Gym Germs - What You Need to Know

We live in a world surrounded by germs; they are everywhere. You might not see them — but they are there. Most people don't even realize just how many germs they come in contact with while touching public spaces. From bus handles to ATM buttons, public places are a hot-spot for germs. The Covid-19 pandemic may have taught us this better than anything, but you still have to be careful.

One of the germiest spots? Gyms! When you go to the gym, you are exposed to germs just like when you go to a hospital. Since eighty percent of germs are transferred by contact, the gym is definitely a hot spot for bacteria. Gyms are often filled with a bunch of sweaty bodies in a small and tight area, making it the perfect breeding ground for germs.

The purpose of even going to the gym in the first place is to improve your health, not harm your health. Learn how you can protect yourself (and others) from the germs found in gyms.

Plastic Yoga Mats

These communal mats are very germy. Dr. Elizabeth Scott of Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health tells us that the yoga mat is a personal item, much like a toothbrush, and we shouldn’t share it with others. “I have some data that indicates that skin bacteria can be found on yoga mats,” she says. This includes Staphlococcus aureus and the resistant strain of it, MRSA. Her research concluded that the mats were seldom cleaned and the bacteria on them could cause serious skin infections. “My advice is to bring your own mat,” Dr. Scott concluded.

Peter Sheldon’s company, Coverall Cleaning, did research on dozens of gyms and found that mats were bad news, also. He reports that in almost every gym they investigated, no one was cleaning the mats. He advised that patrons bring their own mats or at least a large towel for floor exercises.
 

Shower

The worst place of all, according to most research, is the shower floor. This is not surprising since water is a breeding ground for most bacteria. According to Tierno, they were ‘innumerable’ organisms on the floor, the walls, and different areas of the shower.

Sheldon warns, “Never go barefoot in there.” This is because he found fungal organisms present and warns that you could get these from going barefoot. He warns, too, to bring your own shampoos, conditioner, and bath gel or soap because the containers in the gym showers are not safe. They were reported as breeding grounds for bacteria.
 

Exercise Machines

Most people use these, sweat on them, and then hop off. When someone else follows behind you, your germs are exposed to them and they come in contact with them.

In Tierno’s lab at New York University Hospital, they found bacillus on the lateral pull-down machine. This is a microbe that comes from the soil. Other organisms, like E. Coli and Staph aureus, were present as well. On an exercise bike, sarcinia candida was found. No wonder they are bad news, people sit there and sweat leaving behind all the germs that washes off the body as the sweat falls.
 

Dumbbells

Another source of germs in the gym is dumbbells. According to researchers, items that are used by multiple people in sequence without cleaning in between were likely to have high levels of bacteria on them. One microbiologist, Dr. Philip Tierno, found on dumbbells the germs staph aureus, klebsiella, enterobacter, and E. coli, all bacteria that can cause serious illnesses.
 

Locker Room

This is another hot spot for germs. According to researchers, you should sit on a towel and think seriously about bringing your own towel. This area is rarely cleaned, reports Scott and associates, so be cautious of lurking microbial organisms here.
 

Drinking Fountains

This is a hot spot in most public places. Sheldon and associates found more bacteria on the fountain than the toilet. He recommends touching the fountain with a towel if it is hand operated. Also, packing in pre-filled bottled water isn’t such a bad idea, either.
 

Child Care Area

The researchers all warned about the child care area because they reported that many organisms lurked in these centers. If the areas aren’t being cleaned frequently, the children will leave behind bacteria that could be harmful to your child.
 

What to Do About Germy Gyms

So, what are we to do? Go to the gym or not go to the gym? Most experts admit that not every gym is germy and not all germs in the gym are going to make you sick. Most are harmless pathogens that live on our skin anyway and most of us have immunity to them. There are several things you can do to make the gym experience less germy for you.
 

Wipe Down the Equipment

The commons sense thing to do is to use antibacterial wipes and clean, clean, clean. Wipe it down real good prior to use and, if you are really nice, after use.
   

Don’t Touch Your Face

This is just some sound advice to prevent the spread of pathogens. If you touch the surface of something and then rub your eyes, nose, or mouth, you have just let bacteria into your body. The eyes get infected from organisms and this leads to conjunctivitis, or pink eye. There are millions of organisms that can enter the mouth or nose and lead to colds, bronchitis, flu, and sinus infections.
 

Lay Down a Towel

When you sit on bikes and other cardio equipment, lay a towel down before you plant your rear there. If you sit on a bench or chair, throw down your towel. Put distance between you and the unhealthy bacteria.
 

Bring Your Own

BYOT, bring your own towel. BYOW, bring your own water. BYOM, bring your own mat.  BYOS, bring your own shampoo. These items are your own and used to you only. If you aren’t exposed to other’s germs, you won’t get sick.
 

Protect Your Feet

To avoid fungi and viruses that invade your feet, wear shower shoes or flip flops. Be sure you wash and dry your feet thoroughly and use antifungal powder in your shoes. Remember, sweaty socks are a breeding ground for pathogens, so change them frequently. Don’t dry sensitive areas, like underarms, with a towel used on your feet because fungal organisms and other bacteria can enter broken skin that way. Remember, also, to never let your bare feet hit the floor.
   

If Sick, Stay Home

Staying out of public places when you are ill is a good idea. This prevents spreading diseases to others. Your resistance will be down when you are sick and make you more susceptible to other infection yourself. It is wise to stay home and rest.
 

Cover Cuts

If you have cuts and scrapes, cover them up with band-aids. This includes hangnails, dry cracked skin, and other breaks in the skin.

Bring Two Gym Bags

Keep sweaty and dirty gym clothes and shoes in a separate bag than where you pack your clean stuff. Since bacteria and fungus love sweat, the less your clean stuff is exposed, the better.

Checkout Your Gym

Probably the best advice you can get is to quiz the gym staff about cleanliness. This includes the child care area. Ask them about how often they clean the showers, the locker room, and the equipment. Inquire about types of products used, as well.