Activity Gyms Mat

Activity Gyms Mat

Activity Gyms Mat

Posted on: December 09, 2011 - 8:06 pm
by Admin

Mats are either brought to class and placed on shared floors or shared right from the start as people grab a gym or studio mat for each class. Shared mats attract additional germs, fungus, and viruses in addition to the floor that provides another surface of bacteria. The goal is to have a clean odor-free mat and to prevent fungus growth. The mat's basic function as a sticky mat must not be compromised in the cleaning process. Sticky mats are a yoga staple allowing one side to remain fixed on the floor and the other side to provide a foundation for intentional movement and nonslipping hands and feet.

Yoga Mat Cleaning Methods

Several methods for ridding the mat of odors and grime exist. Each has some disadvantages that can be worked around. Sprays will disinfect but without wiping after, dirt is not removed.

  • Use sprays but consider the timing. Don’t spray a mat in a public place since some may be allergic to the ingredients. Even so called "natural" ingredients in a spray such as lavender or rosemary or witch hazel can permeate the air and irritate the nose, causing coughing or sneezing. They can also irritate the skin itself. Pretreated wipes can leave a residue.
  • Always wipe clean after a few moments of use.
  • Tossing in the washing machine may allow a particularly absorbent mat to remain heavy and wet for hours or days.
  • Hosing the mat down presents some of the same problems with delayed drying.

Commercial or Organic, Green, Natural, Mat Cleaners Ingredients

Cleansers use terms such as "natural," "organic," "environmentally friendly," "green," and "commercial." The cleaner solution should contain some form of detergent surfactant and be antiviral, ideally antibacterial and antifungal, but nondestructive to the mat material itself. Most commercial brands contain water, alcohol of some sort, and forms of ammonium chlorite, preservatives, and bleach.