Cleaning Up at the Gym

As a Young Black Professional, you do your best to stay healthy. You eat right and try to work out at a gym as often as possible. You join a health club to shed some pounds and to detox. But what if the very place where you try to get healthy is making you sick? The other day I witnessed some very disturbing and disgusting behavior by my fellow gym members. I’ll spare you the details of what almost made me sick to my stomach. My point is that gyms can be a plethora of germs, especially if they are not cleansed and sanitized properly. Putting in time at the gym is supposed to make you healthier, but if you aren’t careful, it could cause an unexpected illness.

While you can’t eliminate your risk for getting sick, you can reduce it. Ask your gym manager if and how often they clean the equipment, mats, and locker rooms. Don’t be afraid to inquire- you are a paying customer after all. If your gym doesn’t provide sanitizer sprays and towels for the members to wipe down the machines when they’re done, suggest that they implement that policy. It only takes one sweaty body to leave germs behind, so hygienically it doesn’t make sense to wait until the end of the day to clean everything.

To reduce the chance of getting an infection or a cold, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after handling fitness equipment. This means vigorously scrubbing every part of your hand with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds. If there’s not a bathroom close by, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Also, wash your weight-training gloves. They come in contact with fitness equipment, and you don’t know whether the last person who used the equipment is sick.

Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. These are some of the typical gateways through which bacteria and viruses enter the body. Stay away from people who are sneezing or coughing, especially in small rooms. Germs can travel through the air when a person sneezes or coughs without covering the nose and mouth. Bring your own exercise mat and sanitize after using it. Bring two workout towels to the weight-training or cardio equipment floor. One is for wiping your sweat. The other is for wiping the equipment you use. Wipe fitness equipment dry if you’ve perspired on it. You wouldn’t want others to leave their bodily fluids around (even if they sometimes do.)

Do everybody a favor and stay at home if you’re sick. If you’re feeling well enough to exercise, but are still coughing or sneezing, consider physical activities that you can do solo elsewhere until you’re no longer contagious. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered. These also are portals for bacteria and viruses. Don’t walk around the gym locker room barefoot. Wear flip-flops or sandals in the locker room to protect your feet from fungus and germs. And while in the locker room, sit on a clean towel, not directly on the bench.

These tips should prevent you from getting sick, but remember that gym cleanliness is a two-way street. Make sure your gym does its part by thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing.