Do You Use Your Gym Towel as a Barrier?

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Do You Use Your Gym Towel as a Barrier?

February 4, 2008

Me, I like to put a barrier between myself and potentially germy equipment at the gym, especially mats and weight machines. I know a towel is not god's gift to avoiding germs, but the greater the barrier between myself and the shared gym equipment I'm using, the better. Sometimes I notice others using a towel as a barrier, and then sometimes I see folks laying straight on the mat with just a sports bra. So what about you . . .

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26 Comments

3 years

Where I go, 95% of the people use the sanitizer spray and paper towels to wipe down after they finish. The gym cleans everything daily and I think I've only seen one or two people with towels in the months I've been going there. I must be missing something...

Hoaxerz 5 years

I wipe down equipment when I'm done, out of respect for others, but I didn't build my strong immune system by being a germaphobe.

silly_pickle 5 years

I went "other", because I'm a germaphobe, well, kind of. The idea of other peoples sweat all over equipment grosses me out, so I'm slowly buying all my own equipment at home (mostly cardio), in the long run I figure it will be cheaper than paying for a membership.

Allytta 5 years

you do realize that you can mix up the sides of the towel and lay/sit on the one that touched the equipment. or maybe you don't even pay attention to that. i don't know, i've never been so crazy about this stuff before i started reading this blog. now i'm so brainwashed that i might actually bring towels with me and mark them which side is for me which is for the gym :D

Allytta 5 years

you do realize that you can mix up the sides of the towel and lay/sit on the one that touched the equipment. or maybe you don't even pay attention to that.i don't know, i've never been so crazy about this stuff before i started reading this blog. now i'm so brainwashed that i might actually bring towels with me and mark them which side is for me which is for the gym :D

Spectra 5 years

I always wipe off my cardio equipment with the sanitizer spray before using it and again afterwards. I do use my towel to dry myself off after working out.

SmallTownFab 5 years

i used a wet towel from the dispenser and wipe the machine down before and after i use it.

avienndha 5 years

I just use my towel to wipe my forehead...I hate sweat in my eyes. But I'll take a paper towel and wipe down machines/benches when I'm done. I'm a sweaty chica : )

amber_castaldo 5 years

almost always

amber_castaldo 5 years

almost always

behemoth_the_cat 5 years

At my gym, you can't even enter the gym without a towel, they actually check at the entrance to make sure you have one. Plus, after you're done working out, you have to wipe down the parts that had contact with your skin with soapy water and a paper towel (available at the gym).

cereal_please 5 years

I mostly do cardio so I don't worry much about the germs on the treadmill/elliptical, but otherwise, my gym has spray bottles and towels everywhere so we can wipe down equipment before we use it.

wackdoodle 5 years

Yes, I used to get a large towel and a small towel before a workout. The large towel was my barrier on equipment, I'd drape it over the seat and back after spraying down the equipment first. The small towel was my sweat towel. After finishing with the equipment even though I had the towel over the seat I would STILL spray and wipe the equipment down again as a courtesy to the next user.

aimeeb 5 years

No, but I always wear pants and long sleeves and wipe everything down before I use it.

GrapeBubbleGum 5 years

I don't really worry too much about germs at the gym. I wash my hands and clean off the machines, but I don't usually think about it too much. I'm of the mentality that germs are everywhere and if you worry about it too much, it could drive you crazy. I use my towel as a barrier when i'm spinning only because I like a softer surface on the handlebars. A towel isn't going to protect you too much against germs unless you are really careful. As soon as you pick up the towel and touch the side that has germs on it, you've innoculated yourself.

GrapeBubbleGum 5 years

I don't really worry too much about germs at the gym. I wash my hands and clean off the machines, but I don't usually think about it too much. I'm of the mentality that germs are everywhere and if you worry about it too much, it could drive you crazy.I use my towel as a barrier when i'm spinning only because I like a softer surface on the handlebars. A towel isn't going to protect you too much against germs unless you are really careful. As soon as you pick up the towel and touch the side that has germs on it, you've innoculated yourself.

Novaraen 5 years

I take a hand towel with me and always put it over the handles on the cardio equipment. There are just too many germs floating around and the gym equipment is some of the germiest out there! I wipe everything down when im done...regardless of whether i left a puddle or not...its just more sanitary. I even wipe it down beforehand too...just for good measure. I generally will take a break in my workout and go to the locker room and wash my hands too. With two little boys...i just dont want to risk bringing any crazy germs home.

GlowingMoon 5 years

I've been fitness exercising for 20 years, and I never used a towel as a barrier. I guess I've been lucky or have a strong immune system.

AmyLyn 5 years

I was on the eliptical the other day, and I watched THREE people use the machine next to me, all nasty and sweaty one right after the other.... and not a single person took the time to clean off the machine! This was the eliptical that has the moving arms... so they were all touching them! And it's not like people don't know... the gym has cleaning stations in the cardio room with towels and disinfectant. Now I watch people all the time to see if they clean and hardly anyone does! What is up with that? I really don't understand why someone would not clean it off. Now I clean my cardio machine BEFORE and AFTER I use it!

Renees3 5 years

I wipe everything off when I use it, but sometimes still use a towel to put between me and the equipment. I'm wish you electropoptart, that is seriously the grossest thing ever. It's like congrats on your great workout, now please clean up your puddle. BLAH

Renees3 5 years

I wipe everything off when I use it, but sometimes still use a towel to put between me and the equipment.I'm wish you electropoptart, that is seriously the grossest thing ever. It's like congrats on your great workout, now please clean up your puddle. BLAH

ElectroPopTart 5 years

I hate when people are on the equipment and walk away with sweat dripping on the seat for the lack of use of the towel.

SassyK 5 years

My gym is pretty clean and people are pretty good at wiping down the machines/weights afterwards.They also have hand sanitizer around for all of us to use..I use them after I do weights before I hit the cardio.

SassyK 5 years

My gym is pretty clean and people are pretty good at wiping down the machines/weights afterwards. They also have hand sanitizer around for all of us to use..I use them after I do weights before I hit the cardio.

sarabel 5 years

ever since i received a lovely staff infection on the upper back of my legs i always use a towel and never wear shorts.

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26 Comments