Here’s How Often to Clean Your At-Home Gym Equipment (It’s More Than You Might Think!)

Given the amount of sweat that’s produced in your home gym, cleaning workout equipment is essential—even if you’re the only one using it. Between sweat, body oils, dust, dirt, hair, and grime, yoga mats, weights, and treadmills can get pretty filthy. Regular cleaning is important—not just for your own personal hygiene, but for the correct functioning and maximum lifespan of the equipment. As a general rule of thumb, you should wipe down any type of gym equipment after every use, especially if you just completed a particularly sweaty cardio session.

If that sounds like a huge hassle, it’s actually much simpler and faster than you may think. All you need is a clean microfiber cloth and a mild disinfectant spray or a homemade cleaning solution to wipe down high-touch areas such as handlebars and screens. For larger gym equipment such as a stationery bike or an elliptical machine, you’ll want to vacuum around and underneath them once a week, and check that all parts are securely tightened and running smoothly once a month. Whether your home gym is your sanctuary or you’re at the beginning of your personal fitness journey, here’s how often to clean your at-home gym equipment.

Yoga Mat

How often to clean it: Disinfect after each use, and deep clean once every two weeks.

If you just finished a hot yoga class, your mat probably needs a good clean. Yoga mats get used from top to bottom, plus one side touches the floor while the other gets covered with sweat, dirt, and germs. If you use the mat frequently and for intense workouts that involve a lot of sweat, you should be cleaning your mat after every use. You can purchase a cleaning spray specifically designed for cleaning yoga mats, or simply wipe down the mat with soapy water, making sure to remove any soapy residue. Depending on how often you use the mat, deep clean it every couple of weeks with a solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar and a couple drops of your favorite essential oils.

Treadmill

How often to clean it: Vacuum around and clean it weekly.

Use a microfiber cloth dampened with a mild disinfectant cleaner to wipe down your treadmill after every use. Make sure you wipe down every area of the treadmill, including the handles, screen, belt, and cupholders. And since a treadmill is similar to a piece of furniture, make sure to vacuum around and underneath it once a week to prevent dust buildup.

Stationery Bike

How often to clean it: Deep clean and check parts once a month.

Wipe down a stationery bike after every workout session using a microfiber cloth and either a mild disinfectant or some warm soapy water. Make sure to wipe every surface including the handles, screen, seat, and cupholders. Once a month, inspect the bike to make sure there aren’t any loose screws, that the seat and pedals are securely in place. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for lubricating these parts as necessary so the bike runs as it should and your workout isn’t affected.

Elliptical Machine

How often to clean it: Dust and vacuum once a week, and check the parts once a month.

Remove sweat and dirt from your elliptical machine after every use with a soft microfiber cloth dampened with either warm soapy water or a mild disinfectant. Wipe down every high-touch area such as the handlebars and screen. Once a week, dust the machine and vacuum around and underneath it. Once a month, check that all the hardware is tightened, all the moving parts run smoothly, and there are no loose screws. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for lubricating the elliptical if there is friction.

Weights and Dumbbells

How often to clean it: Clean and disinfect after each use.

Given the high-touch nature of weights and dumbbells, they should be cleaned after every use to remove oils, sweat, and dirt. Take a soft microfiber cloth and dampen it with a mild disinfectant spray, then wipe down all sides of the weights or dumbbells, including any nooks and crevices. Alternately, you can also clean them with warm soapy water or a homemade natural cleaning solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. Any hard-to-reach places can be cleaned with a small brush dipped in the cleaning solution if a microfiber cloth isn’t doing the job.

Exercise Ball

How often to clean it: Wipe down after each use.

An exercise ball touches the floor and your body, and germs, dirt, sweat, dust, and body oils stick to it more than you may think. Wipe down the entire surface of the ball with a microfiber cloth dampened with warm soapy water after every gym session. Make sure you don’t use any abrasive cleaning brushes to prevent punctures or any harsh chemicals that could damage the ball’s surface and affect safety of use.

Small Equipment Such as Jump Ropes, Exercise Bands, and Yoga Blocks

How often to clean it: Disinfect items after each use, or whenever they get sweaty.

Small gym accessories such as jump ropes, exercise bands, and yoga blocks need regular cleaning just as much as large equipment does. They are high-touch items which get covered in sweat and body oils, so it’s important to give them a thorough clean after every workout session. Wipe them down with a microfiber cloth dampened with a mild disinfectant or warm soapy water.