Be a good Do-bee and wipe down that equipment after use.
Not so fast; there might be a slew of unintended consequences, and some of them are potentially harmful. After 50, your ability to fight off toxins declines, and that includes harmful cleaning supplies
There is still reverberation about how Covid19 spreads. The virus is predominantly airborne. Hence, the initial advice is to wear masks and maintain a distance of six feet from other individuals. Like other viruses, it can spread via contact if you get the virus on your hands and then touch your eyes. The CDC notes that it is very rare or unlikely for someone to get COVID from touching a surface at a gym. This is an airborne issue. The same is true for colds and flu viruses.
Research studies do not support the idea that gym equipment is a bacterial or viral trampoline.
It is hard to say why athletic facilities went on a disinfectant rampage and asked everyone to wipe down equipment before and after use. I suspect much of the impetus came first from the companies that made commercial disinfectants and wipes. Obviously, if everyone wipes things down all the time, they use more product. The clubs decided this was a good practice from a variety of perspectives. How can we make users feel more comfortable so they don’t quit their membership? Messages told people that clubs were taking safety seriously.
The CDC never issued a public statement that gyms should use commercial disinfectants with every use on a machine. Handwashing gets the big boost, and periodic surface cleaning is advised, especially with frequent use. With contact viruses and bacteria such as staphylococcus and even streptococcus (remember the hysterical “flesh-eating” bacteria stories?), cleaning matters more.
Soap and water is great, this is not a surgery center and you are not getting a knee replacement.
Overall, the best practice is long sleeve workout shirts, full length athletic pants and full-finger workout gloves. This is true advisable if there are viral/germ alerts or none at present. Just good preventative practice keep your body away from germs, viruses and caustic cleaning compounds.
Common sense advice is never to use a gym with open wounds or sores; they are entry points for germs. If you have been traveling, make sure you, your clothing, and your shoes are clean. With the increased incidence of fungus spread from travel, this is a wise step. And when traveling, clean all the soles of your shoes before putting them back in your suitcase.
What about safety versus results with commercial disinfectants? First, these compounds are generally approved for commercial disinfectant purposes and cleaning, such as in hospitals. Please make no mistake: when used as directed, they do kill bacteria and viruses. They have strict guidelines on how to use them, how to remove them after use, and what protective gear the person should wear.
If the professional cleaner at your facility is wearing rubber gloves and a face mask, that could be a clue about the toxicity and contact risks of these compounds. If the compound is going to kill everything bad, it is simply not good for your skin or lungs.
In some instances, commercial compounds are being diluted. For example, Virex recommends diluting from full strength to 256 parts water to one part Virex. That means the spray bottle should have barely any red color from the concentrate.
Compared to contracting COVID-19 or the flu, a major drawback is that many of these compounds are toxic to fish, wildlife, and the environment. Eventually, they wash off and move downstream. City water systems do not filter out these compounds.
This is a complex issue, and you can’t address everything in this short blog. You should research your facility’s current practices in this area and make your own decision. You can use what they provide or go the other direction and use your own protective clothing, avoiding direct contact with any of the compounds. Wearing your own protective clothing makes it very unlikely that you will leave any of yourself on the machine.
A review of some of the more popular compounds in this area makes it clear that they have hazards. And, because they have not been proven to be cancer-causing, it is more about the fact that they were never tested in this regard. They all have some potential level of irritation posed by touching and handling outside of guidelines. Reported warnings include skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. The rush to clean was overwhelming, and most people didn’t ask about the safety of the compounds on the human system.
One interesting consideration is how long the compound should remain on the surface before removal. Many stipulate that the compound should dry for 3-5 minutes. Who is going to wait 3 minutes before using the machine/apparatus you just vacated?
How to remove the compound? Many of these suppliers recommend rinsing with water, then letting it dry completely. Right there, we have something quite different from how this is being applied in clubs. I visited three clubs and used some of the compounds listed in the spec sheets. I observed people applying it with wipes or sprays and then immediately using the machine. Some sprayed it on a paper towel, while others sprayed it directly onto the machine. For comparison, I noted how many people in the three instances were wearing gloves in the resistance training area. Less than 10% wore gloves, and most sprayed the equipment and then immediately used it without drying, removing it, or wearing gloves.
The EPA provides a quick view of both safety and effectiveness for commercial disinfectants. Toxicity classification is usually a 1-4 rating, with 1 being the highest level and 4 being very low toxicity. Should you be concerned about level 4 products? The answer is likely yes because it may not be administered within the guidelines that resulted in this general rating. Asking everyone to spray down handles or a machine doesn’t mean everyone does it the same way. And it does not mean each facility is using the minimum potency to get results.
Here are links to three standard products, along with their spec sheets and safety and use information.
Ethanol is found in some cleaning compounds and can also interact seriously with humans. You should carefully read the complete list of potential irritations with any compound used at your facility(s). More importantly, review how the product is supposed to be applied.
You may be best off not coming into direct contact with these compounds, especially given the rapid reduction in COVID-19 statistics.
Re Juv Nal has this caution about their ready-to-use product, which many gyms use:
“Do not get this material in contact with the eyes. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Avoid prolonged exposure. Provide adequate ventilation. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment. Avoid release to the environment. Observe good industrial hygiene practices.”
If you are concerned about skin irritation or any other potential side effect, but want to still protect yourself, try the following:
If you are going to clean the equipment:
-Ask if your facility will use something less caustic, like a simple alcohol or a hydrogen peroxide solution.
-Don’t spray commercial disinfectants in the air and onto the machine; spray a small amount on a towel, then wipe the machine.
-Let anything you spray dry before use.
-Don’t touch your eyes or face during or just after your visit.
-Avoid contact with your skin during the cleaning process.
-Wash your hands frequently after touching, especially as gym members are spraying/wiping the handles with the compound.
If you don’t want to come in contact with these compounds:
-Wear complete gloves that cover the hands, like gardening gloves that have a water barrier on the hands. Many full-hand, weight-lifting gloves work well due to the material thickness.
-Long athletic pants to reduce direct contact with seats.
-A long T-shirt for resistance training when you come into contact with the pads and support.
-Hand washing on your way out, and even during your visit, is a positive step.
-When you get home, take off the clothes and wash them.
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