Keywords: How to Best Clean Yoga Props (August 2003)

ORIGINAL QUESTION:

My question is this, what do other yoga studios do to clean woolen yoga blankets and sticky mats? How often, what processes, what products work, etc. Thanks for any information you may have. We have a lot of them that need to be cleaned!

Sincerely,
Donna O'Neil

ANSWERS:

From: Meenakshi Key AYTT: 1991

Dear Donna,

These hot days of summer I find to be ideal to clean blankets and sticky mats. I tackle this job at the laundry mat as they have the large capacity non agitator washers, and dry them at home on the line. I use just a what I use on my clothing (Arm & Hammer FabriCare Free.) Before I hang sticky mats out I roll them in a towel as they seem to want to hold water and can take more time to dry. The blankets I keep on hand for my students are acrylic so shrinkage is not a problem. For wool you could try a cold water wash on a delicate cycle, but expect shrinkage unless your blankets specifically say they are washable. I do this about 3 times a year. I'm sure it is a personal call, as to how often to do this. Depending on how many classes your studio and how many people use them. This has worked well for me. I hope it is helpful.

Namaste
Meenakshi

Howdy! This is Susan Hayes, AYTT Summer 1999. My e-mail: susan@mountaintopyoga.com.

Sticky mats can be washed in the washing machine, a few at a time, on the "gentle" cycle, with woolite or regular laundry detergent (not too much). It does not adversely affect the stickiness of the mat. The trick is afterwards: they have to hang dry for at least 2 days, because the cells absorb water. I usually wash mine whenever I close the studio for at least a long weekend, or preferably a week (so, maybe once or twice a year).

Blankets are expensive. I've used "Dryel" (the home dry-cleaning method) and you can only fit one blanket in each load; that method doesn't clean the blankets very well. You might try to strike up a deal with your local dry-cleaners (ask for a mass quantity discount), especially in the hot summertime. Otherwise, maybe hand-launder in Woolite in the bathtub, one or two at a time, and hang out to dry on a clothesline?

Good luck!

Washing sticky mats: use a very little mild laundry soap, in the bathtub with warm water. Gently scrub the mat on both sides. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse again. Then rinse with some vinegar in the water. Squeeze out the mat by rolling it in 2 or 3 large towels, then hang to dry. I have also washed my mat in the washing machine, but you have to take it out before the spin cycle, or the spindles can damage the material. The vinegar is good for restoring and maintaining stickiness. My mat is 10 years old and going strong!

I don't have a woolen blanket, but as with all woolens, I would imagine you could machine wash it on the gentle cycle, then lay flat to dry.

Valerie

Fran Zabica
AYT 2000

Hi Donna,

I own a small studio in the LA area. I only have about 14 mats used in the studio and 12 travel mats, but I do have 40+ blankets (cotton Mexican).

The Mexican blankets really shrink, so I imagine that the wool blankets would shrink too. I wash mine at the laundry mat, and then bring them home damp. I line-dry them so I can block them square with clothes pins and eliminate shrinking. I have experimented with machine drying them without heat, but it takes forever, not to mention a lot of quarters. I recommend that you experiment before doing the whole lot. Measure a blanket before and after. A Mexican blanket can start out nice and big, and useful as a prop. But after washing, it can shrink to half the size. Not very useful.

I wash the blankets once a year, usually on a three-day weekend. The blankets don't get dirty at my studio. You run into trouble when you transport them to other venues where you don't have as much control over the environment. Also if you have a clientele that looks at yoga as a workout, they are likely to come to class unshowered.

As for the mats...I was scrubbing them once a year as well just because I couldn't do it any more frequently myself. I have just recently found a student willing to trade mat washing for yoga. She will clean the mats every session (every 8 weeks). I use Simple Green, a dish washing sponge wrapped in net (they are sold like that), a towel and a big sponge. I lightly spray the mat with Simple Green, briskly scrub with the wet net-sponge, use the larger sponge and clean water to remove the residue, rub with a terry towel, and set outside to dry. Since the mat is not soaked, it only takes minutes to dry. A pretty easy process. You just need elbow grease. Don't use the green scrubbing sponges. They cut the mat material.

You could have a mat washing party. I know that some mat manufacturers say that you can wash the mat in the machine, but the students who have done that complain that the mat never dries out. Water gets locked in the cells.

If you use too much soap, it leaves a sticky residue. I have found that the
above process works well. My mats were cleaned just two weeks ago. No one commented on the mats being sticky or slippery. They just smelled fresh. I had considered replacing the mats instead of washing them, but then I remembered how long it took to get rid of the rubber smell.

Side note: When I sign-up a new student I always recommend that she/he bring a face towel to place on the floor during face-down postures. I let them know that the studio is a clean as can be, but if they feel uncomfortable with their face on a sticky mat or the carpet, the towel from home is a good solution. They may bring it the first time, but rarely after that. They are always welcome to bring their own mat, but as soon as they roll it up, it is contaminated with what ever was underneath anyway. For those who are very particular, I suggest that they fold the mat, keeping the inside clean. Hope this helps.

Love and Light,
Fran Zabica, RYT

Joe Begley, AYT 2002

Dear Donna,

I’ve tried many procedures to clean my sticky mats. One of the best ways to disinfect the mats which will also remove some of the dirt stains is to use alcohol—-but not isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol because it is toxic. Go to your local liquor store and purchase a pint of “Everclear”. It is 95% pure grain alcohol. Saturate a clean rag with it and wipe down the mat...Don’t worry, you won’t get “high” when you’re in a prone position because it evaporates :) And don’t drink it either unless you dilute it with your favorite fruit punch at your next party :) It is 190 proof. Woolen blankets? Machine wash (gentle) in Woolite, please. How often? When you detect an unpleasant aroma coming from either, you have waited too long.

Happy cleaning!
Rory

Hi Donna,

Don't know if this is really helpful, but I purchase only cotton blankets at Bheka Yoga Supplies in Ashland, Oregon. They have an ad in Yoga International. they go to the laundromat, the cost being whatever your local laundromat charges. Folks are encouraged to purchase their own blankets as well. A friend of mine and also AYT requires her students to purchase their own blankets or buy from her; she doesn't hassle with laundering, etc. In a real studio, however, you have blankets available. I can give you toll free # if needed. Students are required to supply their own sticky mats that I purchase at a discount for them from Bheka. I keep a couple mats that new comers use "at their own risk". It is also washable in washer; hang to dry.

Have fun and enjoy!
Beth, AYT Aug of 2002