Clean a grass yoga mat by shaking it out after practice, brushing off loose dust and wiping it with a cloth wrung out in cold water, then airing it flat in the shade until fully dry. Never soak a grass mat, never machine wash it, and never store it damp. Sambhu grass mats are rolled for storage; the cloth-backed Darbha is folded.
Why grass is cleaned differently from cotton
Cotton is a yarn: it can be wetted through and dries back to shape. Grass is a stem. Our Sambu Diamond, Sambu Jute and Sambu Frame are sambhu grass woven with organic cotton, and the Darbha is kusha grass bound in three panels and backed in cotton cloth. Soak either and the stems swell, the binding loosens and the mat can dry stiff, warped or spotted with mildew. So the rule is simple: wipe, do not wash. (The Sambu Jute, despite its name, is sambhu grass and cotton and contains no jute; care for it like the other sambhu mats.)
How to clean a grass yoga mat
- Shake it out. After every practice, shake the mat well outdoors or over a balcony. Most of what lands on a grass mat is dust and skin.
- Brush along the grass. A soft brush or dry cloth worked along the stems, not across them, lifts dust without roughing the surface.
- Wipe with a damp cloth. Wring the cloth out well, so it is damp not wet, and wipe in long strokes, rinsing the cloth as it picks up dirt.
- Treat sweat marks locally. Add a drop of mild natural detergent to the water, wipe the spot, then wipe again with plain water so nothing is left in the grass.
- Wipe the underside. The sambhu mats carry a thin layer of natural tree latex, brushed on by hand; a dry or barely damp cloth is enough. The Darbha has a cotton cloth backing; wipe it as you would any cotton.
- Air it flat in the shade with air moving, and turn it once. Sun dries the grass brittle and fades the plant-dyed cotton.
- Store it only when fully dry. Roll the sambhu mats loosely; fold the Darbha along its panels. In heavy weather, read how to dry a mat in the monsoon first.
Keeping mildew away
Mildew needs moisture and still air, so take both away. Air the mat after each practice rather than rolling it straight up. In the humid months, unroll it once a week even if unused, and store it off the floor with some airflow rather than in a plastic bag. If you see grey or dark speckles or smell a musty note, wipe the area with a cloth wrung out in cold water, dry the mat completely in shade and air it for a day or two. Caught early, it comes out; left rolled and damp, it does not.
Care by mat
| Mat | Clean | Dry and store |
|---|---|---|
| Sambu Diamond, Sambu Jute, Sambu Frame (sambhu grass) | Shake, brush, damp cloth; never soak | Air flat in shade; roll loosely |
| Darbha (kusha grass, cloth-backed) | Wipe clean, keep dry | Air in shade; fold along the panels |
| Banana Fibre | Shake, damp cloth; never soak | Air flat in shade; roll loosely |
The Darbha has its own care notes, since it folds rather than rolls and has no latex layer.
What not to do
- Do not soak, hose down or submerge a grass mat.
- Do not machine wash or tumble dry.
- Do not scrub hard across the grain with a stiff brush.
- Do not use bleach, harsh cleaning sprays or solvents. They stain the grass and the plant-dyed cotton.
- Do not dry it in direct sun, and do not roll, fold or bag it damp.
The sambhu grass mats and the banana fibre mat have natural tree latex on the underside; the Darbha does not. If you are allergic to natural latex, choose with care and write to us first.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash a grass yoga mat with water?
Only with a damp cloth. Wring the cloth out well in cold water and wipe the surface; for a sweat mark, add a drop of mild natural detergent and then wipe again with plain water. Never soak, hose or machine wash a sambhu or darbha mat, because the grass stems swell, the cotton binding loosens and the mat can dry warped or mildewed.
How do I get a smell out of a grass mat?
Air it. Wipe both sides with a cloth wrung out in cold water, then lay the mat flat in the shade with air moving around it for a day, turning it once. Most smells on a grass mat come from being rolled while damp, so the cure is also the prevention: air it after every practice and store it only when fully dry.
What do I do about mildew spots on a grass mat?
Wipe the spotted area with a cloth wrung out in cold water, then dry the mat completely in the shade and air it for a day or two. Do not use bleach, which stains the grass. If the mat still smells musty after drying, it has been stored damp too long; in the humid season unroll it weekly and keep it off the floor with some airflow.
Do I roll or fold a grass mat?
Roll the sambhu grass mats (Sambu Diamond, Sambu Jute, Sambu Frame) and the banana fibre mat loosely. Fold the Darbha along its three panels; it is backed in cotton cloth and made to fold flat. In both cases the mat must be fully dry first.
Next step
Make shaking out and airing part of finishing your practice, and a grass mat barely needs cleaning at all. See all of our sambhu grass mats, or the Darbha if you prefer a mat that folds.
