You don’t have to be a hardcore gym rat to know most gym etiquette best practices. And while many gym-goers try to avoid any embarrassing situational mistakes in the weight room, it’s the unseen things in the locker room that can do more harm.
Because locker rooms tend to be warm and moist environments, germs and bacteria are lurking everywhere. It’s a veritable germaphobe’s nightmare.
The most common germs range from staphylococcus strains that can lead to skin infections, pneumonia and even meningitis to candida, a fungus that can lead to everything from common athlete’s foot to ringworm and jock itch. E. coli, better known as a food contaminant, is typically present, as well, leading to cramps and diarrhea, and even pneumonia in advanced cases. The influenza virus is also common, especially at this time of year and through the winter months.
Other hazards pose an even more serious threat, however.
You can get the human papillomavirus from sinks and floors in the locker room. Better known as a sexually transmitted disease, HPV can lead to cancer in worst case scenarios. The bacteria klebsiella, which can also lead to meningitis, is also commonly found in some locker rooms.
We’ve all heard the warnings about wiping down the gym equipment before using it, but there are simple things to do in the locker room after you’ve crushed your workout to avoid germs, too.
To stay healthy, experts suggest avoiding these locker room mistakes:
GOING BAREFOOT
The floor in the locker room is practically a petri dish of germs and bacteria, especially around the shower. There, mold, algae and fungi grow, mixing with other patrons’ sweat and worse bodily fluids.
Walking around barefoot makes you a good target for everything from tinea pedis ““ athlete’s foot ““ to more dangerous pathogens. Instead, invest in a cheap pair of flip-flops, doctors suggest.
HITTING THE WATER FOUNTAIN
A drink of water may sound great, but studies have found water fountains teeming with germs. Who hasn’t seen that guy put his lips on the water spout? Even if you just fill your water bottle there, you’re still at risk. Instead, experts say, bring your own bottled water or water from home.
WAITING TO WASH
The gym shower is scary, and the sink area only slightly less so, but avoiding them altogether and waiting until you get home to wash up is a bigger danger, according to the experts. You should at the very least wash your hands before heading home or back to the office. If you don’t, you can spread any germs picked up from sweaty weight machines and other gyms surfaces to your steering wheel and anything else you touch before hitting the shower at home.
It’s particularly chilling if you regularly grab a snack after hitting the gym.
USING PROVIDED TOWELS
Sure, those neatly folded towels look clean, but can you be sure? At the very least, they’ve been handled by gym employees who spend their days surrounded by pathogens. At worst, they may not have been properly cleaned to remove threats like E. coli and MRSA. The best bet: Bring towels from home, one for wiping down machines before you use them and another for post-shower drying.
STUFFING EVERYTHING IN YOUR GYM BAG
Sweat-soaked clothes, wet towels and smelly shoes should not be an afterthought, gym experts say. If you do and leave them there for a day (or longer), you’re providing the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Instead, bring a separate plastic bag for used items, including shoes. Also, wash items as soon as you can. For added insurance, make sure you wash your gym bag often.
