Whether to maintain a beach body or work up a sweat to be better in the sack, many of us will be hitting the gym this summer.
Now, Melanie McNeal — the physical and occupational therapy manager at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas — is sharing how to keep yourself and others healthy in the shared, sweaty, sacred confines of the gym.
She insists that good gym hygiene begins at home.
McNeal recommends wearing clean clothes each time you exercise since used clothes gather sweat and bacteria that, in addition to smelling gnarly, can spread germs to other gym denizens.
She also suggests a quick spot check of exercise equipment before getting to the grind.
If you notice wetness or residue from a cleaning solution, let it air dry and do its thing.
The residue indicates that the cleanser needs more time to kill bacteria. It takes roughly two minutes for solutions to slay gym germs, and McNeal advises waiting that long before using equipment or a weight bench.
When you’ve finished exercising, McNeal cautions against spraying cleaning solution directly onto equipment, as the excess moisture can damage it.
Instead, take a sanitizing wipe or a napkin moistened with solution and wipe anywhere your sweat has blessed, or your skin has made contact.
The same goes for tears.
If you like to shower after a sweat session, McNeal recommends wearing flip-flops to protect your toes. Gym showers are notorious breeding grounds for mold, fungi and other bacteria that can infect feet, so your best bet is to maintain a barrier.
McNeal imparts, “Good hygiene prevents sicknesses like a cold, influenza and even salmonella, but cleanliness can also indicate that a gym is well maintained overall, including the quality of equipment. If hygiene rules are not followed, you could get sick, get others sick, or even cancel your membership.”
When it comes to determining if your gym prioritizes hygiene, McNeal proposes watching for these five red flags.
- A lack of readily available sanitary wipes for members or staff to wipe down equipment after use often means equipment is harboring unseen bacteria.
- An absence of signs directing members to clean equipment after each use suggests cleanliness is not a priority.
- Gym members using equipment and not cleaning it afterward can indicate that there is not a culture of cleanliness.
- Equipment laden with dust is a sure sign that the facility neglects cleanliness.
- Machines and equipment that are broken and out of commission for extended periods may mean a lack of interest from management in ensuring a well-kept space.
McNeal recommends gymgoers take precautions and set standards for themselves and the venue no matter the season.
“Expect a clean gym and report concerns to management if you have any,” she said. “You should feel free to ask management about the cleaning schedule and always clean up after yourself. Leave equipment as you would want to find it when you walk up to it.”
