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Protect yourself with good hygiene practices
Not everyone who lurks at the gym has paid their dues!
Cold and flu viruses, as well as germs that cause athlete's foot,
Staph infections, and even ringworm, hang around and wait to go home
with unsuspecting members.
The gym is full of damp, moist surfaces where bacteria and viruses can thrive.
Locker rooms are an obvious source, but exercise machines, free weights, yoga mats,
and even water-fountain buttons – in fact, any place that hands touch or that
attracts body sweat – are breeding grounds. The germs that lurk there can easily
transfer from infected surfaces to hands and from your hands to your eyes, nose,
and mouth, thus spreading infection.
Gym germ control
When selecting a gym, look for one that is committed to cleaning and disinfecting
surfaces on at least a daily basis. But even that isn't enough, cautions Nancy Bock,
Vice President of Education at The Soap and Detergent Association, who recommends some
proactive protocol:
- Be considerate of fellow members – keep a towel handy to prevent your sweat from dripping onto the machines.
- At the beginning and end of each segment of your exercise regime, wipe down the surface of the equipment you use with a clean towel.
If your gym provides a cleaning or disinfecting solution, use it as well.
- Wash your hands after using the exercise equipment. If warm water and soap
aren't available, gel formulas and wipes can be effective substitutes.
- Launder weight-training gloves after using them, if they are washable, or replace them often.
- Avoid bare feet in the locker room and showers – waterproof shower sandals or slides should be an essential part of your gym wardrobe.
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Cleaning Matters is compiled by The Soap and Detergent Association and is not copyrighted. Such information is offered solely to aid the reader. The Soap and Detergent Association and its member companies do not make any guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the information contained in Cleaning Matters and assume no responsibility for the use of this information. |
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