecological to mix up your own.
Why should you make your yoga mat spray?
Well, it’s always a great feeling when you make something yourself, but also it’s reassuring to know that you can decide all the ingredients you put inside. Not to even mention that it’s less waste in packaging as you can re-use your bottle and from all the ingredients you buy once you will make many many yoga mat sprays.
Hey, you could even make them up as yoga gifts for your friends birthdays and Christmas pressies. Win-Win.
Can I use essential oils to clean my yoga mat?
Now I have read some stuff online about essential oils damaging yoga mats but I believe that this is because you need to get ingredients and the dilution ratios correct.
As with all essential oil usage if you use too high concentrations and undiluted essential oil they can damage anything, skin, wood, plastic, yoga mats etc. So it’s important to use your common sense and check about how to dilute the essential oils.
Is better to use vinegar, alcohol or witch hazel for cleaning my yoga mat?
There are a many different yoga mat spray recipes all over the internet some use alcohol, some using vinegar and some using witch hazel. So which do you use? It’s totally up to you however there are some factors to consider to make the right kind of spray to give you that beautiful feeling of peace, calm and relaxation.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a a natural antibacterial cleaner. So a great choice for cleaning or sanitizing surfaces around your home. So which kind should you use? Apple cider or white vinegar? Darker vinegars can possibly stain some surfaces so I recommend to choose white vinegar.
Another concern is won’t vinegar damage my yoga mat? The answer is yes if you don’t dilute it properly. My personal issue with vinegar is the smell because it’s strong as I am sensitive to smells even after I adding my essential oils, it just bothers me. If you don’t have an issues with the smell and have it on hand then it is a quick cheap available option.
How to make it:
Create mixture of 1 cup distilled water and ¼ cup white vinegar in a glass spray bottle.
Add your choice of essential oils (see my grounding and calming essential oil blend below)
Place the top on the spray bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. Shake the bottle before each use.
Alcohol
Alcohol is another choice you can see online that can be used. Some recipes use rubbing alcohol I actually prefer to use vodka as it’s odorless and more natural. Whichever you choose both are great disinfectants.
How to make it:
Fill ¼ of your bottle with alcohol and the rest with distilled water.( so ¾ of the bottle)
Add your choice of essential oils (see my grounding and calming essential oil blend below)
Place the top on the spray bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. Shake the bottle before each use.
Witch hazel
Witch hazel is a plant used for centuries by native Americans to treat skin problems related to irritation and inflammation. It is a liquid that is distilled from the dried leaves, bark of witch hazel. This astringent has an overall anti-inflammatory and indirectly antibacterial.
How to make it:
Fill ¼ of your bottle with Witch hazel and the rest with distilled water.( so ¾ of the bottle)
Add your choice of essential oils (see my grounding and calming essential oil blend below)
Place the top on the spray bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. Shake the bottle before each use.
So which essential oils should I use
Although many DIY recipes online will recommend mixing lots of different oils for their disinfecting, antiseptic, anti-fungal, etc. properties, they are important. However it's also important to consider the combination of aromatic notes the essential oils have to get the full long lasting effect from the oils.
Below are three curated blends that are both functional and aromatherapeutic to the mind as they blend well together according to their aroma notes
Grounding Combination
Eucalyptus -12 drops (Top note)
Tea Tree -middle -15 drops (Middle note)
Sandalwood -Base -6 drops (Base note )
Uplifting & Energizing Combination
Lemon-12 drops(Top note)
Lavender (top/middle)
Sandalwood -Base -6 drops (Base note)
Calming Combination
Lavender -12 drops (top/middle)
Tea Tree -middle -15 drops (Middle note)
Sandalwood -Base -6 drops (Base note)
Peppermint is known for its refreshing scent and has antibacterial properties.
Lavender. Also has an antibacterial nature, as well its relaxing aroma aids in boosting mindfulness and clarity.
Lemon is refreshing and energizing and used for disinfecting. A natural antiseptic and anti-fungal ingredient used in a number of cleaning products.
Tea Tree is antibacterial and anti-fungal, widely used to treat different skin issues.
Eucalyptus has a minty fragrance and like peppermint when inhaled it can help with deep breathing and other respiratory issues.
Sandalwood a wonderful base note and also has anti-fungal properties as well as enhances meditation, perfect for your yoga practice.
So there you have it, three aromatic DIY Yoga mat cleaning spray combinations to suit not only your mood but also also for your mind. Namaste