A Guide to Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home Gym and Equipment

Your home gym is where you push yourselves,touching equipments with unwashed hands,and wearing outdoor shoes. Often, cleaning takes a backseat because you head straight to the shower post-workout. However, a typical cleaning routine likely misses germ hotspots and lacks effective methods to kill bacteria. With COVID-19 spreading, maintaining a sanitized home gym is non-negotiable.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, it's vital for homeowners to prioritize safety measures both inside and outside their homes. This includes thorough disinfection, extending to your home gym and its equipment.

Why is this crucial?

Because virtually every surface in your home gym is a "high-touch" area, prone to bacterial buildup. Additionally, certain viruses can survive on these surfaces for hours, heightening the risk of transmission. Given the habit of touching our faces during workouts, sanitizing your home gym and equipment is paramount, even if you're the sole user.

Remember: Always wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting your home during a virus outbreak, and ensure thorough handwashing afterward.

Before moving on to other areas of your home gym, let's focus on cleaning and sterilizing your gym equipment, which you frequently touch during workouts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has compiled a list of approved disinfectants effective against the coronavirus. Therefore, your first step is to stock up on EPA-registered disinfectants for effective sanitization. In addition to the right products, you'll need extra cleaning tools like microfiber cloths, gentle scrubbers, and brushes. It's essential to replace used cleaning tools with fresh, sanitized ones during the cleaning process to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination.

Now, let's dive into the step-by-step guide on how to clean and disinfect your home gym equipment.

Treadmill

Begin by wiping down the entire machine using a clean dust cloth, focusing on areas like buttons, handrails, and the screen. If your shoes have tracked in outdoor dirt, use a soft-bristle brush to remove hardened mud from the treadmill belt while rotating it by hand for a thorough clean. Finish by wiping the top of the belt with a damp cloth, allowing it to air dry before rotating and wiping the other side. Next, disinfect the high-touch areas using an EPA-registered disinfectant. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with the disinfectant and wipe over handrails, dashboard, buttons, and other exterior parts. Avoid using a soaked cleaning cloth when disinfecting the screen and buttons/touchpad.

Exercise Bike

Whether you have a recumbent bike or an elliptical, start by dusting the bike with a clean cloth, paying attention to areas where dust might accumulate, such as the flywheel and chain guard. Use a narrow brush or feather duster for more thorough cleaning. Next, wipe over frequently touched spots like handles, buttons, seat, and seat adjuster with a clean damp cloth to remove stubborn dirt and stains. Finally, disinfect all necessary areas of your exercise bike using an EPA-registered disinfectant, following the same process as for the treadmill.

Remember, for effective sanitization, the disinfectant must have enough time to actively fight against bacteria before drying or being removed. Therefore, wipe over surfaces slowly rather than with one quick swipe.

Dumbbells, Weights & Barbells

These essential home gym items are relatively straightforward to clean and disinfect. However, it's crucial not to overlook any part of them, as users typically touch dumbbells, weights, and barbells extensively while moving and using them.

To clean and disinfect these pieces in your home gym, start by wiping them with a damp cloth to remove surface dirt. Then, apply an EPA-registered disinfectant by spraying it on the items. Allow the disinfectant to sit on the surfaces for 10 minutes before wiping them down with a damp cloth and letting them air dry.

Pro tip: After cleaning and disinfecting, lightly dampen your hands and rub the surface of each item to ensure it's not slippery. If necessary, use a damp cloth to remove any traces of the disinfectant from the equipment.

Resistance Bands

These stretchy rubber strips can accumulate dirt and bacteria, especially when used directly on the skin. Handling them with unsanitized hands can exacerbate the issue.

When cleaning resistance bands, remember:

• Avoid scrubbing them with abrasive tools.

• Steer clear of strong cleaning solutions that could damage the material.

• Refrain from soaking the bands in water for extended periods.

Instead, create a mild cleaning solution by mixing warm water with a few drops of liquid dish soap in a bucket. Submerge the bands and agitate them vigorously for 15-20 seconds. You can also gently rub the material with your hands or a non-abrasive scrubber to remove stubborn dirt. Afterward, rinse the bands under running water (preferably warm or room temperature) and allow them to air dry. Once dry, spray them with a disinfectant and let them air dry again before wiping with a damp towel.

Yoga Mat

With frequent body contact during use, yoga mats can quickly accumulate grime. To keep your mat clean and sanitary:

• Wipe both sides of the mat with a clean, damp cloth.

• Create a mild solution of warm water and liquid dish soap and pour it into a spray bottle.

• Dampen one side of the mat by spraying the solution onto it.

• Use a microfiber cloth to gently scrub away grime without being too harsh.

• Rinse off the mat and repeat the process for the other side.

Once dry, spray both sides of the mat with a disinfectant and wipe with a damp towel after 10 minutes.

Home Gym Floor

Ensuring the cleanliness and sanitation of your home gym floor is essential, as it's prone to sweat, dirt, and grime. However, cleaning it can be tricky due to the various types of flooring, each requiring specific cleaning methods and solutions.

Whether your home gym floor is made of rubber, foam, carpeting, or vinyl, the cleaning process involves:

• Dust and Dirt Removal: Use a vacuum cleaner with an appropriate attachment head to effectively remove dust and dirt from the floor's surface.

• Stain Removal: Depending on the type of flooring, use a suitable stain remover and cleaning agent to tackle any stubborn stains or spills.

• Sterilization: Once the floor is cleaned, sterilize it using an EPA-registered disinfectant to ensure the elimination of any harmful bacteria or viruses.

By following these steps tailored to your specific flooring material, you can maintain a clean and sanitary environment in your home gym.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Additional Surfaces in Your Home Gym

Home gyms vary in equipment and layout, but the cleaning and disinfection of similar materials follow similar methods to those shared above. However, it's crucial not to overlook other surfaces and areas in your home gym, as many of these are high-touch spots. Here's a list of surfaces to consider:

• Bench press

• Other machinery

• Pull-up bar

• Kettlebells

• Medicine balls

• Mirror

• Walls

• Switchboard

• Racks

• Wall-mounted fixtures

• Shelves/table tops

• Stools/chairs

Conclusion

Scan your home gym and spot any overlooked objects, areas, and surfaces not mentioned earlier. Add them to your cleaning and disinfection checklist to ensure a comprehensive approach to hygiene.

Remember, while regular exercise is crucial for health, the risks of working out in an unsanitary environment are often overlooked. To fully enjoy the benefits of indoor exercise, prioritize cleanliness and sterility in your home gym.

Ensure these surfaces receive the same thorough cleaning and disinfection to maintain a hygienic environment in your home gym.

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