Caring for your Thai Massage Mat


I hadn't thought much about how to care for my Thai mat, but it was getting less comfortable.

I realized it was pretty similar to a Japanese futon mattress, and the Japanese have practices to keep their mattresses comfortable and clean. In particular, they air out their futons on sunny days, hanging them over balconies and out of windows when the weather is nice.

I decided it was time I did the same, and I took some of my coworker's mats out too since I had it all set up. Since I'm in the second floor, the roof was the easiest place to take them, so I opened the window and hauled them all outside. 

The roof wasn't clean enough for me to feel comfortable leaving them flat, so I gently draped them over some folding chairs for the afternoon

Airing out the mats in the sun not only allows the cotton fibers to breathe and release moisture, the sunlight also disinfects the mat!

Since I sunned the mat it feels fluffier, and my room smelled fresher for days after.

Another way to care for a futon-style mat is to tri-folded it daily. This stretches the cotton fibers (in a good way!) and brings back the original loft. It also allows air circulation to the bottom of the mat (especially when regularly flipped and rotated).

I may not be able to get my mat on the roof every week (though I'll try!), but I'm sure glad I found some ways to keep the mat comfortable!

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