Buzz
At most gyms, you'll find small wipe dispensers placed around, or sometimes rags and spray bottles that allow you to clean up after your workout. Some people use them diligently, while others ignore them. As a responsible gym-goer, what should you do? What actions are necessary to avoid being inconsiderate? Here are some basic guidelines.
Items You Should Always Clean After Use
Any equipment where you’ve left a noticeable sweat stain
Yoga mats that will be shared with others
Benches, as well as the seats and headrests of machines, whenever possible
You might head off to grab a wipe, only to come back and find someone occupying the bench or machine you had planned to use. They either didn’t notice your sweat puddle, or they simply didn’t care. Don’t dwell on it, just keep that wipe for the next time you leave a drip.
There are a few things you generally don't need to wipe down.
Items you’ve covered with a towel (such as laying a towel on a bench before using it)
Your personal belongings (like your yoga mat, which is your responsibility)
The floor, unless it’s become a slippery or hazardous mess
Be aware of your surroundings
Different gyms have different cleanliness expectations, much like how some homes are pristine while others are, let’s say, a bit more relaxed. In some gyms, nobody bothers with wiping down equipment at all.
If your gym has cleaning rags and spray bottles in easily visible spots, with wipe dispensers placed next to the equipment, and signs politely asking members to wipe down their stations afterward—then do it! Wipe that shit. When a gym puts up a sign telling you to do something, just follow it. It’s a simple life rule, okay?
A bit of observing others will clear up any confusion about the wiping rules. Should you wipe the treadmill handles when you finish? Personally, I think it’s silly (are you expecting me to carry a towel everywhere to wipe doorknobs?), but if everyone else is doing it, I’ll comply.
If you don’t want to risk sitting where someone else may have left a print of their behind, take a moment to wipe the bench before you sit.
The power of the wipe is in your hands.
Now, let's discuss the opposite scenario that arose when I was looking into jerk moves in the gym. I received a lot of complaints about individuals who leave sweat everywhere but never clean up after themselves.
It seems like it’s time for a new strategy. Attempting to correct others' behavior hasn’t been effective. The gym staff has a lot more on their plate than keeping track of whether this person failed to wipe that machine. Especially considering that, as you’ve noticed, 60% of gym-goers don’t wipe anything at all. It might be best to leave the staff out of this and avoid confronting individuals directly.
Luckily, you have the perfect solution right in front of you—the wipe dispenser you know so well. If you’re hesitant to sit where someone might have left an imprint of their behind, take a moment to wipe down the bench before you sit. That’s the beauty of the wipe: it’s not just for cleaning up after others, but for freshening things up for your own comfort, and ensuring the next person enjoys a clean spot too. Go on, indulge yourself.
