Yoga Swing Maintenance – To Keep It In Tip-Top Condition

Originally Published On 8/2/2020

Yoga Swing Maintenance & Care

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been getting many inquiries about how to wash and sanitize the yoga swings from yoga studio owners all around the world.

So we thought we would detail some best hygiene practices you can implement to make sure you are minimizing the spread, along with general care instructions and yoga swing maintenance tips.

When you think about how much dirt, sweat and debris your aerial hammock or yoga swing is exposed to over the course of a month of studio use, it is easy to see why regular cleaning and maintenance is essential. However, it is also important to keep in mind that cleaning this type of equipment requires special care and attention to avoid damage and colour fading from occurring.

Once you have finished your aerial yoga workout, there are several steps you should take to ensure your yoga hammock remains in tip-top condition and in this article, we are going to look at precisely what yoga swing maintenance you need to do.

 

The Importance Of Cleaning Your Yoga Swing

One of the key things to keep in mind with yoga swing maintenance is that if you are not planning to use it for a lengthy period of time, it is a wise idea to remove the material and store it away. This is one of the best ways to give your aerial yoga swing a long and vibrant life.

As with anything that is left exposed, dust and dirt can easily gather on your swing whilst it is out of action so storing it safely away will eliminate this problem and mean that less frequent washing is needed. Not to mention reducing excess exposure to the elements such as direct sunlight through a window or if left outside.

However, if you are hopping into the yoga hammock daily, you will want to leave it up and ready for use and this will help somewhat with airing it out and allowing the sweat to evaporate and keep odors at a minimum, but this doesn’t mean that cleaning is not required. The opposite is, in fact, true.

As you move through your at-home yoga workout, you are likely to sweat and this will be absorbed directly into the fabric of your yoga swing meaning that for hygiene reasons, regular cleaning is super important. At a minimum this will prevent unwanted odors from occurring and at best prevent the spread of disease.

 

Reasons That A Yoga Swing Needs Frequent Cleaning

We have already discussed sweat and gathering dust, but there are other reasons for yoga swing maintenance and proper cleaning. Let’s take a look at some of these:

• Dust can settle into the crease of the fabric even when the swing is being used daily. This is of particular importance to anyone who struggles with allergies or breathing conditions such as asthma or COPD since the dust will irritate these.
• If you wear makeup or lotions whilst taking part in your yoga routine, there is a very high chance that their residue will rub off onto the yoga swing making it more difficult to grip, slippery and generally unpleasant.
• When your yoga swing has been stored away for longer periods it may need additional cleaning. This is particularly true if it has been stored in a dusty or damp environment such as an outside building or attic. If the material is not properly cleaned, it can begin to smell musty which of course, is not pleasant when you come to use it again. This may also happen as a result of the material being left to hang without frequent use. Thankfully the nylon material we use will not mold, however this is not the case for all aerial hammocks on the market using different fabrics.
• Since the material from which the yoga swing is made is porous, bacteria can easily become trapped inside. More than anything, this poses a health risk especially if you share a yoga swing with other people, for example in a yoga studio, gym, shared accommodation or even with your family and friends.
• If a yoga swing is not properly maintained, it can become damaged. It is vital to remember that when you are practicing your daily yoga routine on your aerial hammock, it is responsible for supporting your entire body weight. If the sling is damaged or poorly maintained, you are running the risk of injury which could see you unable to practice for some time.

 

How to Clean Your Yoga Swing

Cleaning as part of your yoga swing maintenance should ideally be done once a month but this may vary depending on how often you use it. In addition to this, if you live in a humid or warm climate or sweat more than usual, more frequent washing may be needed. How to wash aerial silks?

You can clean your yoga swing using things that you will already have in the home, most experts will tell you that there is no reason to splash out on expensive, professional cleaning products. However, we do have some useful tips to get the most effective clean for your yoga swing.

Try to Use a Front Loading Washing Machine

You will be pleased to find out that you can wash your yoga swing in a regular washing machine, meaning that for many people, the clean can be completed without leaving home. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that it is recommended to use a front loading washing machine.

Top loaders may provide a great clean and are ideal for deeply stained items due to their ability to pre-soak, however, when it comes to yoga swings, these machines are best avoided. These machines tend to offer a more rigorous washing cycle meaning that the aerial hammocks may wear and become frayed over time.

In addition to the type of washing machine, the cycle you use also plays a part in effective cleaning. We recommend wash separately in cold water. If a higher temperate is used, there is a chance that the fabric may shrink, rendering the yoga swing useless.

Also if you wash in hot water you may find that your colours run or are washed out of the fabric losing their brilliance even in just a single wash. Colours such as fluoro yellow are quite delicate and can quickly become a pale yellow in hot water.

Line dry to reduce the risk of any damage occurring during washing, although you can use a low spin cycle.

Use Gentle Soap

Gentle washing detergents are widely available in most, if not all supermarkets and smaller stores and when cleaning your yoga swing, it is important to take advantage of this. Using a harsher detergent means that the fabric will become more easily damaged and its lifespan may be reduced.

Another note on this is that some of the colours may fade and lose their luster even after a single wash if you use too strong a detergent. This is especially true for colours such as fluoro yellow as we mentioned before is quite a delicate colour to maintain.

Finding a fabric detergent that is suitable for delicates such as wool and silk will produce the best results.

Don’t Tumble Dry

It can be tempting to throw the yoga swing into the tumble dryer, especially if you are keen to get back to working out as soon as possible but doing this may cause them to shrink or shorten their lifespan. The best way to dry your yoga swing or aerial hammocks is to hang them to dry – preferably in an airy location or outdoors if the weather permits.

If you are airing your yoga swing outdoors, you should try to keep them out of direct sunlight as a way of avoiding shrinkage or discoloration.

Cleaning The Hardware (The Hooks and/or Carabiners)

Yoga swings come either on a freestanding frame or can be attached to the ceiling using a rig and whilst this hardware does not require intense or frequent cleaning, it doesn’t hurt to wipe it over from time to time to remove dust and dirt. Use a gentle cleaning spray and a microfibre cloth to achieve the best results.

Whilst you are cleaning your hardware, now is a good time to check that it is properly secured and make any adjustments if necessary. Also check for rust on any fittings and particularly the pipes and connection points if you are using an aerial yoga swing frame, as it is one of the most important things about yoga swing maintenance is ensuring that it is always safe to use.

Putting any metal objects into your washing machine might seem like a dangerous idea, however this is not the case if done correctly and a little bit of preparation.

Although if you are able to remove these, it is a good idea to wash them separately rather than running them through the washing machine, but if not, no stress, just put them into the machine with some specially made drawstring machine washing bags which will protect the fabric and the machine walls from any potential issues.

Likewise with any daisy chains or rope, its best to soak these separately and allow them to thoroughly dry before rehanging. It may be a good idea to wash the handles and foam grips by hand and less often just to extend their lifespan.

 

How to Sanitize Yoga Swings

Just a quick note on ensuring good hygiene. Proper yoga swing maintenance includes sanitizing, so if you add a little dash of eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil to your washes to help kill off any micro-organisms, particularly during this pandemic will really help. It will also ensure a pleasant smell and freshness throughout your sessions.

You can also add some eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil to a spray bottle and dilute with some clean water to wipe down the yoga hammock, handles and straps in between classes.

 

Day To Day Care Of Your Yoga Swing

Frequent cleaning of your yoga swing will keep it in good condition and will ensure that it stands the test of time, however, day to day yoga swing maintenance and care is also important. Take a look at these handy tips.

• Do not allow pets onto the yoga swing, they may see it as a cozy place to sleep or as a toy but they can put holes in or otherwise spoil the fabric.
• Avoid wearing heavy makeup or applying body oils and lotions before using the yoga swing.
• The fabric of your yoga swing is designed to be durable but if it is washed too regularly this can significantly shorten its life.
• Avoid wearing jewellery or prominent zips when using the yoga swings as this may snag the fabric and tear it causing damage which may not be able to be repaired.

 

Take Good Care Of Your Swing!

Doing a yoga workout at home has never been easier with the excellent yoga swings available at Gravotonics, however owning one of these premium yoga props does come with some responsibility. YOGA SWING MAINTENANCE!!

Cleaning and maintaining your yoga swing will not only ensure that it serves you for many years but also gives you the confidence that it is safe to use. You can easily clean your yoga swings at home using a front loading washing machine and gentle fabric detergent in cold water.

In addition to this, correct yoga swing maintenance and taking care on a day to day basis and spraying with a little bit of anti-viral can also contribute to its cleanliness, longevity and pleasant odor.

Its fairly easy to keep your yoga swings clean, but is imperative to do it correctly to ensure you can use it well into the future. We hope this has answered your questions about how to keep your aerial equipment clean and sanitary for you and/or your students at the studio.

Get in touch with us if you have any specific questions that we did not cover here an well be happy to help!