How to Care for Exercise Equipment

To keep your home gym in tip-top, ready-to-use shape, you need to take care of it just like you do any other furniture, athletic gear or accessories. Even if you bought it used at a resale store, you still have an investment to protect. Then there's the fitness investment in yourself that must remain high on your list of priorities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Wipe down your exercise equipment regularly with a damp cloth. Occasionally use a disinfectant. In addition to gathered dust, you've been perspiring on it and it will return any germs that you may have left from a previous workout.
2. Dry the machines after each use. Mold can grow wherever there is moisture and the dampness on a treadmill or stationary bike can be an excellent breeding ground for mold. Mold can get into your respiratory system and make you sick and interrupt your exercise routine.
3. Check the belts on any equipment that has moving parts, at least every couple months to make sure that they are tight. Loose belts can interfere with the proper wear on the machine and cause a big repair bill if not caught early.
4. Drop a spot of oil in lever and wheel joints after cleaning your movable equipment to keep the motion smooth and even. Wipe off any excess so that it doesn't attract more dust.
5. Remove covers from mats and balls and wash them regularly. Germs and dust mites will fester if you don't.
6. Replace broken shoelaces in your workout shoes. Running or moving around with a loose lace can lead to injury. Make sure you wash your workout clothes every couple of days even if you are the only one in your house. The clean clothes will give you a burst of energy and again, keep the mold at bay.