Cleaning a yoga mat at a glance
Wipe after class, deep clean every few weeks, dry flat before rolling.
The routine that keeps a mat grippy and fresh. Details by material below.
Short answer
How to Clean a Yoga Mat: Wipe your yoga mat after each sweaty session with a damp cloth and mild soapy water, then let it dry flat. Every few weeks, clean it deeper for its material; never soak or machine-wash it unless its maker allows it.
Key takeaways
- A damp cloth and mild soap clean most mats.
- Dry fully before rolling to avoid odors.
- Clean by material: rubber and cork dislike soaking and sun.
To pick a mat that is easy to care for, see our best yoga mats.
How to Clean a Yoga Mat After Each Session
A quick wipe keeps sweat and skin oils from building up and keeps the grip working.
- 1. Mix: a few drops of mild dish soap in a spray bottle of warm water.
- 2. Wipe: mist the top lightly and wipe with a soft cloth, then wipe the underside.
- 3. Rinse: go over it with a cloth dampened in plain water to remove soap.
- 4. Dry: lay it flat or hang it over a chair until fully dry, out of direct sun.
- 5. Roll: only once dry; roll cork mats cork side out.
How to Deep Clean a Yoga Mat
Every few weeks, or when the mat feels slick or smells, give it a deeper clean. Lay it flat in a bath or on the floor, scrub gently with a soft cloth and soapy water, rinse with a damp cloth, press out the water with a towel and let it dry for a day. Do not soak a rubber or cork mat: water gets into the base and slows drying.
Pro tip: A new mat that feels slippery often carries a factory film: wipe it with a damp cloth for the first few sessions.
Cleaning by Material
| Material | Daily care | Avoid | Mats in our pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC (closed-cell) | Damp cloth, mild soap | Oils, abrasive pads | 5 |
| Natural rubber | Damp cloth, water or a cleaner made for rubber | Sun, oils, soaking, alcohol sprays | 4 |
| Polyurethane over rubber | Wipe after every class, dry fully | Soaking, rolling while damp | 4 |
| Cork top | Damp cloth, a little soap now and then | Soaking, sun, folding | 1 |
| Microfiber towel top | Machine or hand wash as the maker says | Fabric softener, tumble drying | 2 |
| Foam | Damp cloth, mild soap | Hot water, sun, shoes | 3 |
Check Amazon for current pricing and availability.
How to Get a Smell Out of a Yoga Mat
A sour smell usually comes from sweat trapped in an open-cell top rolled while damp. Deep clean it, then let it air out flat for a day or two in a ventilated room. A new mat often smells of rubber or plastic for a few weeks; the EPA page on indoor air quality explains that new products can release volatile compounds, and airing them out in a ventilated space reduces them.
Keeping Your Mat Clean Between Classes
- Wash your hands and feet before practice, and skip lotion: it coats the top and kills grip.
- Use your own mat in shared studios, or a thin travel mat as a layer over a studio mat; see our best travel yoga mats.
- Keep the mat out of a hot car and away from windows.
- The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises practicing yoga safely and properly; a clean, grippy mat is part of that.
Easy-Care Yoga Mats
Three picks from our rankings with surfaces that are easy to keep clean.
Closed-cell pvc
Manduka PRO 6mm
FitScore 70.9/100
Sweat stays on top of the dense PVC, so a damp cloth cleans it. Ranked #1 in our best thick yoga mat guide, FitScore 70.9 for that intent.
Check Price on AmazonOdor-resistant cork
Yoga Design Lab Travel Cork 1.5mm
FitScore 56.8/100
Cork resists odors and needs only a wipe now and then. Ranked #4 in our best travel yoga mat guide, FitScore 56.8 for that intent.
Check Price on AmazonEasy daily wipe
Gaiam Performance Dry-Grip 5mm
FitScore 68.9/100
A topcoat that wipes clean, on a light 5 mm mat. Ranked #1 in our best yoga mat guide, FitScore 68.9 for that intent.
Check Price on AmazonChecklist Before You Buy
5 checks
Tap a number to check off that step.
- 01
Wipe after every sweaty session.
- 02
Deep clean every few weeks.
- 03
Dry flat before rolling.
- 04
Use mild soap or a cleaner made for your mat.
- 05
Keep it out of the sun.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1Soaking a rubber or cork mat.
Mistake 2Rolling a damp mat.
Mistake 3Using oils, vinegar-heavy mixes or alcohol on natural rubber.
Mistake 4Machine-washing a mat that is not made for it.
Mistake 5Drying a mat in the sun.
The Bottom Line
- A damp cloth and a drop of mild soap clean most mats; harsh sprays and oils strip the grip.
- Open-cell rubber and polyurethane tops absorb sweat: dry them fully before rolling to avoid odors.
- Cork resists odors and needs little cleaning; towel-top mats are made to be washed.
- Keep every mat out of direct sun, which dries out rubber and cork.
Our Top Picks
Closed-cell pvcManduka PRO 6mmFitScore70.9/100Check on Amazon- Odor-resistant corkYoga Design Lab Travel Cork 1.5mmFitScore56.8/100Check on Amazon
- Easy daily wipeGaiam Performance Dry-Grip 5mmFitScore68.9/100Check on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Wipe it with a damp cloth and a little mild soap in water after sweaty sessions, rinse with a damp cloth and let it dry flat before rolling.
Only if the maker says so, as with some microfiber towel-top mats; PVC, rubber and cork mats should be wiped, not machine-washed.
A quick wipe after each sweaty session and a deeper clean every few weeks, or when it smells or feels slick.
A little diluted vinegar is fine on PVC; on natural rubber, cork and polyurethane, use mild soap or the maker cleaner instead.
Deep clean it, then let it air out flat for a day or two in a ventilated room; never roll it while damp.
Wipe it with a damp cloth and a little soap now and then, let it dry flat and roll it cork side out.
Explore More Yoga Mat Guides
Yoga Mat Materials (2026): PVC, Rubber, Polyurethane, Cork, TPE and Foam
Best Yoga Mat (2026): 5 Yoga Mats Ranked by FitScore
Best Non Slip Yoga Mat (2026): 5 Grippy Mats Ranked by FitScore
Best Eco Friendly Yoga Mat (2026): 5 Natural Mats Ranked
Best Hot Yoga Mat (2026): 5 Mats That Grip When You Sweat
Yoga Mat Thickness Guide (2026): How Thick Should a Yoga Mat Be?
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