You’ve spent hours getting into that perfect yoga pose, and all of the practice has paid off. Your sweat-soaked mat feels so nice against your skin, and your groggy brain is now processing what happened earlier. But what about that crazy dog hair stuck in your mat? Have you even thought about how to get it out of your yoga mat?
This post isn’t intended to scare you but rather to give you some useful information on how to remove dog hair from your own yoga mat with common household items. If you’re like a lot of yogis out there, chances are good that you have at least one or two dogs living at home.
Dog hair can be a real problem for yogis who practice at home as well as those who travel. It can get caught in mats, tangles up in the straps of backpacks, and even make its way into your practice even when it doesn’t smell too bad!
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There are plenty of ways to get rid of dog hair from your own yoga mats (or any other surface) with a little bit of common sense and seven easy steps:
#1. Disinfect your mat with baking soda
When you first bring your mat home, sprinkle some baking soda on the entire mat surface. Not only will this help remove excess oil and remove any lingering smells from your practice, but it will also help to cleanse the mat. Make sure to dry the mat completely before using it again. The baking soda solution should be replenished whenever your mat gets dirty.
#2. Remove dog hair from your mat with a hair dryer
When you first bring your mat home, use a hair dryer to “de-matfy” it. This is a good idea any time you use a surface that has animal hair in it. Simply place your mat on a hair dryer and set it between 120-140 degrees Farenheight for about 15-30 minutes.
The high heat will help to loosen up all the excess oil and hair from your mat, making it easier to remove with the next steps.
#3. Spray the hair dryer with water
After you “de-matfy” your mat, use a spray bottle to “wet-fy” it. This is a really simple way to remove excess oil and hair from your mat. Place your mat on the floor or a table and spray it with water from the bottle. Make sure to keep the entire surface of your mat well-oiled so that any excess water is removed.
#4. Use an old toothbrush to remove the hair
After you “wet-fy” your mat, use an old toothbrush to remove all the excess oil and hair. It doesn’t get much easier than that! Put your mat back on its stand and place the toothbrush in between the layers of your mat. Work from the bottom up, removing as much hair as possible from the top. This is a good way to get rid of dog hair from both indoor and outdoor mats. Remember to keep the toothbrush clean so that it won’t clog your pores.
#5. Scrub the mat with a wet cloth
Now that you’ve taken the hair out of your mat, use a wet cloth to “scrub” the mat. This is a really simple way to get rid of dog hair from your own practice as well as from other mats. Place your mat on the towel or a matting mat and use the cloth to scrub the entire surface of your mat. Don’t use a brush as this will just make things messy.
#6. Rinse the mat and air dry it
After scrubbing and scrubbing your mat with a towel, rinse it thoroughly with water. This will help to get rid of all traces of dirt and excess oil from your mat. Finally, make sure to air dry your mat completely so that any moisture left in the mat pores is thoroughly dried out.
#7. Don’t over-sweat as sweaty bodies produce more sweat than clean ones!
When it comes to removing dog hair from your own yoga mat, you don’t want to sweat as much as possible! If you’re doing hot yoga or any other high-intensity practice where you’re actively working the muscles, you may want to consider wearing a cooling shirt. Yoga clothing should be worn when doing any kind of strenuous exercise.
Now that you know how to get rid of dog hair from your own yoga mat, you can focus on doing your practice properly. Remember to always store your yoga mats in the proper location so that they are easily accessible when you need them. And most importantly, try to be dog-friendly when you have the chance!