Kids have headed back to school and winter is fast upon us, which means cold and flu season is just around the corner.
According to the Center for Disease Control, cold and flu viruses can be “can be spread to others up to about 6 feet away” and is “spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.” Of course, this includes sweat.
Since sweat is expected and encouraged at Columbia Basin Racquet Club, we have some simple tips to help you avoid spreading germs at the gym.
LOCKER ROOM
One of the simplest ways to avoid germs in the locker room is to wear flip flops or shower shoes. This is especially important if you have any cuts or blisters on your feet. Also, don’t sit in the locker room before putting on clothes or laying a towel down on the bench or chair.
GYM BAGS
If locker rooms are rife with germs, then it follows that your gym bag that you keep in the locker room can be, too. To minimize risk, don’t just wash your dirty clothes and shoes you keep in the bag, be sure to wash the inside and outside of the bag regularly.
MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT
Every time you use the equipment, be sure to wipe them down before and after use. There are towels and bottles of antibacterial spray conveniently placed around the racquet club.
MATS AND WEIGHTS
The antibacterial spray isn’t just for the machines. If you’re doing yoga on the blue mats, foam rolling, or swinging a kettlebell, you should also clean the equipment.
WATER BOTTLES
It’s critical to stay hydrated while working out, but you can easily transfer germs by touching the equipment and then touching your water bottle. Instead of using a bottle with a screw cap, try one that has a push top and leave it open. Also, be sure to wash your water bottle often because “moisture loving bacteria” can also make you sick.
ETIQUETTE
Avoiding germs at the gym is a straightforward way to avoid getting sick, but it’s also a key part of good gym etiquette. As Whitney Patterson reminds us in her Thursday Thoughts, “make a choice to be a good person in the gym and everywhere you go.”