A prayer mat or prayer rug is usually a square piece of cloth, sometimes a flat stack carpet, used in prayer for Muslims and even some Christians.
In Islam, a prayer mat placed on the floor is intended for cleanliness prior to prayer; moreover, the prayer mat has to be kept under control so that it doesn't get dirty or messed up during prayer sessions. In order to keep your prayer mat clean and neat, you should wash and dry it regularly. This will make it easier for you to place on your prayer mat, especially if it is a long prayer session.
Washing the prayer mat after every prayer session will help retain its good quality. You can also consider drying it using an air-dryer or placing it under direct sunlight to speed up the drying process. If the beautiful prayer mat becomes dirty due to dirt and other particles, you should try to remove them as soon as possible to maintain its quality. There are different methods for washing and drying used in Islamic countries; here are a few of them. These ways are suitable for all types of prayer rugs.
Direct sunlight: In areas with a warm climate, such as UK and Canada, direct sunlight can dry out your carpets, which is a good reason why most mosques put up carpets for prayer sessions. However, you shouldn't install a carpet in a room where it is located near a window because the heat from the sun might damage it. Another way to dry out your Salah mat is to use an air dryer or a hairdryer. In case of an Interactive prayer, then putting it under direct sunlight for a longer period of time is okay, but not recommended as there are chances of discoloration.
Ottoman: An old furniture piece, an Ottoman prayer mat looks pretty good and is quite comfortable to sit on. However, there is one problem with this type of prayer mat - it's expensive. You might want to consider another type of prayer rug instead. An ottoman is a very comfortable option that is cheap and can be found in most local stores.
Timez5: As the name suggests, timez5 luxury prayer mats are very durable and last long. These prayer mats are usually made up of thick rubber and thick plastic. They come in a wide range of colors and sizes and are quite comfortable to sit on. Unfortunately, these mats are not washable and they cannot be machine washed unlike the ottoman.
Niche: The name itself tells you that these are the prayer rugs that are intended for a specific area of the home, such as the prayer rug for the bathroom or the ones for the kitchen. They are quite varied in terms of patterns and colors. They are also much cheaper compared to other types of prayer rugs. It's a good choice if you have a tight budget.
Muslim Prayer Rug: A Muslim prayer mat can be found in many stores, especially online. This type of prayer mat usually has a black, double-sided prayer carpet attached to it. They can either be used for regular prayer or as a prostration mat when performing supplication. Because this type of prayer mat has a thick surface, it can soak up much of the moisture from the prayer while also helping to trap the sweat that the worshiper leaves behind after performing supplication.
The above four are the common types of prayer rugs available in the market. There are other types of prayer mats available but they are most common and used by worshipers. It's a good idea to be familiar with these four kinds of praying mats before buying a new one for yourself or as a gift for a Muslim. Your local store will most likely have them available for you to choose from and hopefully help you make the right choice.
