Best Mat Disinfectants & Cleaners

by Bob Hannum July 15, 2013

Table of Contents    – A Few Words About Bleach    – Best Mat Sprays    – Best DIY Mat Sprays    – Best Mat Wipes    – Best Mat Cleaners

Important considerations for choosing a mat disinfectant is that it is safe to handle and will not harm children, pets, the environment, or the mat.

Also note that there are growing health risks in sharing a mat and not disinfecting it on a regular basis – for information about these risks click here.

Bleach is the best disinfectant, but not in my opinion, the best choice for disinfecting an exercise mat. The reason is that bleach poses serious dangers to us and our environment. It is dangerous for the lungs, skin, eyes, and your mat. When it comes to disinfecting a mat it’s like using a bomb when a simple verbal “No!” will do!

Amy Hanoian-Fontana, community education specialist at the Connecticut Poison Control Center says, “Most poison center calls involve exposures to household bleach. The symptoms are mild to moderate, resolve after thorough flushing with water, and leave no long-term effects.” 

She explains that household bleach products contain 5 percent hypochlorite which is the potentially dangerous ingredient. Although most people dilute bleach with water for home cleaning, mixing even diluted bleach with certain other common household cleaners such as ammonia, vinegar, or other acids produces toxic chlorine gas. Though swimming pool chemicals and other products with higher concentrations of hypochlorite are safe if used as directed, I simply advise finding a safer alternative. The other serious concern is our environment. The manufacture of bleach generates dioxin which has been linked to cancer and birth defects, and is highly toxic to birds and fish.  

Other household cleaners are not disinfectants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that ammonia, baking soda, vinegar, and borax are not registered as disinfectants with the Environmental Protection Agency, because they have little or no effect on staph infections, salmonella, and E.coli. And forget about hydrogen peroxide because it causes severe burns at high enough concentrations to be an effective disinfectant.

Ok so now for my favorite alternatives that are safe for us, the earth, and our exercise mat:

• Changing Poses mat sanitizer – changingposes.com. All natural lemon and tee tree scents. No animal testing.
• NAMA mat sanitizer. Natural mint and green tea scent. No animal testing.
• Melaleuka’s “Tough & Tender” available thru melaleuka.com – natural disinfectant and safe on foam and vinyl – comes in liquid and wipes. Natural scent.
• Doller Tree 50% wintergreen rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Some customers don’t like the scent.
• Vermont Soap Organics offers a certified organic exercise mat spray. Certified organic. Found at health food stores, Amazon, and at vermontsoap.com. Also comes in travel sizes and unscented options.
• Manduka antibacterial mat spray is made from organic, all natural ingredients. Sprays come in a variety of convenient sizes, including travel size perfect for your purse or mat bag. Gingergrass, lavender, and citrus scented options.

Placing your mat in the sun is a natural bleacher and disinfectant. Make your own with water, rubbing alcohol, and a tiny amount of tea tree oil, or just tea tree oil and water. Or vinegar and water with a little lemon in a spray bottle.

My favorite Do-It-Yourself mat disinfecting spray recipe is found here. This recipe is particularly good because it contains all-natural antifingal and antibacterial ingredients.

One of my readers suggests Citra-Solv plus tea tree oil and water. “I’ve been using it for years….My equipment looks great, stays clean, and the clients love the smell so much they don’t mind cleaning up!”

If you prefer disinfectant wipes rather than a spray, here are my favorites:

Jo-Sha all natural wipes are excellent – found in health food stores – contain no alcohol or bleach and even the packaging is biodegradable.

Stirlen Chi sells wipes washes and sprays that are all natural as well – also found in health food stores and at Amazon.

To wash your mat I suggest the following safe and effective products. Laundry detergent is too harsh:

• Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap – found in food coops, natural foods stores, and supermarkets – all natural ingredients with unscented options.
• Simple Green – simplegreen.com at hardware stores and Amazon.com.
• Shaklee’s “Basic H” is all natural and the first certified green cleanser – also the least expensive.

If you come across a product that impresses you please contact me.