Here’s How Often You Should Clean Your Personal Workout Equipment
Working out at home has always been both a necessity and a luxury, but after the pandemic, we are all used to doing it much more often. At the gym, we all know to wipe down our equipment after we use it, but how serious do we take it from the comfort of our home? You probably wash your water bottle and sweat towel daily (hopefully), but your kettlebells and exercise bike might be a different story. Here’s how often you should clean your personal training equipment and how to do it.
Barbells and dumbbells
According to Origin Fitness , barbell wiping is something you only need to do twice a month. (In commercial settings where people use the barbell frequently but do not clean it after use, the recommended wipe frequency is once a week.)
Clean the barbell, apply some 3-in-1 oil to a rag and leave overnight, then wipe everything in the morning. Also clean the dumbbells after each use with a disinfectant solution or soap and water. If they have metal handles, follow the same instructions as for your barbells.
Treadmills
Did you know that you should clean your treadmill motor every month? That’s true, but even The Home Gym admits it’s more realistic to only do it once a quarter. When you’ve done this, unplug the machine, unhook the treadmill motor, vacuum it, and check your manual to make sure there’s nothing else you need to do. For example, some manuals may recommend a dry cloth instead of vacuuming.
As for cleaning the outside, after each use it should be wiped with a damp cloth. You should also clean under the belt about once a month using a damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner.
Giri
According to wellness company Vitalized Future , wash your kettlebells twice a week with warm water and dish soap. Wipe down with a microfiber cloth after each use and a disinfectant spray once a week, paying special attention to the handle.
exercise bike
Stationary bikes are very popular right now, so you should know how to clean yours. According to Sunny Health , which makes home workout equipment, wipe sweat and oil off your bike after each use with a cloth, and then disinfect the bike with a 1:9 ratio of homemade soap and warm water. Put it in a spray bottle, spray on any part of the bike you touch and wipe off.
Yoga and Gym Mats
According to REI , you’ll need to briefly wipe down your yoga mat or floor each time you use it with soap and water or a store-bought rug cleaner, but even that isn’t enough. Once a month this thing needs a deep cleaning. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, but for the most part, these bad guys are machine washable .