Going to the gym is a great step toward a healthy lifestyle, but some bad habits can make the gym environment less clean and full of bacteria. Here are 16 habits you should avoid to maintain hygiene and protect yourself and others:
1. Wearing Makeup While Working Out
Whether you're coming from work or trying to impress your gym crush, makeup clogs your pores and can lead to breakouts when mixed with sweat.
2. Keeping Your Hair Down
Hair products like gels and sprays can mix with sweat and cause acne on your back and shoulders. Tie your hair up to keep your skin clean.
3. Touching Your Face While Exercising
Gym equipment is full of bacteria. If you wipe sweat off your face with your hands, you’re transferring those germs directly to your skin. Use a towel instead.
4. Not Wiping Down Machines Before and After Use
Don’t assume that the previous user wiped down the equipment. Always clean it before and after use to reduce the spread of germs.
5. Not Wearing Gloves When Lifting Weights
Wearing gloves prevents bacteria transfer and protects your hands from infections like impetigo, a skin infection that causes blisters and sores.
6. Using a Shared Yoga Mat
Since yoga involves a lot of floor contact, using a shared mat exposes you to bacteria from previous users. Bring your own for better hygiene.
7. Not Cleaning Your Yoga Mat
Even if it’s your own mat, sweat and dirt build up over time, making it a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Clean it after every use.
8. Not Using a Mat at All
Doing exercises directly on the gym floor exposes you to dirt, bacteria, and even fecal matter brought in by shoes. Always use a clean mat.
9. Not Cleaning Your Gym Bag
A gym bag filled with sweaty clothes and shoes becomes a germ-filled environment. Wash it regularly to avoid bacteria buildup.
10. Sitting on Locker Room Benches Without a Towel
Locker room benches may have been in contact with dirty shoes or even bare skin. Always place a towel before sitting.
11. Not Washing Your Water Bottle After Every Use
Even though it's just water, your bottle can collect bacteria, fungi, and yeast over time, which can be harmful to your health.
12. Drinking from the Gym Water Fountain
There’s no guarantee that gym water fountains are cleaned regularly. They come into contact with dirty water bottles and mouths, making them a hotspot for germs.
13. Not Showering After a Workout
Skipping a post-workout shower allows bacteria and sweat to stay on your skin, increasing the risk of infections. Take the extra time to rinse off.
14. Not Wearing Shower Shoes
Gym showers are breeding grounds for fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Always wear flip-flops or shower shoes to protect yourself.
15. Rewearing Unwashed Gym Clothes
Sweaty clothes accumulate bacteria, and rewearing them increases the risk of skin infections like tinea versicolor, a type of yeast infection.
16. Peeing in the Pool or Shower
One in five people admit to peeing in the pool—gross! And some do it in the shower too. Please, just stop!
Final Thoughts
The gym can either be a clean, healthy space or a hotspot for infections—it all depends on how you take care of yourself and respect others. Avoid these bad habits to maintain a hygienic and safe workout environment for everyone!