DIY: Mat Wash

I started making yoga mat wash in 2011 and haven't bought any since. I wanted to share my favorite mat wash recipe so you can make it yourself when you practice at home, customize it to the scents you like the best, and even make gifts for your yogi friends and family. You can also use your mat wash as a household cleaner for hard surfaces or spray it around the house as an air freshener.

While making your own mat wash is eco-friendly and brings peace of mind to know your ingredients, there are a few things you should be aware of. One ingredient in the below recipe is essential oil. Essential oils are very concentrated and should be used with the utmost care. Toxicity and side effects often occur from incorrect usage or overdose. It is also important to switch up the essential oils you use regularly. When making your mat wash, go ahead and mix two solutions. All ingredients can be made together and then separated at the end to create two different essential oil cleaners.

Yoga Mat Cleaner Recipe

1 cup distilled water

1 cup witch hazel

30 drops tea tree oil

15-20 drops essential oil (depending on oil)

Place all the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake and start cleaning.

Essential oils we like are peppermint, lemongrass, geranium, clove, orange, eucalyptus and lavender or a combination of your favorite scents.

Note: You can learn more about essential oil safety at http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/safety.asp. If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or other health concerns, please check out the above link to be sure you use safe essential oils in the proper dosage. Essential oils should NEVER be applied to the skin undiluted or ingested.