9 Tips to Clean and Sanitize Your Home Gym Equipment

Let’s face it: If you’ve mustered up the energy to work out, the last thing on your mind is cleaning and disinfecting your gym gear. Still, you should keep on it, as gym equipment is one of the home’s most notorious harborers of germs and bacteria. Luckily, here are nine easy tips for cleaning and maintaining home gym equipment.

1. Wipe Down With Microfiber Cloths

An easy way to clean gym equipment after working out is with a simple microfiber cloth or two. Microfiber cloths are great for trapping dust, as other cleaning methods tend just to move dust around.  Use them to wipe down barbells, exercise machines, yoga mats, floor mats, and other necessary equipment. Add a touch of soap and warm water to clear away any accumulated grime. 

Be sure to wash the clothes after use and avoid using dirty cloths to prevent the spread of germs. Perform this step daily, whether you worked out or not.

2. Disinfect With Wipes

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Disinfectant wipes are your best ally in the fight against germs and bacteria. There is a reason, after all, why professional gyms stock these wipes in such abundance. Just like when using a pro gym, wipe down your gear with disinfectant wipes both before and after use. Your home gym doesn’t have the traffic of a commercial gym, but that doesn’t eliminate the presence of germs and bacteria; it merely minimizes this presence. 

Be sure to wipe down anything you put your hands on, including dumbbells, jump rope, medicine balls, and everything else. When cleaning complex and fragile pieces of gear, such as electric treadmills, unplug the equipment before wiping it down. To simplify, use microfiber cloths for simple cleaning and dusting and disinfectant wipes to eradicate bacteria.

3. Use a Homemade Cleaner

For deep cleanings without relying on store-bought cleaners, you can go with a DIY solution. Simple dish soap is always a good option, but for germ prevention, mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Add a few drops of tea tree oil for an added antiseptic boost. 

Spray down your equipment, let it sit for a few minutes, and then dry the gear with a microfiber cloth. This homemade cleaning agent is safe for any and all gear in your home gym, but unplug fitness equipment from electricity before spraying them down.

4. Keep Your Phone Clean

It’s all too easy to forget that your phone is an essential part of your workout routine, particularly if you listen to music or watch training videos as you exercise. As we all know, touchscreens are an absolute magnet for germs, so clean your phone before working out and then again after you finish. 

Use a disinfectant wipe on the touchscreen and go slow to protect the electrical components. While you are at it, wash your hands before and after using your home gym and multiple times throughout the day. Storing a bottle of hand sanitizer in your workout space is also a good idea.

5. Wash Towels and Clothing Regularly

Towels and clothing help people remain hygienic during workouts, but they can’t do their job when dirty. Wash your towels regularly and set aside storage space in your gym for clean towels. 

As for workout clothes, keep them clean to the best of your ability. Yes, it’s easier to slap on dirty gym clothes before working out, but these sweaty articles of clothing transmit nasty particles directly to your gym equipment. Cleaning your exercise attire after every session is the best option, but ust do your best here.

6. Create a Weekly (and Monthly) Schedule

Wiping down your gear and cleaning your clothing, phone, and towels after every workout is a great start, but there are weekly and monthly tasks to really keep that space sparkling clean. Create a weekly and monthly schedule to get organized. 

Weekly cleaning tasks include floor mats, exercise machines, fitness balls, kettlebells, and resistance bands. You’ll be wiping these items down after using them, but they require a deeper cleaning each week. Monthly tasks include cleaning gym bags and footwear. As a matter of fact, keep an extra pair of shoes set aside just for working out, so you won’t traipse in dirt and mud to your exercise space.

7. Don’t Forget Smaller Accessories

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There are also a number of smaller yet crucial workout accessories requiring regular cleaning. We are talking earbuds, armbands, and water bottles. Use alcohol on your earbuds with a swab or cotton ball, taking care to avoid direct contact with moisture and giving them a day or so to completely dry. 

For water bottles, toss them in your dishwasher every couple of days. Most sweatbands are dishwasher-safe, but some may require vinegar instead of a traditional cleaning agent. Always check any recommended cleaning methods the manufacturer provides before cleaning these items, but when all else fails, use simple disinfectant wipes.

8. Add a Fan, Air Purifiers, and Air Fresheners

Now for the space itself. No matter how diligently you clean the equipment, all of that sweat and funk translates to a musty and humid room over time. Keep your home gym feeling fresh by adding a fan for airflow and a dehumidifier to minimize humidity. "Good ventilation, fans, and air purifiers will help to keep your home gym smelling clean and fresh, as well as decreasing the chances of any mold or allergen growth due to moisture,"  says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA.

The best gym is an inviting one, so work on the accumulation of foul odors by placing air fresheners throughout the space and adding a heavy-duty air purifier. Your future self thanks you.

9. Get a Professional Clean

There are times when disinfectant wipes and distilled white vinegar won’t cut it. For serious gym-related messes, contact a local house cleaner. Not only are these pros adept at making home gyms presentable and inviting, but they’ll also clean the rest of your home if needed. Hiring a house cleaner costs $30 to $50 per hour and is a good investment if multiple people use your home gym every single day.