Keeping Gym Equipment Clean Before And After Your Workout
Going to the gym is one of the best ways to get fit since there are personal trainers who can show you the right way to meet your fitness goals without getting injured. What's more, there’s a wide range of exercise equipment that you can use to lose weight, gain muscle, or enhance flexibility and strength.
But did you know that there's also a risk of getting ill while you're working out? According to a study of samples taken from surfaces of gym equipment, it was found that treadmills are loaded with germs and there are at least 1.3 million colony forming units of bacteria per square inch. Weight balls were also found to have lots of germs, and it was found that more than 62 percent of weight ball samples tested positive for staph.
Maintaining good hygiene and following some best practices can help you to avoid getting sick while working on your fitness. Here are some of the best ways to keep gym equipment clean before and after your workout, as well as other tips to keep you safe from gym-linked infections.
Bring a Pack of Disinfectant Wipes
Most gyms make it a point to clean and disinfect their exercise equipment at least twice a day. But since all of the workout equipment is used by different people throughout the day, that makes them the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, resulting in a host of health risks for the average gym goer. Not only are you at risk of skin diseases like athlete's foot, ringworm, and folliculitis, but you can also get a cold, a staph infection, or even HPV from germ-infested equipment.
To reduce your chances of getting sick, plan on stashing a pack of disinfectant wipes in your gym bag, and use those to clean gym equipment before and after every use. There are wipes that are expressly made to disinfect exercise equipment, such as those from Wipex or Prevention Disinfectant Wipes. However, you can also use regular cleaning wipes such as those from Lysol, The Honest Company, or Clorox Scentiva. If possible, look for wipes that contain ingredients that can effectively kill bacteria. They're great to have, especially during flu season.
Before using the treadmill, sanitize the console and the hand rails with the wipes, and see to it that you wipe the underside of the hand rails too. Weighted balls and weights should also be wiped thoroughly, as well as other high-touch areas such as grips, handles, and the controls or buttons of equipment that you plan to use during your workout.
Use an Antibacterial Spray for a Deeper Clean
Certain pieces of gym equipment, such as leg press machines, seated curl machines, and yoga mats are not only teeming with germs, but they may also feel a bit damp from the sweat of a previous user.
To sanitize these and get rid of stickiness and odors, use an antibacterial spray in addition to your disinfectant wipes. First, go over all the damp and sticky areas, as well as high-touch places with a disinfectant wipe. Next, spray them down with the antibacterial spray, let that sit for a few seconds, then wipe them again with a fresh wipe. Most of these antibacterial sprays come in big bottles, so decant them into 16 or 8-ounce bottles so you can fit them in your gym bag.
Be Mindful and Hygienic at the Gym
Apart from cleaning workout equipment, being mindful and hygienic at the gym will also help to curb the spread of germs at your fitness center. Always wipe down any equipment after use, and carry a towel so you won't be dripping sweat all over the gym equipment. You may also want to wear activewear made from moisture-wicking materials, and use antiperspirant liberally before you exercise.
Shower at the gym after your workout, and bring some flip flops since you can't be too sure if the shower floors are kept perfectly clean everyday. Lastly, don't just stash your gear somewhere after coming home from the gym. Wash your clothes and towel immediately, and wipe the exterior of your gym bag with a disinfectant wipe. Don't forget to wash your water bottle too since bacteria like E.coli can colonize it due to repeated handling.
Protect yourself from sickness while working out at the gym. Consider these tips to effectively disinfect gym equipment, and practice good hygiene habits to stay healthy while pursuing your fitness goals.
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