Tips for Cleaning Workout Equipment

M aintaining hygiene when you exercise is equally important as exercising itself. When it comes to your body, you can simply take a shower, but when it comes to cleaning workout equipment, it is important that you follow the right method and use the right chemicals, or you may end up damaging your equipment.

Why You Must Clean Your Workout Equipment Properly

Many of us live in shared housing or attend a public gym. This means that our equipment, whether it is at home or in a gym, is likely shared by other people. The first and foremost reason why everyone should make a habit out of thoroughly cleaning their equipment is that sharing increases the chances of germs and infestations. As such, sanitization is required, so that when a new person uses the equipment, the germs from the previous user are cleaned.

Clean gyms generally tend to have a good rapport, so if you own a gym and would like people to frequently visit, it’s best that you keep it squeaky clean. Not only will it earn you a great reputation, but it will also motivate your clients, as cleanliness is related to productivity. Everybody likes to be in clean spaces, and cleaning workout equipment can help people feel better about going to the gym.

Tip 1: Always Remove Dust First

Before you delve into any type of deep cleaning, it is important to clean the surface-level dust and grime first. There may be sweat, grease, or other similar gunk on your materials that you need to get rid of. Use a microfiber towel or cloth, and dampen it with warm water.

Do not make it dripping wet, especially if you are cleaning electronic machines. Use smaller clothes or Q-tips to reach little nooks and crannies. Make sure you thoroughly clean the grips, as they tend to be harder to get the grime off.

The reason that you must clean the top layer of dirt properly is that if you don’t when you move to the sanitization step, it will not be as effective. In order to kill all viruses and bacteria, make sure there’s no extra dirt hindering the efficacy of the sanitizer.

Tip 2: Use Approved Disinfectants and Sanitizers

Make sure that the bacteria disinfectant you use is EPA registered, and that your sanitizer is approved by the FDA. This is important because it makes sure that you are using quality products, and ensures that you will receive the utmost cleanliness and more importantly, safety.

Also, every time you apply a layer of sanitizer or disinfectant, do not spray it on with a bottle. Instead, dab a cloth with sanitizer or disinfectant, and wipe surfaces with it. Once you do, allow the disinfectant and sanitizer to fully dissipate and air dry, before you sit on it or move on to the next step in the cleaning process.

Tip 3: Avoid Abrasive Chemicals

You might be tempted to use alcohol or a bleach wash since they are generally used in cleaning. Well, you shouldn’t. This can corrode away your equipment, and might even ruin the exterior of your electronic machines. It may even discolor your equipment and thus make it look less appealing, and ruin the aesthetic appeal of your gym. Stay away from ammonia, too, as it can reduce the lifespan of your equipment and possibly lead to cracks in the topcoat of paint.

Tip 4: Avoid Brushes With Wires

Stiff brushes, or those that have wires as bristles, can end up ruining the look of your equipment. If you are too harsh with them, they can scratch your workout equipment as you clean it, so it is best to be gentle or to avoid stiff brushes with wires altogether.

Tip 5: Consistency Matters a Lot

More than deep cleaning, it matters how often you clean your equipment. If you’re deep cleaning your equipment every two months, it is not going to do you any good besides the first week after you clean your equipment. This is why it is important to be more consistent than it is to be more thorough when it comes to cleaning workout equipment.

Make sure that you clean your equipment every few days, such as every 5 days or every week. More is often better, depending on whether you run a gym or have some equipment at home.

The climate of your locality also matters, because if you live in a particularly sandy or dusty area, then you will obviously need to be more frequent with cleaning workout equipment in order to ensure that your equipment remains safe to use.