Beat Germs at the Gym

A serious sweat sesh might be just what the doctor ordered to help relieve stress and keep you healthy in these trying pandemic times.

Good idea (mostly). If it weren't for those pesky germs at the gym. It turns out fitness junkies have some nasty habits.

According to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Nuffield Health, a UK health firm, 74 percent said fellow gym-goers didn't wipe down sweaty equipment; 49 percent used water bottles, towels, and toiletries that weren't theirs; 18 percent went to the gym sick; and 16 percent didn't wash their gym clothes between workouts.

That said, there's no need to scrap the workout plan altogether.

Wipe, Wash, Wipe

Gyms can be gross, sure, but there's no scientific evidence that germs at the gym will make you sick.

For a cleaner workout session, continue doing what you already do (i.e., wiping down surfaces you frequently touch) and practice good gym hygiene.

These simple steps will limit your exposure to germs at the gym that cause cold, flu, norovirus, athlete's foot, and staph infections.

Keeping your hands clean with hand sanitizer and wiping down each machine or set of weights before and after you use it with disinfectant wipes provided by your gym will help keep germs at bay.

Shower  Smarter  to  Beat  Germs at the Gym

When it's time to hit the showers, don't go barefoot. Although they're not foolproof, wearing slip-resistant flip-flops in the shower will provide a barrier between you and the floors.

Pop the flops in a plastic bag after you've cleaned up your act.

Fungal spores can still get on your shower shoes, however. To minimize the risk, soak your shower shoes in a diluted bleach solution once in a while. That safeguard alone will help keep them and your feet as clean and fungus-free as possible.

Cleaning Gym  Gear and Clothes

Dark, moist gym bags are ideal growing ground for fungi. To keep your gym bag clean:

1. Put your dirty duds in a plastic bag.
2. Don't forget your workout shoes.
3. Slip them in a plastic bag, too, before tossing them into your gym bag. 

Wipe them clean (including the bottoms) with a disinfecting wipe when you get home. Allow to air-dry. Once a month or so, send mesh and canvas shoes gym shoes for a spin in the washing machine. 

A recent CDC report found illness-causing bacteria and infectious diseases could be living on your footwear. You don't have to let the freeloaders stay, however. 

Send mesh and canvas shoes for a spin in the washing machine in hot water and a bleach-containing laundry detergent if the fabric allows. Tumble dry on medium heat. 

Clean leather shoes with a cotton or microfiber cloth dipped in cold water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid to remove visible dirt.

Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with 70 percent isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to disinfect leather. Test it on an inconspicuous spot on your shoes, then gently blot-clean the surface. 

Give those hardworking gym a well-earned bath in the washing machine, too.

HOT, WARM, OR COLD?

When it's time to select a laundry-wash setting and temperature, let your fabrics determine the cycle: heavy items like sweat pants and sweatshirts get the normal or regular cycle, delicate sports bras and yoga pants do best in a gentle cycle, and so on, according to the label.

How important is the right wash water temperature? It directly affects how well your laundry detergent cleans and the life span of your workout clothes and gym bags. 

Hot Water: Use hot water to sanitize germs at the gym that have hitched a ride home on your clothing or gear.

Generally speaking, very dirty workout clothes and gym bags that have seen floor time and sturdy colorfast fabrics that retain their dye can be washed in hot water. (Whites warrant the solo treatment, no matter what the temperature.)

Warm Water: Warm temperature water minimizes color fading. Choose it to wash regular and sturdy fabrics, gym towels, 100 percent manufactured fibers (think gym bags), and moderately soiled stuff.

Cold Water: Use cold water for dark or bright colors that may run or fade; delicate fabrics including activewear and lingerie. It's also okay for lightly soiled gym clothes.

Always use cold water for clothes stained with blood or coffee. A cold-water rinse saves energy by up to one-third and minimizes wrinkling in synthetic fabrics.