Help Center - Manduka Mat Care Overview

How Often Should You Clean Your Yoga Mat?

Every time you practice, your body leaves behind sweat and skin cells on your mat. Over time, this can lead to bacteria growth and that’s what causes odors. To keep your mat fresh and clean :

• After Every Practice: Use Manduka’s Mat Wash & Refresh to help prevent stains and odors.

• Weekly Deep Refresh: Once a week, give your mat a more thorough refresh, focusing on common touch points. Scrub lightly with extra solution for best results.

• Thorough Clean: Only do a full clean when you feel your mat has been exposed to germs. If you practice at home and everyone is healthy, deep cleaning isn’t needed often.

Studio Practices:
If you use a shared studio mat, clean both sides of your mat after class. For this, Manduka’s Botanical Cleaner is recommended. it’s designed for a safe, deep clean.

About Disinfectant Wipes:
Using chemical disinfectant wipes on your mat isn’t ideal. Here’s why:

1. To disinfect properly, the entire surface must stay wet for several minutes tough to achieve with a small wipe.

2. Chemicals in these wipes can damage your mat over time.

3. After using a disinfectant, you must rinse and wipe your mat thoroughly to avoid skin irritation.

Manduka’s Botanical Cleaner is specially formulated to be safe, non-irritating, and effective without rinsing, protecting both your mat and your skin.

For more tips, check out our Mat Care Guide.

Can I clean my yoga mat with disinfectant wipes?

Disinfectant wipes aren’t the best choice for cleaning your yoga mat. For a disinfectant to work properly, the entire surface needs to stay wet for 4–5 minutes hard to achieve with just a wipe. Plus, the active ingredients that kill germs can damage your mat over time. If you do use disinfectant wipes, you must rinse your mat thoroughly afterward to avoid skin irritation.

Manduka’s Botanical Cleaner is a safer alternative: it cleans effectively, doesn’t require rinsing, and is gentle on both your mat and your skin.

Can I clean my mat with any chemicals?

Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or solvent-based cleaners. These can degrade your mat and shorten its lifespan. If needed, use natural botanical disinfectants sparingly, following all instructions carefully, and rinse your mat thoroughly afterward.

Can I wash my mat in the washing machine?

No, machine washing can seriously damage or even ruin your mat. The best way to clean it is by hand using a soft cloth and the right cleaning solution. For daily upkeep, Manduka’s Mat Wash & Refresh is ideal.

For more tips, check out our [Mat Care Guide].

Manduka Care Solutions

Keeping your yoga mat in top condition is key to maintaining its performance, lifespan, and hygiene. Manduka offers a range of mat care solutions to make it easy to refresh, restore, or deep clean your mat depending on what it needs.

Care Options:

Refresh – A simple daily wash keeps your mat smelling fresh and clean. Safe for all mat materials.

Restore – Conditions and restores natural rubber mats, extending their lifespan. Use monthly on eKO® Series mats. Not intended for daily cleaning.

Thorough Deep Clean with Botanical Cleaner – For a deeper clean using all-natural ingredients. Safe for all mats except GRP® Series (open-cell surface). Follow directions carefully on closed-cell mats.

For detailed instructions, see our [Mat Care Guide].

Understanding Your Mat

Different Manduka mats are made from different materials, which affects how they should be cleaned:

PRO Series (PRO, PROlite, PRO Travel)

• Closed-cell material nothing absorbs into the mat.

• Can be thoroughly cleaned on the surface every time.

• Use: Mat Wash & Refresh + Botanical Cleaner

eKO® Series (eKO, eKO Lite, eKO Superlite)

• Natural rubber, closed-cell material.

• Easy to clean but must be dried properly.

• Use: Mat Wash & Refresh + Natural Rubber Mat Restore (monthly) + Botanical Cleaner

GRP® Series (GRP, GRP Lite, Adapt)

• Open-cell PU and rubber designed to absorb moisture for maximum grip.

• Requires careful cleaning due to its absorbent material.

• Use: Mat Wash & Refresh + GRP Restore (monthly)

Foundation Series (Manduka X, Begin Mats)

• TPE closed-cell material nothing absorbs into the mat.

• Can be cleaned thoroughly on the surface every time.

• Use: Mat Wash & Refresh + Botanical Cleaner

Mat Care Guide

Choosing the right cleaning solution is easier than ever. Check out our [Mat Care Guide] to find the best products and care routine for your mat type.

Won’t essential oils make my mat slippery?

Most yoga mats are closed-cell, meaning they don’t absorb liquids. Anything you spray on the surface will stay there until you wipe it off. If you applied pure essential oil directly, yes, your mat could get slippery.

Manduka’s Mat Wash & Refresh is carefully formulated to prevent this. Our blend mixes essential oils with water and a bio-based solubilizer, creating a light, even layer across the mat. Over time, cosmetic-grade, floral essential oils are less likely to build up and affect your mat’s performance.

Why are Manduka Mat Care solutions better than homemade mixes?

It comes down to ingredients and preparation. Sure, both Manduka’s solutions and homemade sprays use water and essential oil. But water and oil don’t naturally mix — without help, the oil can separate and float on top.

We use a bio-based solubilizer to keep the oils evenly distributed, then mix everything in an industrial mixer at 1,700 rpm (way faster than a home mixer at 280 rpm). This ensures every spray gives the perfect balance of water and oil for safe, effective cleaning.

What about Manduka’s Botanical Cleaner vs. household cleaners?

Manduka’s Botanical Cleaner is all-natural and plant-based, formulated to deep clean your mat in a single step. Many household cleaners contain solvents or harsh chemicals that can degrade your mat over time.

Our cleaner uses Thymol and contains no harsh chemicals, so it doesn’t require rinsing and is gentle on skin while keeping your mat clean and safe.