How To Maintain Your Fitness Equipment

When it comes time to buy your own fitness equipment, you want to make sure you keep it in good condition. Not only do you want your fitness equipment to last as long as possible, but you’ll want it to be clean enough that you aren’t afraid to touch it every day because nobody needs another excuse to not work out! When it comes down to it, maintaining fitness equipment really isn’t that difficult, it just takes a little attention to detail. Although fitness equipment can be pricey, it’s designed to last for many years, so as long as you do your part to maintain it, you’ll be getting a great value for your purchase!

Safety

The most important reason to maintain your gym equipment is safety. Fitness equipment that is poorly maintained could be dangerous to use. And if you don’t know how equipment is supposed to operate in the first place, it may be working your muscles the wrong way. Another aspect to this is the germs. If you don’t clean your equipment after every use, you’ll be at a higher risk of getting sick. This will also have an impact on anyone else that uses your equipment, so it’s in everyone's best interest to keep it clean.

Check your manual

Every piece of fitness equipment comes with an owner’s manual so you should always read it. Right when you purchase your equipment, look through the manual and find where it talks about maintaining your equipment. This typically includes things like checking weights and pulleys regularly, applying grease or oil to some parts of a machine, or wiping them down with sanitary wipes.

Don’t get rid of the manual after you’ve finished reading it. Some fitness equipment will have a pouch on the side or underneath the seat that you can store it in. If not, you could always make one! It’s important to keep this information, because it may be difficult to find online later.

Keep your equipment clean

When I say “clean your equipment” I’m not just talking about sanitizing it, although that’s important too. You want to make sure that your equipment is free of gunk buildup that could impede on the machine’s ability to function properly. However, before you do this, you should understand the owner’s manual so that you know what types of cleaning procedures are appropriate for your machine.

Clean around your equipment

Keeping the area around your equipment clean can be just as helpful to maintaining the life of your exercise equipment. If you store medicine balls, dumbbells, or any other free weights near your exercise machines, consider moving them. Preventing anything from falling on your machines could save you a lot of money in repairs and save you a lot of hassle. It’s generally good practice to keep your machines a safe distance away from anything else in case you exercise with other people in your household.

Use manufacturer issued parts

If you want to get the longest life out of your exercise machine, it’s best to use parts that were created by the manufacturer, rather than parts that you found online from another retailer.

Keep it lubricated

Once again, this goes back to your equipment owner’s manual. If your machine has a lot of moving parts, chances are, it uses some kind of lubricant. You should check your manual for what type of lubricant to use and how it should be applied. This will prevent your parts from becoming overheated and getting damaged.

Check frames, belts, and cables

If you want to maintain a safe home gym, you’ll need to check parts of your equipment that undergo the most stress. Belts and cables that are used to lift weights will start to tear or break over time. It’s imperative that you keep track of their condition so that you know when it’s time to replace them.

Make a schedule

If you have a set date each week or month that you check your equipment for damage and wear, you’ll have an easier time in the long run. If you live with your family or friends who also use the equipment, try to involve everyone in this process and keep a log of what equipment is causing you concern or that you think needs repair soon. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore your daily maintenance routines like cleaning.

If you keep these tips in mind, maintaining your fitness equipment will become a lot easier, and you’ll see it as less of a chore and more of a necessary procedure for saving money and creating a safe workout environment. If you need fitness equipment in Lubbock, don’t hesitate to contact Fitness Specialists or visit our shop. We’re always here to provide you with all the fitness equipment you need to fill out your home gym!