Homemade Sanitizer for Yoga Mat and Exercise Equipment

Protect yourself from germs at the gym and the yoga studio with this homemade sanitizer!

Homemade Sanitizer for Yoga Mat and Exercise Equipment

When was the last time you cleaned your yoga mat, or the exercise equipment at the gym? If the answer is, “more than a few workouts ago,” or “never,” you need to read this!

It turns out that the things we do to stay healthy could actually be sabotaging our health!

A study done on exercise equipment at a number of gyms found that they were covered with bacteria: on average, free weights had 362 times more germs than a toilet seat, treadmills had 74 times more bacteria than a faucet in a public restroom, and exercise bikes had 39 times more bacteria than a cafeteria tray. Yikes!

This wasn’t just your harmless, everyday bacteria, either. The study found that among the germs were strains that can cause skin, ear, eye, and even respiratory infections–some of which can be antibiotic-resistant. Double yikes!

If you want to protect yourself from germs, there are a few things you can do at the gym and yoga studio:

• Wash your hands regularly
• Don’t walk around the gym or studio bathroom barefoot
• Avoiding touching your face
• Change out of your workout clothes immediately after exercising
• Sanitize machines, weights, and mats before and after use

As for sanitizing exercise equipment and yoga mats, that’s where this homemade sanitizer comes in!

This homemade sanitizer effectively kills many germs–without harsh chemicals or alcohol! It is a clean, natural way to sanitize–and as a bonus, it’s non-drying thanks to the essential oils inside! Furthermore, it is far less expensive than other hand sanitizers–you can buy the ingredients in bulk and make a bottle when you need it, instead of spending money repeatedly buying mini hand sanitizer bottles from the drug store.

In case you didn’t already know, vinegar is a great disinfectant that is much less harsh than bleach or ammonia. (Vinegar is slightly less effective than bleach, but it’s safer for use on many surfaces and around children and pets!) In addition, the lemon and tea tree essential oils in this sanitizer have anti-bacterial properties, which may aid in killing bacteria–not to mention, they make the sanitizer smell good! (In my opinion, this homemade sanitizer smells much better than the drugstore kind with the extreme chemical-y aroma!)

You can use this spray on just about anything–yoga mats, treadmills, free weights, exercise bikes, other exercise machines, etc. You can also use it on your hands! When you aren’t able to wash your hands, you’ll be glad you have hand sanitizers ready!

Consider making several bottles of this: one bottle to take with you to the gym or yoga class, and another bottle to keep with you in your purse. Also, be sure to check out my other natural hand sanitizer (homemade as well!).

You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to make this homemade sanitizer: let’s get started!

SUPPLIES

4 oz. glass spray bottle
Distilled white vinegar
15 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Remove spray top from the bottle and set aside.

2. Fill your spray bottle to ½” from the top with vinegar.

3. Carefully add essential oils using the bottle or a pipette to the spray bottle.

4. Replace the top and shake well. (You will want to shake before each use also to mix well for the best results.)

Use a paper towel to wipe down equipment or carry a cloth with you and toss it in your gym bag with your clothes to wash after each use (use hot water).

Note: This spray doesn’t just sanitize: it also eliminates smells! You can use this homemade sanitizer to freshen your gym bag or shoes between washings.

Need more natural, homemade products? Be sure to follow Freebie Finding Mom on Pinterest to find recipes for beauty, cleaning, and more! Check out Essential Oil Recipes, Essential Oils for Beginners, and DIY Fun Pinterest boards.