With the right care, the mat's slip resistance is maintained, the material does not wear out so quickly, and the mat remains hygienically clean. Uncleaned mats lose all their positive properties after just a few months of use.

A yoga mat is not a substitute for a towel. Sweat is (sometimes) part of the practice, but not on your yoga mat. If you sweat a lot during yoga, then it is even more important to take care of your mat. Sweat is poison for the mat's slip resistance. We recommend wiping the mat with a damp cloth after your yoga session and letting it dry. If your mat needs a little more care, it is best to use a special mat spray for cleaning.

Using the wrong care spray - e.g. from the studio - or a cleaning mixture based on incorrect information from the internet can damage the material of your mat and make the surface brittle or oily. This would make the yoga mat unusable. We have already seen a number of mats that have met a premature end in this way. We therefore recommend that you find out in advance about the correct care of the mat. There are very different requirements depending on the material.

If you google “yoga mat care”, you will find a whole range of different tips – from putting the mat in the bathtub to washing it in the machine. The latter is especially not advisable, as it could damage the mat. Although some manufacturers point out the possibility of washing the mat in the machine, you should first check the manufacturer’s website and even then we would not recommend
It is better to recommend less risky care measures.

After cleaning, dry your yoga mat lying down. Do not store damp mats rolled up: Bacteria love moisture and the mat will start to smell.

Sun salutations do not mean that the mat should be exposed to the sun for days. Sunlight dries out the mat and can cause discoloration. Do not store the mat permanently, but only unroll it to dry and protect it from direct sunlight. Your mat will feel most comfortable in a yoga bag after cleaning and drying.

It doesn't always have to be a special cleaning agent. With natural rubber, a simple vinegar and water mixture is often enough to clean the mat.
Detergent and essential oils should only be used on PVC/TPE mats and should be used drop by drop and heavily diluted. Simply mix a few drops of essential oil or mild detergent with lukewarm water and rub the mat with a scouring pad, for example. Then wipe the mat again with a damp cloth or sponge to remove any cleaning residue. The mat must then be allowed to dry thoroughly before it is rolled up again. According to the manufacturer, the natural rubber mix yoga mat from b,Halfmoon can be cleaned with a lemon water mixture (a few drops of lemon juice in a large bowl of water).

So you have decided on a mat that promises absolute slip resistance, but you don't feel it at first? Don't panic, depending on the mat, the slip resistance only develops in its entirety over time and especially with use. This is especially true for PVC mats. After production, there is still a certain amount of residual moisture on the surface that only dissolves over time and especially with use of the mat.

If your originally non-slip mat becomes slippery over time, you should check whether you have been taking care of it properly. For example, natural rubber mats should not be cleaned with soap, detergents, dishwashing liquids or oily solutions. If a mat has residue from cleaning mixtures left in or on your mat, this can affect the slip resistance of any mat. Water that has soaked the mat also affects the grip, so you should not put your mats in the washing machine or soak them in water in the bathtub. Once the mat has been soaked, it can take about 48 hours for it to dry completely again. If you roll up your yoga mat too soon, you run the risk of the water remaining in the mat and the mat becoming slippery.

If you haven't cleaned your natural rubber mat at all, haven't cleaned it very often, or have only cleaned it with water, this can also affect its grip; cleaning it with water alone is not enough to remove bacteria in the long run. Especially when doing sweaty yoga, it is necessary to clean your natural rubber mat thoroughly on a regular basis, as the surface is usually open-pored and allows sweat, bacteria, etc. to penetrate the mat and negatively change the surface texture. You can find more information on how to properly care for your yoga mat in our care guide and on the manufacturer's website for your yoga mat.

The slip resistance and grip of Manduka's PRO series yoga mats can be improved by treating them with coarse sea salt. The so-called "break in" process is used to remove any residues that may have been created during the production of the mat and to make the surface more grippy overall.

The full slip resistance only develops over time, as there is a certain amount of residual moisture on the surface of the pro yoga mats after production, which dissolves mainly with use. This is because the iron press that presses the mats into shape has to be lubricated with grease to prevent the mat from sticking or melting. This grease can leave invisible residues on the surface of the mat and initially affect the slip resistance.

Salting the mat is by no means a must - if you don't find your mat slippery, you don't need to "break it up". If, on the other hand, you find it too slippery from the start, then most likely no break-in process will help. In that case, you shouldn't salt the mat at all, but instead read our yoga mat test to find out which mat is suitable for you.