Do you clean the machines at the gym?

[goodeats]

I use my towel, but I won't use the spray bottles. I hate the way it smells, and I don't like to breath it in when I work out, so I assume other people don't eiter. But I'm not an uber-sweater anyway. On cardio, I wipe it down, but I don't think it gets sweaty since I'm not sitting or leaning on anything (I don't use stationary bikes). On weights, I always sit on my towel, but sometimes it doesn't cover my back enough or something.

 

[Jpgirl]

Well I have a story that will totally gross all of you out. I've been a fitness professional for 12 plus years. When ever I train a new client I would teach them gym "etiquette"-wiping off all machines you use and re racking your weights. I went into the home training business so I no longer had a gym membership. So I get an offer for a 30 day trial at a local gym-so I use it. On my third visit there I get home and shower and afterwards I notice I have a rash everwhere I didn't have clothes. Arms, legs front and back where my tank top wasn't. After a couple of days I go to the doctor. I had impetago -a skin infection. The doc asks where I've been-pool, hot tub ect. Nope I'd been to the gym. He said that's where I caught it-off of somebody's sweat left behind on some equipment and then it spread all over my body with my sweat. EWWWWWW I was totally grossed out and it took weeks of antibiotics to clear it up!!! Now I carry 2 towels-one for my sweat and one to wipe off someone elses. You can transfer an infection using the same towel for you and the machine. And I'll use the disinfectant when availabe. And I wear weight lifting gloves whether I'm doing the cardio machines or the weights. And I wash my hands before I leave the gym. Now having said that, that is the only infection I have caught going to the gym 5-6 days a week for 12 years. But I was/ am still grossed out by that sweat.