The Dirtiest Parts Of The Gym

1. Weight balls

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If you think about when you are using a gym ball, the chances are that you're sweating a lot at this point, hence the nature of the exercise Then, think about the number of hands that are carrying these weight balls every single day. And it's certainly (or in MOST cases at least) not an area of the gym that is cleaned very regularly. Studies have shown that these are one of the dirtiest parts of the gyms and some weight balls that were tested actually tested positive for infectious diseases! Yikes.

2. The exercise mats

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If you really consider every single person using the matt lying down with their sweat dripping into the spongy surface, there's going to be a LOT of bacteria in there. And some people will be heading to the mats at the end of their session when they're dripping with sweat. And because people are often laid on the mats it means that the surface is in direct contact with ALL of our skins. So essentially the gym mats are one of the dirtiest parts of the gym, they are inevitably filthy as they are full of sweat and skin particles.

3. Weight equipment

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The weight equipment, which includes things such as the barbells of the gym, is amongst the dirtiest areas. Due to the fact, people are often lifting heavy weights, it means that the sweat in this section of the gym is more than most. And there are so many hands using these weights, who knows if the last person or the hundreds of people before them practice good hygiene? But one shocking study did declare that the weight equipment actually contains more bacteria than a toilet seat! Now that's gross.

4. The saunas

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In a sauna, it is of course going to be hot and it's moist (which is exactly the purpose of a sauna)....but it sounds pretty much like the perfect breeding ground for a load of bacteria. And, combine the gym environment you've got people who are loaded with germs stepping into the saunas to sweat even more before going for the shower. It's got to rank as one of the dirtiest areas of the gym for this very reason. The amount of bacteria in these places is enough to put you off using a gym sauna again for the foreseeable!

5. Water fountains

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Water fountains at the gym are an amazing idea because it means we can take a swig directly or just refill our own bottles without wasting and buying a new one each time. But, a word to the wise would be to bring a cleansing wipe before you do....because this is one of the dirtiest parts of the gym. A study in 2019 regarding infectious diseases found that the water fountains were overloaded with germs and that they were dirtier than the doors in toilets. This isn't something you want from a drinking area.

6. Exercise balls

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Exercise balls are another shared area of the gym and they are not routinely disinfected meaning that the germs accumulate and multiply on the surface of the balls rather than being wiped clean. This means that they are one of THE dirtiest parts of the gym. When somebody then uses the exercise ball, not only are they adding more germs into the mix but they are also having potentially harmful germs transferred onto their skin and body, and most likely completely unknowingly as we cannot see them...

7. Boxing gloves!

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The inside of a boxing glove is a small space with a porous material to soak up all of the sweat, there is no aeration so the bacteria multiply. In fact, when you take your hand out of the glove it's soaking wet with sweat, and this happens hundreds of times over, and of course, they can't even be properly washed. Sweat alone isn't the thing that is so bad, but the germs it carries are. Disease and infections can be spread through moisture and the germs we pick up inside a boxing glove is particularly bad for this.

8. Yoga blocks

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Yoga blocks are used to achieve certain positions or help hold certain yoga moves, or they're used to make it more comfortable and alleviate certain parts of the body such as your back. But yoga blocks cannot be thoroughly cleaned as they are made of a hard, sponge-like material because they have to be soft enough to use. So this means that all of the dirt and germs collect inside and instead of ever going it just stays and grows and collects until it's become one of the dirtiest parts of the gym!

9. Weightlifting benches

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Weightlifting benches are (or at least they definitely should be) cleaned down at the end of the day. But, that doesn't stop them being one of THE dirtiest parts of the gym - without a doubt. There are so many different kinds of microbes and dangerous germs found in these areas of the gym as they are used non-stop throughout the day. Weight benches when tested show that they carry many different kinds of viruses, bacteria, and infections that can then be picked up by the next person who uses them.

10. Locker benches

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Once you've completed a good and very sweaty session in the gym you go back to the locker room and pause for a moment, taking a break on the locker bench which you do not realize is actually filthy. The locker rooms are also SO warm and very humid due to the heat radiating from everyone. It's a fairly stuffy atmosphere and again, it's a breeding ground for bacteria - the perfect place for it to flourish. As a precaution, it's a good idea to always wash your hands after returning home from the gym.

11. The shower areas

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Shower areas in every public space are a recipe for dirt (and especially in a gym environment when you add sweat into the mix), which is ironic considering the very purpose of a shower is to get yourself clean. Yet in a gym shower, it would be wise to bring a pair of sandals or thongs if you are going to take a shower as these are without a doubt one of the dirtiest places in a gym. The floors are the perfect place for some infections to thrive and things like athletes' foot can be spread very easily here.

12. The exercise bikes

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Exercise bikes are a form of cardio, and when different parts of the gym and exercise equipment have been tested, the cardio machinery has always shown up as being one of the dirtiest of all. And, the exercise bikes are no exception. Spin classes after spin class and individuals working up a sweat, of course, the bikes are dirty! They're also one of those parts of the gym that is often overlooked when it comes to cleaning. You can prevent some of this by placing a towel on the equipment or washing your hands directly after using it!

13. Pull-up bars

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Everyone knows how slippy, greasy, and sweaty those pull-up bars are. It's not the pools of sweat that are concerning, it's the invisible things inside and all of the dirt and germs that we don't see that can be potentially harmful to our health. Again, you can minimize this if you use gym gloves to stop direct contact with your hands touching the surface of the bar, or you wash them after using, or even carry hand sanitizer as a way to disinfect your hands after using some of the dirtiest parts of the gym.

14. Foam rollers

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Foam rollers are some of the dirtiest parts of the gym, and the reason is in the name. Foam rollers are made out of exactly that, foam. And the foam is extremely porous so you cannot wipe its surface like you could if it had a hard surface. Therefore, it contains a lot of dirt inside that you could never see. They may look clean to the naked eye, but in reality, they are extremely filthy (full of germs and microbes), even if they do do a great job of rolling out our cramps and muscle aches and pains.

15. The cable machine

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When all of the gym equipment was tested during a study on microbes, the cable machine was up there amongst the dirtiest parts of the entire gym. The cable machine is a piece of weight equipment, and aside from the cardio section, the weight section was one of the dirtiest. So many different hands are using the cable machine. And when you analyze studies and statistics there is a huge percentage of people who go to the toilet without washing their hands. Then, they're using the machine afterward!

16. Treadmills

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One investigation found that on a standard gym treadmill, it contained over 70 x more bacteria than could be found on one bathroom sink. They found that there were more than one million germs on the surface of a treadmill per every square inch! And, some of the germs led to infections that were difficult to treat such as skin infections of different kinds. Amongst these microbes, there are also all kinds of germs that facilitate the spreading of common skin infections such as warts and athletes' feet.

17. The elliptical

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The elliptical is a popular and effective cardio machine that is used by hundreds and hundreds of people each and every day at the gym. An investigation into gym equipment found large amounts of the staphylococcus strain of bacteria on the elliptical. In fact, 52.7% of the bacteria was made up of staphylococcus which can lead to skin problems, some of which are serious and very difficult to treat. This machine is therefore one of the dirtiest areas of the gym and it contains some of the most bacteria.

18. Jump ropes

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Jump ropes aren't only used at the gym, they can be used anywhere. And, if you have your very own jump rope then you will avoid this problem. However, many people also use the jump ropes at the gym, particularly as part of boxing regimes. And like anything which is used multiple times and never cleaned, it gets dirty. But, if you want to be sure that you don't contract any harmful bacteria from the jump ropes (which is very possible) then it is better to clean your hands immediately after using them.

19. Bare pads

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Bare pads are the sections of gym that we  sit on or lie on, including the the headrests which are touched by exposed skin and hair. Bare pads are absolutely one of the dirtiest parts of the gym. A study by the University of California launched an investigation into the microbes on gym surfaces. Bare pads were found to contain things such as e-coli and Staphylococcus. They also detected certain kinds of fungi such as Candida and Aspergillus. All of these kinds of germs can lead to infections. Even more seriously, viruses were found to survive on the pads such as rhinovirus and influenza.

20. Gym towels

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Some gyms, but not all, provide towels for their gym members. And it's a very good thing in terms of allowing people to use towels who want one but forget to bring their own and also to enforce the habit of using towels on the machines and protecting them from getting too dirty and sweaty. Yet, the majority of bacteria only die under a very high heat and sometimes the towels may not be washed on a sufficient heat or a time that is long enough. Therefore, the bacteria may survive and then of course it can grow and multiply.

21. The swimming pool floor

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We all know that swimming pool areas are full of dirt. When you get into the water the chlorine will kill the germs, but when you step back onto the floors of the swimming pool (without shoes) you are picking up all kinds of things back onto your feet and skin. One of the most common ways for infections such as athlete's' foot to travel is swimming pool floors. They are warm and wet and germs will flourish here so it's always better to be on the safe side and wear some water shoes to prevent picking up any nasty infections!

22. Climbing ropes

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Basically, anything that we touch or use our hands and feet on is going to be dirty.  And it's true, the climbing ropes are one of the dirtiest parts of the gym. The rope isn't a material that is usually one of the worst when it comes to harboring bacteria and germs, yet because of the gym environment, the ropes are very far from clean. Some people use gloves when climbing the ropes for the reason of having an extra grip and protecting their hands from friction burns. But gloves also help protect your skin against harmful bacteria.

23. The smith machine

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The Smith machine s one of the most popular (and definitely one of the dirtiest) pieces of gym equipment and you can tell by the group waiting around it at any one time, just how many people use it on an hourly, and daily basis. Then, think about how often that machine gets cleaned (or doesn't in some cases) and it brings to light just how dirty it really is. So if you are looking for an area of the gym for a good workout, by all means, use the smith machine but if you're avoiding the dirtiest parts, then this area is a no-go zone.

24. The cross trainer

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Cross trainers have become more and more popular recently and they are a staple at any gym or fitness centre. Because it is such a popular machine, and because it is a piece of cardio equipment this means that it tends to be one of the dirtiest areas of the gym. Again, germs have been found here that can lead to certain illnesses and can even cause respiratory issues due to the different strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi that have been found on the surfaces of not just cross trainers, but many of the gym equipment.

25. The gym floors

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The gym floors are constantly being used and they have thousands of footfall each and every day. Just think about one class, and how many people are walking over the floor again and again. Then, sometimes we lie on the floors, sometimes with mats and sometimes without. We may do exercises that revolve jumping or putting our hands onto the floor (such as burpees) which then pick up all kinds of nasty things from the surface. Not only can you catch bacteria or viruses from floors but you can also pick up whatever has been on somebody's shoe...for example, traces of dog muck which could contain all kinds of dangerous things.

26. The Pilates reformer carriage

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As any kinds of gym equipment the Pilates reformer carriage will undoubtedly collect bacteria and dirt over time, as well as after each use. When we use the Pilates reformer carriage our skin is coming into direct contact with the surface of the equipment and so traces of our oils, sweat and skin cells will inevitably transfer. You can easily mitigate the risks of using this equipment by wiping them down before you use them. Then, you should also wipe it down after you use it so that it is somewhat cleaner for the next person who will then use it too.

27. The climbing walls

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When you thin of some of the dirtiest areas of the gym, you probably wouldn't think about the climbing walls. Yet, they are pretty dirty seen as they never get cleaned. And, both hands and feet are using these climbing grips. So, each time somebody uses it they are transferring a mixture of dirt, bacteria and all kinds of things onto the boulders each time. Cleaning these is more difficult because of the nature of them - they are hard to reach! So washing your hands after climbing is the best thing we can do.

28. Dip bars

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Dip bars are a great piece of gym equipment for training the muscles in the upper body. But that being said they are also one of the dirtiest sections of the gym. Different kinds of viruses and bacteria have been found on the bar which is used by a lot of people each day. The handles are a place where so many different kinds of dirt and germ are passed and spread from one person to another and it can potentially spread infections or diseases without people practicing good hygiene before and after the gym.

29. Rowing machines

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Rowing machines are one of the single best exercises as they target almost all of our muscles. They are great for fitness, and cardio and can also be used as a part of a short-spurt interval training regime too. But...here comes the bad news. They may make the cut when it comes to some of the best machinery in the gym, but they also rank as one of the dirtiest pieces of equipment in the gym too. To avoid this you could wipe down the rowing machine with a towel or with a disinfectant wipe before you use it!

30. Resistance bands

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Resistance bands are used all of the time to assist certain exercises and up the resistance to make things tougher and help us target certain muscles such as our glutes. But, resistance bands are being used constantly by so many different people. Do you think resistance bands are cleaned? Nope. So, this means that they are one of the dirtiest parts of the gym. Their surface isn't resistant to germs, in fact, it's soft so it carries dirt which will only go away if they are properly disinfected and washed.