Exercising at a public gym generally means playing by their rules, whereas working out at home is often a much more relaxed experience. Though most of the rules for public gyms don’t apply at home, such as the volume of your music and the type of clothing you wear, there are some guidelines that you should still adhere to in your home workout. One of the most important practices to adopt from a public gym is routine cleanliness. Cleaning your machines regularly will ensure that they continue to function as intended for many years to come. Additionally, it will reduce the transfer of germs between yourself and other family members who may use your home gym equipment. This guide explores how to clean your home gym equipment like the professionals.

Machinery

The most important thing to note when considering how to clean your home gym equipment is that you should clean all pieces of exercise equipment after every use. For larger pieces of equipment, such as ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes, this may require a slightly more involved cleaning process. You need to turn off and unplug these larger cardio machines completely before cleaning. Wipe them down and clean them with a disinfectant wipe or a damp microfiber cloth. If multiple people in your home use the machinery, it’s in your best interest to disinfect the equipment with the appropriate cleaning supplies as well. Depending on the type of machine and the frequency of use, the equipment may require more extensive cleaning every once in a while. Treadmills, for instance, may require more routine care than other types of cardio equipment.

Weights

You should also clean and sanitize free weights after each use. These items are often in prolonged contact with your palms while in use and can, thus, accumulate sweat, bacteria, and oil rather quickly. This regular exposure can cause the coating on the weight to chip over time. Clean your weights, dumbbells, and kettlebells with a standard mixture of dish soap and warm water. Then clean them again using a microfiber cloth and dry them thoroughly to ensure they don’t suffer any additional water damage.

Exercise mats

Wash exercise and yoga mats at least once a week. Of course, the frequency of your cleaning schedule will vary depending on how often and for what purposes you use them. Just as you do for weights, you can clean exercise mats using a soap and water solution. However, it’s important to be sure you thoroughly rinse the solution from the mat afterward. Soapy residue left on the mat after cleaning can make the mat feel slippery, thereby increasing the risk of injury when next using the mat. 

At American Home Fitness, we offer a wide range of commercial home gym equipment, from treadmills to ellipticals to strength training machines. Stop by one of our locations in Michigan or northern Ohio today.