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A guide to staying fit & clean.
To help gym-goers understand how best to clean both cardio machines and free weights, the experts at PureGym have released step-by-step guides. Take a look at them below.
Your cardio machines
Clean machines before and after use. This will ensure your exercise area is ready for you before you start and also clean for whoever comes next.
Give the machines a clean down with either a folded paper towel, spritzed at least twice with a cleaning spray or with sanitising wipes. Don’t spray cleaning fluid directly onto the machinery as it could push anything sitting on the surface into the air.
Be careful around screens and electrics - while it’s important to wipe these down if you’re touching them, don’t let screens get too damp.
Focus your cleaning on the main touchpoints of equipment including any handles, seats, adjustment points and buttons you may press.
Be sure to clean under your phone and water bottle - if you rested any of your belongings on the equipment or the water bottle holder, make sure to wipe these areas over too.
Wait a few seconds after wiping down. The cleaning liquid will need a few moments to work and dry, so wait 20 to 30 seconds before using so the surfaces aren’t slippery for use.
Once you’ve finished, give the parts of the equipment directly in front of you a wipe down – you’ll have been breathing over these areas during your workout.
Throw away the cloths and wipes in the bins provided – don’t leave any used tissues on the gym floor or the equipment.
Try not to touch the equipment after you have finished your workout and have cleaned the equipment.
The free weights
Clean the equipment before and after using – hopefully, whoever used it before you will have done the same, but it’s still important all gym-goers clean the kit before use as a precaution.
Don’t use a gym or sweat towel to wipe down your free weights.
Similarly, to when cleaning cardio machines – never spray disinfectant straight onto the equipment. Instead, spray twice onto a folded paper towel and use this to wipe over the entire surface area of the equipment
Be thorough and make sure to wipe all different parts of the equipment, not just the area you’ve been holding. If the weighted ends are fixed, make sure these have been carefully cleaned all over, including any ridges or indents.
If you’re using a barbell with weighted plates, clean not just the bar, but also any weighted plates you have used or will be using. It’s crucial that you wipe over the entirety of the bar and pay particular attention to the textured area where your hands will be gripping on.
If the paper towel or wipe you’re using begins to dry out while you’re cleaning a piece of kit, get another, or spray more disinfectant on the paper to finish up.
Leave 20 – 30 seconds after wiping the weights equipment before using it, to allow the disinfectant time to work and dry.
Always dispose of used wipes and paper towels in a bin.
