Over the past several decades, yoga has become one of the most popular fitness trends in the United States. There are approximately 7,000 registered yoga studios, 100,000 registered yoga teachers, and 36 million people practicing yoga regularly from coast to coast. And for a good reason––yoga practitioners often report significantly positive benefits to the body and mind.

However, there is a downside to yoga’s ever-increasing popularity; high-traffic studios can be hothouses for viruses, bacteria, and fungi due to shared equipment, excessive sweat, and heavy breathing. In fact, dermatologists and podiatrists across the country have reported a rise in the number of fungal and bacterial skin infections in their patients who practice yoga or Pilates. 

It’s not to say that cleaning isn’t an essential aspect of the practice. All yogis would agree that a yoga studio should be a safe environment for relaxation and healing. Thus, creating a clean, healthy, calming atmosphere is of the utmost importance. With this in mind, many yogis reach for DIY cleaners with pleasant aromas, usually with ingredients like witch hazel, vinegar, or essential oils. Others may opt for homemade or store-bought wipes. While these cleaning methods leave surfaces shiny and clean, they often leave infection-causing microbes behind. On the other hand, harsh cleaners, such as bleach, ammonia, or alcohol-based products, cause irritating fumes and damage equipment. There is a better way. 

Yoga should take place in a clean, fresh environment so that practitioners can exercise and meditate with peace of mind. Maintaining a clean studio space and keeping your equipment and surfaces free from pathogens will provide a better yoga experience and a healthier, more enjoyable one. With no noxious fumes, added fragrances, dyes, harsh chemicals, or harmful residues, Vital Oxide is ideal for use in yoga studios, pilates studios, barre fitness studios, and more. 

What’s the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting? 

Understanding the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting is critical for correct disinfection. All surface disinfectant products are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must clear a higher bar for effectiveness than surface sanitizing products. There are no cleaner or sanitizer-only products with approved virus claims.

Cleaning involves physically removing dirt, grime, germs, and other impurities from objects and surfaces and leaves things looking shiny and clean. Soap (or detergent) and water might be used in this process. However, general cleaners – such as soap and water, vinegar, conventional all-purpose cleaners, or essential oils – are not designed to eliminate pathogens that can cause an illness. In addition, there are not any criteria that cleaning products have to meet when it comes to efficacy. Cleaning does not necessarily kill germs, but it can lower their numbers and the risk of contamination or spreading infection. Cleaning is the first step to a complete process of preventing illness. 

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by cleaning and treating surfaces or objects with a sanitizing solution and/or physical removal (such as commercial dishwashing machines) to lower the risk of contamination or spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills more germs than sanitizers. Disinfecting works by using chemicals, heat, or other processes to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs and requires a pre-cleaning step to remove gross dirt build-up before disinfection to allow full contact with the disinfectant. 

How to Disinfect Effectively 

To disinfect correctly (and effectively kill germs), the disinfectant product needs to come into contact with 100% of the surface. Before disinfection, always remember to clean the surface of any debris or residue, then spray it thoroughly with the disinfectant and let it sit for the required contact found on the product’s label. A common mistake many people make is spraying a surface with a disinfectant and then wiping it immediately afterward. However, letting the product sit for the required contact time is critical. 

Under lightly soiled conditions, Vital Oxide can be used to pre-clean surfaces before disinfecting. Clean and disinfect in two easy steps: First, spray and wipe Vital Oxide to clean, then spray and leave behind to disinfect. Just make sure you apply enough solution to remain wet for the proper contact time. In cases where more frequent disinfection of surfaces results in a possible buildup of dry disinfectant residue, a wipe down with a damp towel or microfiber cloth of surfaces that come into contact with clothing (benches, blocks, etc.) will prevent any possible discoloration of fabrics. Vital Oxide can be applied full-strength directly from the bottle or by fogging and misting for fast and effective disinfection.

Related: Vital Oxide: Hospital-Grade Disinfectant for Your Fitness Facility 

Using Vital Oxide to Clean, Sanitize, and Disinfect Every Surface in Your Yoga Studio 

Vital Oxide can be used on most water-safe surfaces and works well on hard and soft surfaces. 

Vital Oxide can be used to clean: 

Virtually every water-safe surface in your yoga, Pilates, or barre fitness studio, including: 

• Floors
• Carpets and rugs 
• Countertops
• Kitchens, dishes, glassware, refrigerators, juicers, blenders, and other food prep equipment 
• Cubbies/shelves
• High-touch surfaces (including electronics) 
• Bathroom surfaces
• Locker room surfaces 
• Saunas
• Windows
• Baseboards and walls
• Sun and Moon room surfaces
• Foam rollers
• Weights and weight training equipment
• Fitness equipment and props 
• Yoga mats
• Yoga straps
• Yoga blocks
• Pilates reformer machines
• Pilates bands

Vital Oxide can be used to sanitize: 

Soft, porous surfaces, food-contact surfaces, and more around yoga studios, including: 

• Kitchens, dishes, glassware, refrigerators, juicers, blenders, and other food prep equipment 
• Carpets and rugs 
• Foam rollers
• Weights and weight training equipment
• Fitness equipment and props
• Yoga mats
• Yoga straps
• Yoga blocks
• Pilates reformer machines
• Pilates bands

Related: How to Clean and Sanitize Yoga Mats  

Vital Oxide can be used to disinfect: 

Hard, non-porous surfaces around yoga studios, including: 

• Floors
• Countertops
• Cubbies/shelves
• High-touch surfaces (including electronics) 
• Bathroom surfaces
• Locker room surfaces 
• Saunas
• Sun and Moon room surfaces
• Weights and weight training equipment
• Fitness equipment and props
• Pilates reformer machines

​​At Vital Oxide, we’re proud to offer a revolutionary disinfectant powerful enough to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria without harsh chemicals. Follow us on Instagram (@vitaloxideofficial) for more great cleaning and disinfecting tips. If you have any questions, please Contact Us or Send Us a Message on Facebook. We're here to help.