I make a Mat Wash composed of water, distilled white vinegar (for its anti-bacterial properties), tea tree oil (also for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, has a bit of a more pleasant smell than vinegar), lemon, and lavender oil. For the first wash on the Manduka mats or any mat you want to break up the chemical finish on, you can mix with baking soda or sea salt to make more of an exfoliating scrub that will penetrate the mat deeper. You can scrub with a brush on these thicker, more durable mats; if the mat is thinner and/or of softer construction than a Manduka, you can stick with a wash cloth or sponge. Rinse well in tub or with hose and hang to dry fully in sun before you roll it up.
Because of the disinfectant capabilities of vinegar and tea tree, I use this solution on almost everything. In the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the car, in the bedroom, wherever. It is gentle but thorough. I trust it much more than store-bought household cleaners, I wouldn't want to put those chemicals where I put my food...
I have used a dilute tea tree oil as my cleaner for quite some time. I never thought to combine the other ingredients. Would you share your formula?
ReplyDeleteI've never been one to measure out ingredients, Doug! hehe. I'd say the mixture is about half vinegar, a quarter distilled water, and the rest made up of 2 tablespoons tea tree oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice and just a little lavender oil mostly for the smell. I don't think you can really mess it up too bad if your measurements are a little different. Good luck ;)
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