Having a good yoga mat is the first step to maintaining a regular yoga practice. But if you don’t look after it, you’ll find yourself buying replacements more regularly… or sacking the whole thing off. After all, who wants to downward dog if their mat stinks?

Your gym may be equipped with essentials to sanitise your yoga exercise mat after a workout, but a person might not have the same sprays at home. And it’s also worth noting that not all mats are the same: there are rubber mats, eco-friendly mats, cork pads, bamboo rugs and so on. All of those different materials require different ways of cleaning and de-bugging.

With that will in mind, we’ve listed five of the best mat cleaners out there in order to keep you and your mat feeling clean and energised with every workout. You could use the generic all-purpose cleaner or even give your mat a proper water wash, but specific mat cleaners will be much kinder to your pad (some of which react badly to harsh chemicals).

Ultimately, the pad cleaner you buy is down to your preferences, any allergies you have and the particular scents you like. Regardless of how often plus easily you would like to clean your own mat, it is best to ensure that your cleaner has antibacterial properties and is gentle on your skin.