DIY Yoga Mat Cleaning Sprays

Recently, I was asked about using essential oils to clean yoga mats, so I did a quick bit of online research in order to better answer the question – both for the person asking, and for myself!

The two essential oils most often recommended for Do-It-Yourself yoga mat cleaning sprays are Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Many DIY recipes suggest using these two oils together.

Tea Tree is well known for promoting cleansing and purity. Lavender has a clean and fresh scent, and is an incredibly gentle oil which promotes relaxation. Lavender is often called the “Swiss Army knife of essential oils” since it has so many uses!

Tea Tree and Lavender make a powerful and beautifully-smelling cleaning combination -- but I also remembered that Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner could be used to make a yoga mat cleaning spray. Thieves Household Cleaner “is a green, ecologically friendly, plant-based cleaner containing Thieves and lemon essential oils” and “is perfect for cleaning many surfaces in your home” (from the label).

At one of the yoga studios where I teach, there are spray bottles of Thieves yoga mat cleaner available – as well as both paper towels and cloth towels – for yogis to wipe their mats clean after every class.

According to the “dilution ratios” on the Thieves Household Cleaner label, one part cleaner to 30 parts water is suitable for most cleaning applications. Or you can follow the instructions below:

Thieves Yoga Mat Cleaner

8 oz. spray bottle
½ capful Thieves Household Cleaner
water

Pour Thieves Household Cleaner and water into bottle. Attach sprayer back onto bottle, and shake to mix. Spray yoga mat, and wipe clean!

If you would prefer to make your yoga mat cleaning spray with Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils, here are two recipes that you might try!

DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner #1

16 oz. spray bottle
1 cup water
¼ cup white vinegar
15 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Pour water and vinegar into the spray bottle. Add essential oils, attach sprayer back onto bottle, and shake to mix. Spray yoga mat and wipe clean!

(adapted from https://www.movenourishbelieve.com/diy/diy-yoga-mat-cleaner/)

DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner #2

2 oz. spray bottle
funnel (not required, but helpful!)
distilled water
witch hazel
15 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Fill spray bottle ¾ with distilled water. Add witch hazel, filling nearly to top of bottle. Add essential oils, attach sprayer back onto bottle, and shake to mix. Spray yoga mat and wipe clean!

(adapted from: http://www.thesavvyoiler.com/tag/non-toxic-cleaners/)

When using essential oils, it’s recommended that you store your DIY product in a dark (brown or blue) glass bottle. Plastic bottles can sometimes leach chemicals – and dark glass bottles help to protect the essential oil from being degraded by sunlight. These bottles can be purchased easily from many online sources.

If you are interested in making any of these DIY yoga mat cleaning sprays, and would like to purchase the essential oils or the Thieves Household Cleaner, please get in touch with me!

Or you can also order through my Young Living website: