The essentials in 30 seconds
Check what your mat is made of before cleaning it. Closed-cell mats (Manduka's PRO and TPE mats) absorb nothing, so you can wipe them down after every practice with a mat cleaner and a clean cloth, and deep clean at least once a week: spray until visibly wet, wait 1 to 2 minutes and gently scrub the touch points. Natural rubber mats need gentler care: JadeYoga recommends a damp cloth once a week, or after each use for vigorous or hot yoga, and no soap, alcohol, petroleum-based solvents or high concentrations of essential oils, which dry out, discolour and break down the rubber. Whatever the mat, never soak, shower or submerge it, do not put it in the washing machine, dry it before rolling and store it in a cool, dry place out of the sun.
- Absorbent PU mats (Manduka GRP) must never be treated with disinfectant.
- Only disinfect when the mat may have been exposed to germs, and rinse it afterwards.
- Natural rubber is damaged by sunlight: keep it indoors.
How to deep clean a yoga mat
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01
Identify the material
Closed-cell, natural rubber, or absorbent open-cell; check the label or the maker's website.
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02
Choose the cleaner
The mat wash or method its maker recommends for that material.
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03
Apply
Closed-cell mats: spray generously until visibly wet. Natural rubber: a damp cloth or the maker's natural rubber wash, without soaking.
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04
Wait
1 to 2 minutes on closed-cell mats; 5 minutes for Manduka's natural rubber restore.
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05
Scrub gently
A clean cloth over dirt, stains and the places your hands and feet touch most.
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06
Wipe and dry
A clean dry cloth, then let the mat dry fully before rolling it.
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07
Store
Cool, dry and away from direct sunlight.
Yoga mats by material
| Material | Clean with | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Closed-cell (Manduka PRO, TPE Begin and X) | Mat wash sprayed and wiped dry after every practice; deep clean weekly | Soaking, showering or submerging |
| Natural rubber (Manduka eKO, JadeYoga) | Damp cloth with water; the maker's natural rubber wash | Soap, alcohol, petroleum-based solvents, high concentrations of essential oils; hose, bath, shower, washing machine, vacuum; sun |
| Open-cell PU and rubber (Manduka GRP) | Damp cloth with a few pumps of mat wash foam, then a fresh-water wipe; hang to dry | Disinfectants, which are absorbed and cannot be rinsed out |
Cleaning a natural rubber yoga mat
Natural rubber grips well but is the most delicate material. JadeYoga advises wiping it with a damp cloth weekly, or after each use for vigorous or hot yoga, and using only a mat wash made for natural rubber. It warns that many cleaning products contain alcohol, petroleum-based solvents, soaps or high concentrations of essential oils, which make the rubber break down, dry out and discolour; essential oils can also make the mat slippery, and many mat sprays and natural cleaners contain a lot of them. Manduka adds: no soap of any kind, no garden hose, bathtub, shower, washing machine or vacuum cleaner, and no long exposure to sunlight. Changes in colour and texture are natural oxidation: storing the mat dry and out of the sun slows it down. JadeYoga mats are not meant for outdoor use: even minimal UV exposure damages the rubber.
How often to clean a yoga mat
Manduka recommends a quick wipe after every practice, to limit stains and odour, and a deeper clean at least once a week, using more solution and scrubbing the common touch points. Sweat and skin left on the surface let bacteria grow, which is what causes odour. You only need to disinfect when the mat may have been exposed to germs: at home with nobody ill, rarely; after a studio class, front and back.
What ruins a yoga mat
- Soaking, showering or submerging the mat, or a garden hose.
- The washing machine.
- Soap, alcohol and solvents on natural rubber.
- Strong essential oils, which make mats slippery and harm rubber.
- Disinfectant on absorbent mats, or disinfectant left without rinsing.
- Rolling a damp mat, or drying and storing it in the sun.
How to clean a yoga mat: frequently asked questions
What is the best way to clean a yoga mat?
The way its maker recommends for its material: a mat wash wiped dry on closed-cell mats, a damp cloth or natural rubber wash on rubber mats.
Can I clean my yoga mat with soap and water?
Not if it is natural rubber: Manduka and JadeYoga both say not to use soap. Check your mat's care instructions for other materials.
Can I put my yoga mat in the washing machine?
No. Manduka warns that a washing machine, shower or bath will likely damage a natural rubber mat beyond repair, and says never to submerge its other mats.
How often should I clean my yoga mat?
Wipe it after every practice and deep clean it at least once a week, as Manduka recommends.
Can I use disinfecting wipes on a yoga mat?
Manduka does not recommend it: they can shorten the mat's life and irritate skin. If you disinfect, follow the label and rinse thoroughly, and never on absorbent mats.
How do I dry a yoga mat?
Wipe it with a clean dry cloth and let it dry fully before rolling it, out of direct sunlight.
Sources
Manufacturer guidance, checked on 2 November 2026 (02/11/2026).
- Manduka · How to clean your yoga mat ↗Know the material first; closed-cell PRO and TPE mats wiped after every practice, deep clean by spraying until visibly wet, 1 to 2 minutes, gentle scrub, dry before rolling; never soak, shower or submerge; natural rubber eKO with restore for 5 minutes, no hose, bath, shower, washing machine, vacuum, sun or soap; oxidation; open-cell GRP never disinfected, foam on a damp cloth, fresh-water wipe, hang to dry; weekly deep clean; disinfect only after exposure to germs; disinfectant wipes, contact time, rinsing and skin irritation. Read in the browser.
- JadeYoga · Frequently asked questions ↗Natural rubber mats; damp cloth weekly, after each use for vigorous or hot yoga; plant-based mat wash for natural rubber; no other cleaners; alcohol, petroleum-based solvents, soaps and high concentrations of essential oils break down, dry out and discolour rubber; essential oils make mats slippery; not for outdoor use, UV damage; trace latex proteins. Read in the browser.
Mat flaking, cracking or always slippery?
Cleaning will not repair worn rubber: check your maker's care and warranty advice before replacing it.