There's many instances in life where we start out with the best intentions, only to let it slip. Cleaning your gym equipment is no different.
I’m sure for many of you a bit of time has passed since you cleaned your home exercise equipment. Don’t worry, us too.
If that is the case, now is a good time to draw a line under it and join us in finding a way to make cleaning your exercise equipment a little easier.
If not for the sake of keeping our home gym equipment in good condition, we should at least consider our health.
Whether it's a yoga mat and a few dumbbells or a full home gym, keep reading for two penneth on how to keep your equipment clean.
Why keeping your home gym equipment clean matters
Don't get us wrong, a home gym gets used way less than an actual gym, but that doesn't change the fact that it needs cleaning.
Whatever exercise we do at home, cleaning our mats, weights, running machines and exercise bikes is crucial. That includes the surfaces that we use them on too.
Doing so prevents the build-up of sweat, dirt and bacteria. This is especially true if you're not the only using the equipment.
By cleaning the equipment frequently it reduces the risk of transmitting germs that can live on the surface of the equipment.
Cleaning your RunFit Treadmill, CycleFit Exercise Bike, RowFit Rowing Machine and StrideFit Elliptical Trainer
Cleaning your cardio equipment is not only important for keeping everyone in good health, it also keeps the equipment in good health too.
If you don't keep on top of the housekeeping, over time there'll be an accumulation of sweat, dirt and dust. This build-up can accelerate wear and tear on the equipment components.
The result? Your equipment doesn't perform at its best, or worse, it causes issues with your equipment. Nobody wants that.
So where do you start? Well, first things first - make sure you read the safety and maintenance instructions in the instruction manual. We know it's not the most exciting read, but it's important.
For cleaning, here are some tips:
Try to quickly clean your exercise equipment after every use.
Use a soft, damp cloth and a mild anti-bacterial cleaner mixed with water to clean all non-electrical surfaces - frame, handles, foot-supports.
Be sure to avoid any abrasive chemicals or brushes with wire or stiff bristles.
Also, avoid spraying or pouring any cleaning solutions onto the equipment, as this can be an electrical hazard. Always stick to applying the solution to a cloth or using a sanitising wipe to wipe down the equipment.
Cleaning your weights - dumbbells and kettlebells
It's safe to say that lifting and sweating go hand in hand.
By now you know what that means. That's right, your dumbbells and kettlebells will also gather sweat, dirt and bacteria.
So again, regular cleaning after each session is essential.
We'd recommend starting by drying your free weights with a towel.
Then, take a cloth sprayed with disinfectant or some pre-sanitised wipes and give them a good clean.
Once done, and after giving the sanitising solution around 60 seconds to settle and fight the bacteria, dry them off with a clean towel or some paper towels.
The drying off may seem a minor detail or inconvenience, but this step is particularly important as it will prevent rust on iron elements.
Like before, no harsh chemicals should be used, as this could damage the rubber or neoprene coating, or the finish.
Cleaning your suspension trainer or resistance bands
Whether you're harnessing the power of your body weight or working on some assistance exercises, you guessed it, keeping them clean is important.
When cleaning your suspension trainer it's important to clean them with a cloth and disinfectant solution or wipes. You should do this after every use.
For a more thorough clean, we'd recommend rolling your sleeves up, chucking them in a bucket of warm, soapy water and scrubbing away.
This will certainly help with the foam handles on the suspension trainer when used frequently.
Cleaning your yoga / exercise mat
If you're like us, you'll use your yoga mat, roll it up after use and repeat.
At no point in that thought process did we stop to think about whether it might need a clean. As sweat, germs and bacteria thrive in warm, wet places, it does.
Depending on how intense your sessions are, it's usually fine to go a week or so before your mat needs a good clean. If you use them for intense workouts or just generally sweat more, clean it more often.
Cleaning is easy. You can either use a yoga mat cleaner or create a simple DIY solution of disinfectant solution and approx. 500ml of water in a spray bottle.
Spray the mat on both sides and wipe down with a soft cloth. Then, rinse the mat with a cloth soaked in clear water and wrung out.
Now you're good to hang the mat around the house or lay flat to dry naturally. Make sure the mat is fully dry before rolling it back up.
Avoid putting them your mat in direct sunlight as you run the risk of it fading or becoming hard and fragile.
Don't forget the floor or surface you workout on too
Now that you're mind is full of home fitness equipment cleaning knowledge, we don't want you to forget the floor.
This is something that is often overlooked, but the floor where you workout is also a victim of sweat and even dirt from your shoes.
After every workout, take the time to give it a clean.
For hard surfaces, a mop and bucket (with a cleaning solution) will do the trick. For carpets and rugs, vacuum the area. You can also do a deeper clean on carpets by using carpet cleaning products on a less frequent basis - every few months should be fine.
What to do now you're a home gym cleaning expert?
Simply having all this home gym cleaning knowledge is not enough. You now need to put it into practice and keep up to it.
We've got faith in you. If we can do it, then so can you.
And with that, we're off to workout on our spotless exercise equipment in our immaculate home gym.
We hope this helps you do the same and feel free to share your progress with us on social.