[Carefully cleaning exercise equipment was the norm when the Covid-19 pandemic was raging. But today you might be less attentive to pathogens, even in crowded spaces such as fitness centers. That neglect could be a problem, experts say, because gyms are rife with potentially harmful germs.
Nearly 75% of swab samples taken from fitness equipment such as dumbbells, treadmills and exercise mats tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus, according to a 2018 study in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health. Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria and causes most infections.
Exercise mats are particularly germy, partly because everyone carries a microbial cloud. Trillions of microbes are shed from us like dead skin cells, and if microbes were visible, we’d all look like Pigpen. Shedding these microbes onto an exercise mat versus a dumbbell is especially problematic, because exercise mats are like petri dishes. They easily trap the oils, dead skin cells and sweat that fall off while you exercise, providing a food source for bacteria and fungi.
These pathogens typically make their way into your body via small cuts or rug burns. They can also get onto your hands, then into your body when you touch your face, something people do about 50 times per hour.
Depending upon the pathogen you contract from your exercise mat, you could develop the common cold, flu, stomach flu, pink eye or athlete’s foot. But a bigger concern is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which is a particularly dangerous Staphylococcus aureus variant that’s resistant to several antibiotics and can cause sepsis or death if left untreated.
Cleaning and disinfecting are key to safety. Most fitness centers have disinfectant wipes or sprays available for this purpose. Spray or wipe the entire mat, then let the solution dry before use. A better practice is to bring a packet of disinfectant wipes to the gym and use those. Wipes contain the proper amount of disinfectant to kill germs, which is another important factor.
You also need to let the disinfectant remain on the mat for the time noted on the product’s instructions, typically about three minutes. Another way to avoid germs is to cover the exercise mat with a towel before use.
Many people use their own exercise mat at home or in the gym. Using your own mat — especially at home — will lessen the chance that you will pick up others’ germs. However, you still need to clean and disinfect it, although not as often. Cleaning involves removing surface dirt, sweat and grime and can be done using a mild detergent and water. Disinfecting requires using a commercial disinfectant that kills germs and bacteria.
When using your own mat — at home or in the gym — you should clean it after every use, although you only need to disinfect it after about 10 uses. Make sure to use a disinfectant cleaner on your mat, as some people use natural oils and other products that don’t kill organisms.
Using an antimicrobial mat can be helpful, too. These are effective in preventing bacterial growth, and you still need to clean and disinfect them, but they don’t need to be treated as often as a regular mat.
Another good practice to stay healthy is thoroughly washing your hands before leaving the gym, even if you’ve been using your own mat. The onus is on you to stay safe, so make sure you’re doing what’s necessary to keep yourself safe.
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