Gym Germs
From "Talking Dirty With The Queen Of Clean"
episode DQOC-147

We all know exercise is good for us. It offers all kinds of benefits: it strengthens muscles, helps work off extra pounds and helps us sleep better. But if you go to a gym, consider this: when you pick up those weights, you might be picking up something else as well, since anything on a person's skin can be transferred to the next person who uses the equipment. Microbiologist Janice Jones explains how to protect against germs lurking in the gym.

• Wash your hands after using gym equipment, free weights and exercise balls. Hand sanitizers can help kill germs as you move from one piece of equipment to the next.
• Lay towels over equipment before using, if possible. Bring towels from home to the gym, them wash them in a solution that includes bleach to sanitize.
• Use shower shoes to protect your feet from fungal infections; never go barefoot in a gym.
• Lay a towel over workout mats before your workout. It will protect you from dirt and germs that the mats come in contact with on the floor.
• Baking soda is a multipurpose cleaner for the gym environment: sprinkle it in gym bags and shoes to keep them smelling fresh, and use as a paste with white vinegar to remove perspiration stains from clothes. Spoon the paste on the stains, work in with your thumbs, let soak for 15 minutes and launder.