Things You'll Need:
- Treadmill
- Treadmill Wax (Powdered Crystals or Liquid)
- Yardstick or Ruler
- 2 Towels
- Cleaning Fluid
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Step 1
Select the right treadmill wax before applying it. The first step is to figure out what type of belt you have before applying anything to your treadmill belt. Newer treadmill belts are usually made of polyurethane, while older belts may be made out of material like polyester and/or cotton with a rubber or polyvinyl chloride coating.
Petroleum or acetone based lubricants will ruin a rubber or polyvinyl belt, so you should avoid these at all costs. Polyurethane is more resistant, but can still be damaged by these products. Make sure that the wax you are using is pure paraffin, or contains no damaging ingredients. -
Step 2
Run the treadmill for at least 5 minutes before proceeding. This will soften any residual wax or lubricant under the belt.
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Step 3
Unplug the treadmill. This is very important for safety.
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Step 4
Clean the treadmill before applying wax. To do this, use a cleaning fluid like 409 or Clean Green, and dilute it with 50% water. Lightly wet the towel with this cleaning fluid. Squeeze out extra fluid. Next, take your towel and slide it under the treadmill belt, using your ruler to assist you. You should have one end of the towel stick out of the right and left sides of your treadmill belt. Slide this along the belt, as if you were flossing. Move up and down the belt to clean it. Repeat with a dry towel to thoroughly dry the treadmill.
Doing this will prevent damaging wax build-up. -
Step 5
Apply the wax. The way to do this depends on the type of product you are using.
For wax powder or wax crystals, use an even teaspoon of wax. A little goes a long way. Using your ruler to assist you in lifting up the belt, evenly spread a layer of wax crystals underneath the treadmill belt. You can blow the crystals to ensure that you don't have any lumps, and that it is evenly spread.
For liquid wax, use your ruler to assist you in lifting up the treadmill belt. Hold the nozzle of the bottle at a downward angle, and spray the deck which is underneath the treadmill belt. Be sure to spray evenly. Two squirts is generally enough on each area. -
Step 6
Repeat the above step until the entire deck surface underneath the belt is lubricated.
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Step 7
Use your treadmill immediately after applying the wax. This will increase absorption. First, set it to the lowest setting of 1 mile per hour, and be sure to walk on the entire surface of the belt. Once you've done this, you can complete a workout as normal.
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Step 8
Using your dry towel, clean up any excess wax that drips from the sides of the treadmill. Repeat this procedure monthly, or after every 2000 miles of use.
