How To Best Clean Your Pilates Mat – Easy Steps & Tips

by Bob Hannum Nov 4, 2013

It’s important to clean your mat before using it, particularly if you are borrowing a mat supplied by a facility for a class. You can contract bacterial and fungal infections such as athletes foot and plantar warts from a mat that someone else has used and not disinfected. For more about mat risks click here. And for the best mat disinfectants and soaps click here. The best practice is to buy and use only your own mat. Also regularly cleaning your mat will increase its life span. Here are 6 easy steps to best mat care and longest mat life. Shake the mat off to remove any dirt or dust. Spray your exercise mat with a disinfectant. There are several all-natural products, and you can even make your own – see my list of best mat cleaners. Be sure to touch every surface with spray. The mat does not need to be soaking with spray, but the disinfectant must touch a germ to eliminate it.

Do not use bleach unless you are particularly concerned about germs. Bleach such as Clorox will kill more germs than any other readily available disinfectant, but it will also decrease the life of your mat. And it’s not a harmless chemical despite its benign reputation as a “household disinfectant”. You need to take care not to get it in your eyes, be sure the area in which you use it is well ventilated, and don’t mix bleach with other chemicals especially ammonia. If you do decide to use bleach, mix a ½ cap (yes cap, not cup!) of bleach to a full gallon. Ruke of thunb: if you can smell bleach it’s stronger than you need.

For a great all-natural disinfectant mix a cap full of tea tree oil into a spray bottle of water. Tea tree oil has a mild scent which I find pleasant. For those with scent sensitivity, there are natural unscented options which I list in my article about best mat cleaners. Leave the spray on the mat for a minute and then wipe the mat with a terry cloth. Turn the mat over and treat the other side as well. Dissolve scuff marks and spots with a solution of a ½ cap of Dr. Bonners soap to 1 cup of hot water. Gently scrub the spots until they are gone. Rinse and hang to dry. A particularly soiled mat can be washed in a tub of warm water using a mild soap (such as Dr. Bonners or Ivory) and a soft-bristle brush. Rinse, blot dry with a towel, and then hang to dry. I do not suggest using detergent as it leaves a residue unless you thoroughly rinse, and detergents will reduce the life of your foam mat. Some people wash mats in their washing machine using a mild soap and cancel the spin cycle – this is only applicable to thin foam mats, and not to thick mats or mats made of natural fiber or rubber. The best defense against germs and dirt is simply to take a moment after each exercise session to wipe down your mat using a disposable antibacterial wipe – see my list of favorite products. Air dry for just a few minutes before rolling it up.

• Never roll up a damp exercise mat as this will trap moisture and promote mildew.
• Stow some wipes in your gym bag or car for cleaning on the go.
• Wipe your mat down right after class to keep it fresh.
• Avoid using baby wipes or other cleaning wipes – the chemicals can damage your mat and make it slick.