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Around the Home: 20 New Uses for Old Yoga Mats

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Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ammichaels/">cheeseslave</a>/Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">Creative Commons</a>
Photo by cheeseslave/Flickr/Creative Commons

And no, we don't mean baking bread with it.

If you realized hot yoga wasn't your thing and there's an old yoga mat collecting dust in the back of the closet, you can upcycle it into other household items you'll actually end up using. Be sure to give it a good scrub in the shower to remove any lingering sweat smell, and let it air dry thoroughly to prevent mildew. You'll be surprised at how far a single mat can go in the home with nary an om in sight.

#1 Cut the mat into easy-to-wipe coasters or placemats for the table.

#2 Use a strip as a jar gripper for opening stubborn lids.

#3 Turn a mat into pot holders and trivets of all sizes and shapes.

#4 Stitch together a reusable cup sleeve to make a beer koozie or coffee sleeve.

#5 Roll up a small piece of mat to use as a cork or bottle stopper.

#6 Line your drawers, shelves, and cupboards with cut-up mats (they're especially good for protecting delicate glasses from hard surfaces).

#7 Repurpose a yoga mat into a drying mat for glasses, or an absorbent mat for placing under the dish rack.

#8 Make mouse pads in various sizes for home and travel.

#9 Cut out a wide strip to use as a wrist protector in front of your keyboard.

#10 Stitch together a simple sleeve for your iPad or Air.

#11 Turn your yoga mat into a couple of indoor mats for placing shoes on top of.

#12 Use it under rugs and runners to prevent slipping.

#13 Adhere small circles or squares to the bottom of chair and table legs as floor protectors.

#14 Place it under the litter box to keep your kitty from tracking all over the floor.

#15 Give your kids a cushioned play surface for painting and Play-Doh-ing.

#16 Fold the mat under a few times and use it as a knee pad for gardening.

#17 Protect the backseat of your car by using it as a pet mat.

#18 In a pinch, lay down a yoga mat for sitting on sand or grass.

#19 Roll out a mat in front of your tent as a place to take off and put on shoes.

#20 Wrap a fragile item in a yoga mat before shipping.

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