Question: Do you wipe down Barbells at the gym?

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Replies

  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    I don't. I wipe down cardio machines & benches.
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    I don't wipe down barbells for the same reason I don't wipe down all doorknobs or handles everywhere I go. We can't live in a germ-free world, so...

    I do wipe off machines whether it looks like I sweat on it or not. I don't really want anyone to have to sit on or lean into my sweat. There's spray all over our gym for that purpose.

    I'm not a germaphobe, I was asking for what is the polite thing to do.
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    Thanks for all the responses. I think I have been overly worried about pissing off fellow gym members.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    All the real germaphobes wipe everything down before they use it anyway, right? At least I certainly do.
  • SJ46
    SJ46 Posts: 407 Member
    Thanks for all the responses. I think I have been overly worried about pissing off fellow gym members.

    You'll never make everyone at the gym happy, it is evident in all the posts here that complain about others at the gym. :flowerforyou:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,096 Member
    It's practically impossible to be germ free in a gym. While it's important to wipe of the sweat of benches or machinery one used, wiping off the handles on barbells and dumbells would be a lot of effort in vain. To be effective EVERYONE would need to do it and I don't see that happening.
    Don't want germy hands, just clean your hands off after using the bars and dumbells.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    I carry a hand towel with me but that is to dry my hands. I have never seen anyone wipe down the bars. I will sometimes wipe down the bench if I am extra sweaty but I dont see others do that very often.
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    I haven't shared a barbell for years, but when i did, I didn't wipe down, I usually used gloves anyway. I don't think of it as much of a problem. Not like a sweaty wet bench!
  • cstringfellow2013
    cstringfellow2013 Posts: 172 Member
    I wipe where I sweat. No need to wipe down the bells, yet. But I did see a guy wiping his bar after use last night.

    I am in no way a germaphobe, but I do wash my hands after I work out.
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
    The only things I see people wipe down at the gym are cardio equipment, mats, and sometimes benches/seats. I have never seen anyone wipedown a barbell, kettlebell, or a dumbbell.

    My answer is no.
    ^^THIS
    My work gym has wall-mounted AB wipe dispensers, but I only use them on cardio equipment and weight machines that I sit/stand/kneel/lean on. My hands aren't sweaty, I'm not a germaphobe, and I wear weight gloves, so I don't see a reason to wipe down bar/dumbbells.
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    No, I don't; I did not wear gloves until recently but now I have adequate weight on my barbells and such to cause damage to my hands when I don't. I currently wear gloves. I do wipe down cardio equipment and anything that I noticeably sweat on. I usually do my weights first and follow up with my cardio so I am not a particularly sweaty user anyway. But if I notice that I am sweating on equipment, I wipe it down with a wipe or with cleaner (depending on what is available at the gym I use)... I of course wash up after working out. I ALWAYS wipe down equipment if I have a lesion or something (occasionally I develop skin rashes during the Spring/Summer due to poison ivy and such -- in that case, of course I am religious about cleaning equipment.) As one mentioned, it would be practically impossible to clean all that... I follow the general consensus of the gym I am using... If I notice most are wiping it down, I wipe it down despite what I commonly do... If they don't I make sure my sweat is not left behind without regard to what others are doing) Oh, and if the rash is too bad, I'll put a towel or wear long clothing to avoid contact with the equipment anyway...
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