Home gyms are incredibly convenient – you can work out without having to go in public, you don't have to share equipment, and you can tailor the space to your workout needs. However, with this convenience comes the need to clean and sanitize everything yourself.
While we hope you also wipe down equipment in a shared gym, you need to go the extra mile and deep clean your own home gym regularly if you want to keep a safe level of hygiene in between your intense workout sessions.
Luckily, fitness experts and professional cleaners have plenty of experience dealing with sweaty gym equipment – and they have shared their cleaning tips with us.
How to clean a home gym
When designing and decorating a home gym, it helps to plan easy cleaning into the design. Opting for soft yet easy-to-clean rubber matting, for instance, will make mopping when your arms ache super simple while keeping cleaning supplies to hand means you won’t be tempted to ‘clean it later’ (and ultimately forget).
1. Disinfect high-touch areas
The main cleaning task you need to do in a home gym is disinfect – no matter if you have an intense sweat session, or a relaxed yoga flow, says Cara D’Orazio, owner, personal trainer, and fitness instructor at C.G.M. Fitness.
‘High-touch areas like dumbbells, barbells, workout mats, and equipment handles are breeding grounds for bacteria,’ she explains. ‘Use a disinfectant spray or wipe to thoroughly clean these areas after every use. This prevents the spread of germs and keeps your equipment hygienic.’
2. Keep fresh air flowing
You should always open up windows during or after a workout to allow the room out, adds Chris Pruitt, CEO and certified trainer at WorkoutHealthy. This helps to manage humidity to prevent mold, reduces odors, and lowers airborne germs, he explains. If you cannot open windows, Chris suggests using air purifiers to help filter out dust and airborne pathogens, keeping the workout environment fresh and clean.
With a built-in HEPA filter, this popular model allows you to be sure that the air you're breathing during your workout is as clean as possible. Read our Blueair Blue Pure Fan air purifier review for more details.
The Shark NeverChange MAX shows the air quality of your room as a percentage and features cleanable pre-filters. Our Shark Never Change Air Purifier MAX review goes into more detail.
This is one of the quietest air purifiers H&G has ever tested, and it's faster, more compact, and more affordable than many. Our Morento Air Purifier review has more in-depth info.
3. Keep a personalized cleaning caddy handy
When organizing your workout space it is a good idea to find a spot to store cleaning equipment close by, suggests Eliana Coca, cleaning expert and founder of E.C. House Cleaning:
‘Having a personalized cleaning caddy in your home gym can streamline your cleaning process. Stock it with microfiber cloths, eco-friendly cleansers, a small hand-held vacuum, and other cleaning essentials.
‘This setup not only promotes regular cleaning habits but also ensures that all necessary tools are conveniently at hand.’
4. Use microfiber cloths
Microfiber cloths are an essential cleaning supply everyone needs, but they are particularly useful in home gyms, Chris Pruitt, certified trainer, continues:
‘Microfiber cloths are excellent for wiping down machines and surfaces. They effectively capture dust, dirt, and microbes without the need for harsh chemicals. They are also reusable, making them an eco-friendly option.’
5. Consider a disinfectant fogger
If you use your gym a lot, share it with family, friends, or even clients, or have a large luxury home gym, consider investing in a disinfectant fogger, Eliana Coca, a cleaning expert suggests.
‘We often utilize disinfectant foggers in larger spaces, and they are excellent for home gyms too. The fogger disperses a disinfectant mist that reaches even the hard-to-clean areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage and sanitation. This method is particularly useful for periodic deep cleans to maintain a hygienic workout environment.’
6. Don’t forget mats and floors
Every home gym needs the best yoga mats – but they also need deep cleaning, even if we only use them to warm up or stretch, reminds Cara D’Orazio, personal trainer:
‘Yoga mats, floor mats, and flooring can harbor sweat, dirt, and bacteria. I suggest regularly cleaning your mats with mild detergent and water and disinfecting floors with a gym-friendly cleaner.
‘This prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi, keeping your workout space fresh and clean.’
7. Be consistent
If you want to keep your home gym hygienic and make your home smell nice, routine is key. You don't see workout results without commitment – so you can’t expect any difference with cleaning, warns Jonathan Weissberg, fitness research director.
‘We found that 7% of our survey respondents cleaned their equipment every time they were done working out and only 8% cleaned their equipment once a week! So the tip here is to get into the routine of wiping and spraying down your equipment more frequently. An extra couple minutes of each workout can make all the difference in the cleanliness of your home gym.’
FAQs
What is the best thing to clean gym equipment with?
One of the best things to clean gym equipment is a disinfectant spray or wipe that will kill bacteria while masking odors. When using a spray and a cloth, wash the cloth after every use to prevent spreading any germs around after each workout.
What happens if you don’t clean gym equipment?
If you do not clean your gym equipment, bacteria will build up that can spread illness and infection. It can also make your home and gym smell bad, and compromise the performance and lifespan of your equipment. Giving everything you use a wipe-down after every session is far quicker and easier than dealing with the aftermath.
While you don’t need to deep clean your whole home gym every session, it helps to clean high-touch points after every use, with a deep clean once a month, reminds Jonathan Weissberg, fitness research director. This is the best way to prevent the spread of illness so you can stay on track with your workout goals.
