How to Clean Gym Mats

Are you ready to workout? You can’t get in shape on a dirty gym mat – that’s just unsanitary. So before your next workout, let’s go over how to clean gym mats. 

Depending on your mat and its size, there are a few different ways to make sure it’s all clean and disinfected for the next set. To make sure you and your mat are ready, let’s go over the different ways to clean and sanitize your mat. 

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Why Cleaning Your Gym Mat Matters

When you see a dirt spot or a shoe print on a mat, your first instinct is to wipe it off. Getting that little spot off is swell, but what about all the dirt spots you can’t see? For gym mats, people are putting their hands, shoes, and potentially their faces all over the mat while working their core or running drills. So imagine the sweat, dirt, and bacteria that can be left behind on our mats. Plus, that bacteria can potentially grow on your mat. 

Of course, gym mats are ready for anything, but if they are not wiped off and disinfected after every use, you’re allowing bacteria and dirt to live on and in your mat. Aside from respecting basic cleanliness, cleaning, and taking care of your mat, you’re also ensuring your mat stays in good shape for the long-haul. 

Plus, if your mat is used by several people, sanitizing your mat helps protect your buddies from spreading germs and working out on top of filth.

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Basic Gym Mat Cleaning Methods

The best way to keep your mat looking polished is to make sure you take the necessary precautions before and after each use. This type of cleaning will be your very basic spot cleaning to ensure your mat looks great on a surface level, no matter the size of your mat.

For our selection of gym mats, we have mats that are topped with a vinyl material or carpet. Basic cleaning for mats consists of sweeping or vacuuming any dirt or debris off the mat and using a damp cloth to wipe off any tough or stuck-on spots. 

These practices can be done as often as you see necessary. However, for the sake of your mat looking fantastic, I would suggest you clean off any dirt or spots in a timely manner, and disinfect your mat after each use. Don’t worry, we’re discussing disinfecting mats next!

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Deep Cleaning Solutions and Sanitizers for Gym Mats

Aside from spot cleaning, you should also sanitize it to ensure you’re killing any bacteria lingering on your mat. Disinfecting your mat serves as deep cleaning and is necessary for keeping your mat looking fresh and well-maintained, no matter the size of your mat.

For the best results, you should sanitize your mat a few hours before use and let it dry, then after use for maximum cleanliness. To ensure excellent cleaning and disinfection of your mat, let’s go over the best cleaning solutions and sanitation practices. 

The solution you use depends on what material your mat is made of. For example, some mats are topped with vinyl, while others are topped with carpet and in that case, the sanitizers made for vinyl might not best for carpet. Let’s go over the best sanitizers for each mat type. 

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Vinyl-Topped Gym Mats

• ULINE Cleaner and Disinfectant: Easy to use, fast-acting, low odor, gym disinfectant spray. This disinfectant does not have to be diluted with water and is designed to be sprayed on exercise equipment after use to help keep gyms and equipment safe and sanitary. 

• Ecore at Home Enviro Care Neutral Disinfectant: Used to disinfect a variety of surfaces and equipment, Enviro care disinfectant can be applied with a cloth, mop, sponge, or coarse spray, or soaking to ensure your gym equipment is safe and sanitary. 

• Disinfectant Wipes: For a simple, fast disinfectant, you might consider using run-of-the-mill disinfectant wipes. Found at your local grocery store, these wipes are great for a quick wipe down after a match.
• Peroxide or Rubbing Alcohol: If you don’t have sanitizer on hand and need to disinfect your mat promptly, you can use peroxide or rubbing alcohol. To dilute the strength of the chemical, you’ll want to add one part water for every two parts solution, creating a ratio of 2:1 (source). Then after wiping the mat, make sure the mat is completely dry before next use. 

Carpet-Topped Gym Mats

• Carpet Shampoo: This might seem too obvious, but the best way to treat a carpet-topped mat is to treat like you do regular carpet. That means vacuuming dirt and shampooing the carpet to get rid of any gross residue your wrestlers may leave behind.

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How to Disinfect Gym Mats Based on Size

Now that you know the different cleaning methods and sanitizers, let’s go over the steps to clean your mat.

Before we dive in, the main thing you’ll need to consider is the size of the mat. Our selection of mats come in sizes ranging from competition-sized mats to training mats used at home. Don’t fret, we will go over the steps for small- and large-scale mats to make sure you’re prepared!

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Small Scale/ Training Mat Cleaning Instructions

Whether you have a home cheer mat that rolls out, or a single folding mat to practice on, they will get dirty from time-to-time and can still carry bacteria if not sanitized properly. Thankfully, since these mats aren’t huge you can disinfect them manually without any special tools or machines. 

1. Remove any loose dirt or debris from your mat by sweeping or using a suction vacuum.
2. Using warm water and one of the sanitizing products listed above, create a mixture to disinfect the mat.
3. With a damp cloth or microfiber mop, wipe your mat down with the disinfectant of your choosing.
4. Allow the mat to air-dry completely before use.

Large Scale Mat Cleaning Instructions

Imagine cleaning a 42’X38’ competition mat by hand. That could be a bit time consuming, right? But you can’t let your communal mat sit in filth. Thankfully there are tools and machines to get the job done. Let’s talk about it. 

1. Remove any loose dirt or debris from your mat by sweeping or using a suction vacuum.
2. Using warm water and one of the sanitizing products listed above, create a mixture to disinfect the mat.
3. Use a large, damp microfiber mop or a mat scrubbing machine to wipe down your mat.
4. Allow the mat to air dry before use.

Note: Do not soak or allow water to sit on your gym mat. Your cloth or mop should not be overly saturated with liquid as the excess liquid can cause damage to your mat’s foam core.

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Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of cleaning your mat, you’re ready for your next workout, right? Good! In the meantime, go ahead and check out the gym mats and sanitizer we have for you!

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