gym shoes

After a long day of working and working out, you may want to dump your gym stuff as soon as you walk in the door. But taking time to keep your equipment organized and clean can help extend a product's life and also keep you more enthusiastic about the next day's workout. Here are some tips to storing your workout items.

• Take your gym shoes out of your bag for a bit to air them out. Loosen the tongues and the laces to help them breathe.
• If you use small hand weights at home, clean them regularly to prevent cracks and dirt buildup, and keep your weights on an uncluttered floor or in a box to prevent trips.
• Like any other bag, gym bags will keep their shape and last longer if you don't hang them. Place yours on an uncrowded and dust-free shelf.
• In addition to the wipe down, storing your yoga mat spread out instead of rolled can keep it mildew free.
• Don't forget that storing all of these items where you can see them can help motivate you to work out the next day!

With all that sweat and those germs hanging out at the gym and yoga studio, your workout gear can get dirty, moldy, and smelly. So here's a tip: keep a small spray bottle of essential-oil-infused water in your gym bag so you can spray and wipe your gym stuff immediately after use.

Using tea tree and lavender oils is a great eco-friendly way to keep your gym equipment germ-free because of antibacterial, antifungal, and tension-relieving properties; tea tree oil has been used to treat poison ivy and acne, and the scent of lavender oil can help you relax.

All you need is a small clean spray bottle that seals tightly. Fill it with distilled, spring, or tap water and add one or two drops of tea tree oil, plus another drop of lavender oil. Throw the bottle in your bag and spray down your gym bag, shoes, and yoga mat when you're done or if you're feeling like your gym stuff could use some extra attention. Just be sure to wipe everything down and spray in a well-ventilated area away from anyone in case they are sensitive to the smell.