As someone who exercises on a daily basis, my yoga mat gets a lot of use. I roll it out at least twice a day for stretching, ab workouts, and other floor related exercises both indoors and out. But have you ever wondered about how many germs you might be picking up on your yoga mat along the way? I know I haven't, so when I sat down and thought about it I was appalled that I never realized this until now!

Just think about it, the germs on your shoes, the ground outside, various indoor flooring, and of course your own sweat mingle and have a hay day every time you use it. These germs are easily transferred all over your body…even your face if you're doing moves like child's pose. Dirty yoga mats can carry millions of bacteria, allergens, yeasts, and even Staph.

Sounds lovely, doesn't it? So how can we get those nasties off?

Homemade Yoga Mat Spray That Cleanses and Disinfects

The good news is it's really easy to clean and disinfect a yoga mat with ingredients you probably already have in your home. I really like using a spray to clean my mat after a workout because it's quick and simple. Not only that, using a spray that's infused with essential oils acts like a form of aromatherapy so I will often spritz my mat a few times pre-workout just for the lovely smell alone.

To make a homemade yoga mat spray, you will need:

• A spray bottle (the essential oil amounts below are for a 2oz size bottle)
• Distilled water
• Witch hazel (alcohol-free)
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 3 drops of lemon essential oil
• 2 drops of tea tree essential oil

The essential oils in this blend are powerful anti-bacterials and anti-fungals. The tea tree cleanses, the lemon uplifts, and the lavender calms your senses while killing bacteria.

You can play around with different oils and quantities up to 10 drop total for a 2oz spray bottle. I've enjoyed using lemongrass, peppermint, sweet orange, eucalyptus, and even geranium to help create fun combinations to match my mood. I will often have two different sprays; one for morning and one for evening that contain different oils for those times of day like uplifting and revitalizing oils for when I wake up, and calming and relaxing oils before I go to bed.

I hope you have fun trying your own combinations!

Loving Preparation - Homemade Yoga Mat Spray

1. Begin by filling your spray bottle ¾ of the way with distilled water.
2. Next, add the witch hazel until you reach the shoulder of the bottle.
3. Now add the essential oils, cap, and shake well before use.

To Use

Roll out your yoga mat nice and flat and begin spritzing the entire surface with your homemade yoga mat spray. Let it sit for a moment and then wipe it down with a clean damp cloth. Repeat on the other side. Allow the mat to dry completely before rolling it up for storage.

Repeat every time you use your yoga mat to keep it fresh and germ-free!

Be sure to check out my other homemade spray recipes below!

Brain Fog Lifter Room Spray
How to Make an Anti-anxiety Room and Body Spray
Calming Room and Body Spray
DIY Poo-Be-Gone Bathroom Spray
Holiday Room Spray Recipes