Let's face it, disinfecting and wiping down exercise equipment before and after use can be a real drag. In fact, it might leave you feeling like you do more cleaning than exercising at the gym! (Side note: wouldn't it be nice if the gym provided staff to do this for us?) But, with growing concerns about the bacteria and viruses lurking on your favorite weight machines and exercise equipment, that spray bottle and towel may be your best friend. Here's why ...
If you're ever feeling like skipping the wipe-down before stepping onto the treadmill, don't, says germ expert Elizabeth Scott, PhD., co-director of the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston. "Wherever people are using common equipment with hand and body contact, there is a transfer of germs." She's a big fan of cleaning gym equipment before and after use, showering before using the pool, and bringing your own mat to yoga class.
Health experts at the University of Cincinnati (UC) recently pointed out that we're especially susceptible to picking up bacteria, viruses, fungi, even MRSA (which recent research says may be becoming more common among athletes) at the gym.
"Open cuts and scratches aren't the only entryway for troublesome germs," says UC sports dermatologist Brian Adams, MD. "Abrasions-- for example, caused by friction against fitness mats and hand weights--and blisters from the constant rubbing of athletic shoes can break down skin's 'castle wall' and allow microorganisms to invade the body."
What's your take on cleaning equipment at gyms? Do you find it annoying and sometimes skip the process or do you wipe down each machine religiously?
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