8 Tips for Maintaining Personal Hygiene in the Gym
In the communal environment of a gym, personal hygiene isn’t just about looking and feeling your best—it’s a matter of public health and courtesy. Proper gym hygiene practices protect you from skin infections, respiratory illnesses and other health issues while also making the gym experience more pleasant for everyone. Here are our eight essential tips to help you maintain excellent personal hygiene during your workouts.
1. Shower Before and After Your Workout
While most people understand the importance of showering after exercise, showering before your workout is equally important. Think of it like swimming pool rules! Pre-workout showers help remove oils, dirt and bacteria from your skin that could be transferred onto gym equipment. It also helps prevent body odour during your workout so why not take a quick shower to help get you ready for your workout?
Post-workout showers, on the other hand, are obviously to help remove sweat, salt and bacteria that accumulates on your body during exercise. We recommend you use an anti-bacterial soap to thoroughly clean your skin, paying extra attention to areas that are prone to bacterial growth like your underarms, groin and feet. If you’re pressed for time and can’t shower immediately, body safe antibacterial wipes can also be used to clean any exposed skin until you can shower properly.
2. Wear Clean, Appropriate Workout Clothes
Never reuse sweaty workout clothes without washing them first. Chances are you probably won’t want to anyway, but bacteria can thrive in these moist environments meaning yesterday’s gym clothes can lead to skin infections and unpleasant odours, and no one wants that! Instead:
- Invest in moisture-wicking fabrics that draw sweat away from your skin
- Wash your gym clothes after every use with antibacterial detergent
- Ensure your clothes are completely dry before wearing them again
- Consider antimicrobial workout clothes for additional protection
Most gym clothes are designed to be breathable and comfortable but if you are not wearing specifically-designed gym clothing you should make sure they are appropriate for your exercise type. Tight-fitting clothes in synthetic materials may be ideal for some activities but can trap sweat and bacteria if not properly cared for.
3. Bring Your Own Towel and Mat
Gym-provided towels and mats are good and all, but they might not always meet the highest standards of gym hygiene. Instead, bringing your own clean towel ensures you can:
- Wipe down equipment before and after use if needed
- Create a barrier between shared surfaces and your skin
- Dry off sweat during your workout
- Provide a clean surface for stretching or floor exercises
Similarly, a personal yoga or exercise mat prevents direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. If you must use gym mats, place your towel over them or use sanitising equipment before use.
4. Sanitise Equipment Before and After Use
This practice not only protects both you and other gym-goers but it is also a part of gym etiquette. Wipe down all equipment handles, seats and touchpoints before and after your workout and you can thank us later! Most gyms provide sanitising wipes or spray bottles with paper towels specifically for this purpose.
Pay special attention to germ hotspots such as:
- Free weight handles
- Machine adjustment pins
- Cardio equipment consoles and handrails
- Bench surfaces
Even if equipment looks clean, invisible bacteria and viruses can still linger. Taking a moment to sanitise protects everyone in the gym and lets you have a five minute breather before embarking on the next step in your workout.
5. Proper Hand Hygiene is Essential
Your hands touch countless surfaces during a workout. From equipment to water fountains to your phone, that’s a lot of places germs can travel! Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds:
- Before beginning your workout
- After using the washroom
- After completing your exercise session
- Before touching your face, water bottle or snacks.
Obviously, it is a bit of a pain to be running off to wash your hands in the middle of your workout. So when soap and water isn’t available, why not opt for hand sanitiser instead? A hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content will keep your hands germs-free in the meantime!
6. Maintain Foot Health
You probably remember the horrors of going swimming and fearing you might get a verruca, or worse, athlete’s foot. Gym floors, showers and locker rooms are no different. These areas can harbour fungi that cause athlete’s foot and other infections. Protect your feet by:
- Wearing clean socks and appropriate athletic shoes
- Using shower shoes or slip flops in wet areas
- Thoroughly drying your feet after showering, especially between your toes
- Applying antifungal powder if you’re prone to foot infections
- Alternating between different pairs of workout shoes to allow them to dry completely
Never walk barefoot in gym common areas, even if the floors appear clean. You never know what might be lurking! Fungal spores are invisible after all and can easily transfer to your feet.
7. Manage Bodily Fluids Properly
Sweat, saliva and other bodily fluids are inevitable during exercise but should be managed hygienically. We recommend you:
- Use your towel to wipe sweat from your face and body
- Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, using your elbow rather than your hand
- Avoid spitting in water fountains or sinks
- Stay at home if you are sick, especially with contagious conditions
- Properly dispose of tissues, bandages and other personal waste
Remember that your bodily fluids can transit bacteria and viruses to others, so handling them responsibly is a matter of public health!
8. Practice Good Skin Care
Intense workout can sometimes lead to skin issues if proper care isn’t taken. From removing makeup to moisturising after the gym, here are some skincare tips that take into account gym hygiene:
- Remove makeup before exercising to prevent clogged pores
- Shower promptly after swimming to remove chlorine and other pool chemicals
- Treat any cuts or abrasions with antiseptic and cover with waterproof bandages immediately after they occur
- Monitor your skin for unusual rashes, bumps or persistent redness
- Moisturise after showering to prevent dryness from frequent washing
If you notice any unusual skin conditions that persist or worsen, consult a dermatologist, as some gym-related skin infections can require medical treatment.
Hotspots for Germs in a Gym
With the amount of foot traffic in a gym, it’s easy to see how gyms can be a breeding ground for germs. Here are the most common hygiene hazards in a gym and where you should make an extra effort to uphold gym hygiene:
- Free weights and weight machines
- Cardio equipment
- Exercise mats
- Locker room benches and surfaces
- Shower floors and drain
- Water fountains
- Swimming pools and hot tubs
- Door handles
- Gym towels
- Fitness accessories like shared yoga blocks or resistance bands
- Mobile phones
- Gym bags
Practice Gym Hygiene to Avoid Germs and Illness!
To protect yourself when exercising, you should make sure to practice gym hygiene by following this guide! By cleaning up before and after yourself, you can not only give yourself peace of mind that the equipment you are handling is germ-free but you can also do your part for your gym community and make the area a cleaner space where everyone can freely exercise!
FAQs
How to keep clean at the gym?
The best way to maintain personal hygiene in the gyms is to clean any equipment before and after you use it. This way you can complete your workout without having to worry about germs and make the space cleaner for the person who might use the equipment after you.
What is the towel rule in the gym?
It is gym etiquette to have a towel with you at the gym. Some high-end gyms may provide a towel for you when you arrive but we recommend you bring your own towel so you can have peace of mind that it is clean!
Can I go barefoot at the gym?
Although some personal trainers might recommend going barefoot at the gym, particularly when lifting weights to help provide stability, from a germ point of view, we do not! There are plenty of fungi hotspots in a gym that can lead to athlete’s foot and other foot infections if you are not careful. We recommend you keep your shoes on and choose soles that have good grip to help lift those heavier weights!