How To Keep Germs at Bay While At The Gym

Dislosure:  This post is sponsored by Kleenex but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Let’s face it, as a personal trainer and someone who trains I enjoy going to the gym.  The gym has a wider variety of equipment, the weights can get very heavy, there is a sauna, and awesome cardio equipment that I don’t have at home.

The only real setback with the gym are the germs.  Don’t get me wrong, my gym has wipes available for individuals to wipe down machines and equipment before and after use but not everyone does it.  I’ve seen it with my own eyes so I want to share some tips you to help you minimize the germs.

Use a towel

Many gyms offer towel service with the membership.  If not, bring your own from home (even better).  Make sure the towel is body length – like one you would use after a shower.  Take the towel and cover equipment such as seats, mats or benches.  This minimizes skin contact with the bench which may have germs left behind by the previous user.  Make sure you are consistently using the same side of the towel touching the seat or bench every time.

Wipe it down

Some of the biggest germ hubs at the gym are the free weights and exercise balls because they are handled by so many people.  If your gym has them, take disinfectant wipes and wipe off the equipment beforehand or use exercise gloves to protect your hands.

Make sure you flip flop

Locker rooms are typically where the sauna and showers are but with such high use and high traffic, they can be riddled with viruses and germs.  Make sure you wear flip flops aka shower shoes to protect your feet because Athlete’s Foot is not fun.

Wipe your hands

We wash our hands after we use the bathroom but many people leave the gym after touching everything without doing so.  I’m sure folks are in a rush but one could be spreading more germs or taking gym germs home with you.  A great option is to carry Kleenex Wet Wipes with you so once your sweaty gym session is done, you can quickly and easily wipe your hands off before touching your clothes, the steering wheel to your car or the door knob to your home.

These wipes are awesome because they wipe away 99% of the common germs found on skin you may have picked up at the gym and contain no harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens or alcohol so if you have sensitive skin like me that is helpful.  They are nice and thick yet soft and are strong enough for your hands yet gentle enough to use on other body parts.  They come in convenient packs which makes them easy to take with you on the go.

Need these in your life?  Then skip the store and head to Amazon to pick up some packs.  You can also save up to $2 when you shop for them on Amazon.  If you pick some up let me know what you think.

How do you mitigate gym germs?