A home gym can be a quiet place where you go to relax and
exercise after a hard day at work. However, if you've felt sick the last few
times you've worked out, you may not be sure why. Unfortunately, your basement
may be dirty and contaminated with items like mold and bacteria. Thankfully,
professional cleaning can help you avoid the health dangers caused by these
issues.
Home Gyms May Have Many Health Hazards
A home gym has many benefits. You can work out in peace away
from your family, play music as loudly as you want, and keep your kids away
from your equipment. Unfortunately, home gyms and especially those located in
basements — even finished ones — are prone to growths like mold and bacteria,
growths that may respond to the moisture in your gym.
When mold and bacteria grow in dirty home gyms, there's a
good chance other infections can find a way to make a home there. The most
common of these health problems include:
- Bacteria infestation, including E.coli
- Viral infection, including the flu
- Asthma attacks and other respiratory issues
- Allergic reactions to mold and mildew
These diseases ruin what should be a fun and relaxing
experience in your home gym. Therefore, you need to contact a professional
cleaner the moment you notice any mold or mildew in your gym or if you feel
unexpectedly sick after a workout session.
Regular Cleaning Is Essential
Professional cleaning of your gym will successfully destroy
mold, bacteria, viruses, and mildew and prevent them from coming back. For
example, proper cleaning services can identify where these infestations
originate and weed them out of your area with a focused cleaning attack.
The elimination of these contaminating elements shouldn't be
a DIY job. The difficulty is too high for most amateurs, who may easily miss
moldy spots or provide improper treatment. Some might even use cleaners that
remove but don’t kill mold spores. As a result, the mold and mildew may grow
right back in your gym and cause more problems.
However, you can follow a few simple cleaning steps to help
out the professionals. For example, you can regularly clean your exercise
equipment to ensure that mold has nothing to eat in your gym. Follow these tips
for specific pieces of exercise equipment:
- All machines —Wipe
down all of your exercise machines — such as treadmills or rowers — after
every use. A simple cleaning solution can sanitize the area and eliminate
the risk of mold.
- Free weights —
All of your weights — including kettlebells — should be wiped off at least
once a week. Since these items don't absorb moisture, they require less
frequent cleaning sessions.
- Weight bars —
Wipe down your weight bars when you clean your free weights — this
will keep them sanitized and ready to use at all times.
- Benches —
Like your exercise machines, all basement-gym benches should be wiped down
after every use. Unfortunately, your sweat may corrode the seat or invite
mold and mildew.
- Resistance bands —
If you use resistance bands in your gym, try running them under warm soapy
water once every few weeks to keep them from attracting mold.
Utilize a broad range of cleaning items on your home gym
equipment to keep them safe. Sanitation wipes, vinegar, cleaners and
deodorizers, microfiber towels, and dish soap all have a place in your
equipment cleaning routine. And so should a professional basement cleaner: try
to schedule service when you start to notice a musty smell in the area.
So if your home gym is starting to smell, or if you notice
signs of mold and mildew, please don't hesitate to contact us at NorthStar
Cleaning & Property Services to get the help that you need.
Our professionals will work hard to keep your home gym clean so that you can
enjoy your gym in a safe and healthy environment.
