When you're at the gym, sweat, dirt, and heavy breathing from dozens of people create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. So, cleaning gym equipment after using it prevents awkward, sweaty situations and potential health risks.

The same applies if you have a gym at home: you must clean the equipment often—especially if you share it with others. Not sure how to clean your home gym equipment? Here, you'll learn some easy ways to keep it clean and germ-free!

What's the best cleaner for your gym equipment?

Choosing the right cleaner and disinfectant is crucial for both the safety of those cleaning the equipment and the comfort of those using it. Harsh cleaners like bleach can irritate the skin and leave residues that may cause discomfort during workouts—or damage the equipment.

Soapy water is an effective and gentle option for dealing with the dirt and grime on your gym equipment. Besides, it can clean surfaces without damaging them.

To disinfect your equipment, make a solution by mixing 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. Adding a few drops of tea tree oil will boost your mixture's disinfectant power. Alternatively, you can use disinfectant wipes for quick cleaning sessions.

Note: Although you could replace hydrogen peroxide with alcohol, your mixture will dry faster, missing the mark of the time needed for an effective disinfection. 

Now, how do you exactly clean your home gym items?

Treadmills and cardio machines

High-touch pieces of equipment like cardio machines collect a lot of sweat and grime, so they usually need to be cleaned more often than the rest of the gym equipment. However, before starting to clean them, unplug the machines to avoid any risk of electric shock.

Use your homemade cleaner and disinfectant with a soft cloth to wipe down screens and control panels, avoiding excess moisture that could damage electronics. These machines are often complex pieces of equipment, so take your time to reach every nook and cranny.

A treadmill's belt collects all types of dirt—sweat, dust, and dirt from the shoes—which makes cleaning it a focal point in gyms. Be sure to clean the whole belt with a non-abrasive cleaner, wipes, and some elbow grease. Finish it by wiping it again with disinfectant wipes.

Free weights

Free weights are often shared, making them a potential breeding ground for germs. Cleaning them after every use or at the end of the day is the best way to keep them grime-free.

Spray soapy water onto a cloth rather than directly onto the weights to avoid corrosion, and use a soft brush to scrub the surface. Be sure to scrub thoroughly, as chalk and sweat can get into any grooves or textured surfaces.

Next, repeat the same process, but this time with your DIY disinfectant. Pay special attention to the handling bars, as they are the highest-contact areas in these pieces of equipment.

Resistance machines and benches

Resistance machines and benches are prone to getting sweat all over them due to how heavily used they are. Clean pads and metal frames with soapy water and a quick wipe. Handles might need a little bit of scrubbing to get all the dirt out.

To disinfect these machines, use a clean cloth and your DIY disinfectant mixture to wipe the surfaces. Be sure to spray generously so the solution doesn't dry too fast. The more crucial areas are the handles, followed by pads, and finally, metal frames.

Yoga mats

Yoga equipment is in constant direct contact with people's skin, which makes regular cleaning even more important to prevent skin irritation and eliminate funky odors.

The best option for yoga mats is to toss them in a washing machine. If you don't have a washing machine available, or your yoga mat can't be washed that way, use soapy water and rub the surface in circular motions to take out dirt. 

For disinfection, you can spray the entire mat's surface with your handcrafted disinfectant and leave it to air dry. Don't leave it under the sun; instead, leave your mat to dry in a well-ventilated room.

Medicine balls and stability balls

These two types of gym balls can be tricky to clean due to their material and surface texture. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and a small amount of your soapy mixture, being careful not to oversaturate. Avoid using excessive water, as it can seep into the ball and cause damage.

Dry it with a clean cloth as soon as you finish with the soapy water, and use disinfectant wipes to wipe them whole at least twice.

Kettlebells

Kettlebells might seem the same as medicine balls; however, as they're made of iron, you can use your cleaner and disinfectant more freely. Although cleaning the whole surface is expected, focus on the handles, as they are the areas with higher contact.

Use a dampened cloth with soapy water to scrub the kettlebell and a brush to take care of the ridges and crevices. Again, give special attention to the handles. Spray your DIY disinfectant generously around the surface and leave it to dry.

Exercise bands

Exercise bands can seem a little bit tricky to clean as they're usually made of rubber or latex, but they can get cleaned relatively easily.

Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water and throw the bands inside. Let them soak for at least ten minutes, and then rub them with a clean cloth.

Once you finish, rinse them in another bucket of plain warm water, spray them with your handcrafted disinfectant, and let them dry in a shaded, well-ventilated space.

Battle ropes

The quick way to clean battle ropes is by drenching a clean cloth in soapy water and rubbing along the length. However, as these ropes are often thick, this method won't reach deep enough if you want to clean them more in-depth.

For deeper cleaning, you can throw the ropes in a washing machine with a non-bleach, gentle detergent—use either cold or warm water. When reaching the rising cycle, you can add a cup of your DIY disinfectant to get rid of germs and bacteria. Finally, leave your ropes to dry indoors.

Learn more cleaning tips with Rain City Maids!

Rain City Maids can help you keep more than just your gym equipment clean. From cleaning walls to decluttering tips, we have a wide variety of guides to make your cleaning routine easier. Discover more in our blog and clean your home like a pro!