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Are you guilty of a typical yoga phenomenon? You rush out the door after yoga class for a much-needed coffee and—within the interest of time, after all—neglect to scrub your mat. You’ll do it later, you think that. After which days and even weeks go by.

You might figure it could actually skip a number of washes, much like the way you throw on that old sweatshirt on chilly mornings after which toss it aside later. But how often do you actually need to scrub your yoga mat?

How steadily do you must clean your mat?

If you happen to’re practicing on your individual yoga mat versus a rental at your local studio, you’re likely only dealing together with your own microbes, that are tiny organisms that may contain bacteria, versus those of other students. (Whew.) On this scenario, you simply need to scrub it every two or three practices to maintain it sweat-free, says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and creator of The Germ Files. So should you practice 3 times every week, you can designate sooner or later to be your post-class disinfecting routine to make sure you don’t lose track of the last wipe down.

Nevertheless, should you’re using a shared mat, consider a deeper cleansing process—including before you practice—because you’re encountering other students’ microbes. “That bacteria that you simply’re picking up in your yoga mat may find yourself actually getting onto you and that might cause problems,” Tetro says. You might already be acquainted with some less-than-ideal instances where one of these bacteria transfer occurred, including in an NFL locker room.

As for those times while you’re coming into Salamba Bhujangasana (Sphinx Pose), your face inches away out of your mat, and suddenly you catch a whiff of a not-so-soothing smell? That’s an indication your mat is overdue for a cleanse. The stench, which stems from the bacteria’s waste products, is clearly a key indicator that your mat is in need of  disinfecting and never a fast wipe down, Tetro says.

How do I disinfect my yoga mat?

Freaking out and reaching for some disinfectant wipes? We don’t blame you. Nevertheless, before you begin spritzing your mat, consider the cleaner you’re using. As much as chances are you’ll love DIY all-natural options, it’s best to stick with the tried-and-true products in relation to cleansing your yoga mat.

A 2016 report conducted by researchers at Concordia University found three all-natural cleansing products—a made-at-home spray with willow bark extract and tea tree oil, Gaiam’s Super Yoga Mat Wash, and Grodi Yogi Yoga Mat Spray from an Etsy shop—to be ineffective in combatting the expansion of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacteria that could cause staph infections. (And yes, it has been found on yoga mats.) Unfortunately, which means your essential oil remedies aren’t going to chop it in relation to sanitizing your mat.

As a substitute, Tetro recommends using hydrogen peroxide, which is available in bottled in addition to wipe form. After hosing down your entire mat with this disinfectant, ensure that the surface stays wet for between 30 and 60 seconds—the optimal time for reducing bacteria levels, he says.

What’s the very best strategy to clean my yoga mat after every few classes?

In between those occasional cleanings with disinfectant, stick with the fundamentals. Soap and water, in addition to laundry detergent, can assist keep the bacteria at a low level, Tetro says. Without that fairly regular wipe-down, bacteria can proliferate and cause those unwanted infections and, er, aromas.

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Cleansing Your Yoga Mat