A darbha mat needs three things: wipe it, air it in the shade and keep it dry. Never soak it or put it in a washing machine. For storage, fold it along its three panels, which is what the cotton cloth backing is for, and keep it somewhere dry with air moving.
What you are looking after
Our Darbha mat is darbha (kusha) grass laid in three panels, bound in orange cotton and backed in cotton cloth, 183 × 90 cm and about 4 mm thick. Unlike our cotton and sambhu grass mats it has no latex layer; the cloth backing is what lets it fold flat. The grass is green when new and pales gently with light and age, which is the nature of grass rather than a fault. Its place in tradition is in darbha (kusha) grass: meaning, tradition and how we weave it.
Everyday cleaning
- Shake it out after use, holding two corners.
- Brush along the grass with a dry hand or a soft brush, the way the stems run.
- For marks, wipe with a cloth wrung out in cold water, along the stems, then the binding and the cloth back.
- Air it in the shade, flat or over a rail, until dry to the touch. Not in direct sun, which makes the grass brittle.
- Fold it only when fully dry.
Do not spray cleaners or vinegar on the grass, and do not use soap on it; both sit in the stems. The cloth backing can take a damp cloth with a drop of mild detergent.
Keeping damp out
A mat left damp and folded is how mildew starts. After a warm night's sleep on it or a dewy terrace, give it an hour flat in the shade with a fan before putting it away. In the monsoon, air it weekly even if unused. Grey spots or a musty smell: brush dry, wipe with a damp cloth and dry in the shade with plenty of air; caught early, it goes. Our notes for all grass mats are in how to clean a grass yoga mat.
Storage: fold along the panels
The Darbha is the one mat we make that is meant to fold. Fold it along the two seams between the panels, cloth side out so the grass is inside, and lay it on a shelf. Do not fold it anywhere else; a crease across a panel breaks the stems. Do not store it in plastic. For the off season, wrap it in cotton cloth; folded, it takes about the space of a large book. Rolling versus folding for every mat is in roll or fold?.
What is normal and what is not
Normal: slight differences in green between panels, a stem working loose at the edge, gentle paling over a year. Not normal: a seam coming away from the backing, or a panel splitting across. For those, write to us through the Contact page before trying a repair. If you would rather have a grass mat that rolls, look at our sambhu grass mats such as the Sambu Frame.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash a darbha mat?
No. Wipe it with a cloth wrung out in cold water, air it in the shade and keep it dry. Soaking swells the grass and loosens the binding, and a washing machine would break the stems and pull the panels from their cloth backing. A damp cloth and air are all the cleaning it needs.
How should I fold a darbha mat?
Along the two seams between its three panels, with the cotton cloth backing on the outside so the grass is protected inside the fold. Never fold across a panel, which creases and breaks the stems, and never fold it while it is damp.
Does the darbha mat have a latex underside?
No. The Darbha is backed in cotton cloth, which is what lets it fold, and has no latex layer. Our cotton, sambhu grass and banana fibre mats do carry a thin coat of natural tree latex on the underside; if you are allergic to natural latex, choose with care and write to us first.
Next step
Tonight, before you fold it away, check that it is dry to the touch at the binding; that one habit is most of its care. The notes for all our mats are on the Mat care page.
