5 Fitness Equipment Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Home Gym in Good Shape

When you've made a commitment to improving your workout routine, it's only natural that you'd stock up on the best equipment in fitness stores Seattle has to offer. Generally, there are two main types of exercise equipment you can buy -- cardio equipment and strength equipment. While each serves a different purpose, both need to be properly maintained in order to provide all possible benefits. To that end, here are five tips that will keep your home fitness equipment in great shape.

1. Read the Owner's Manual: It might not be the most exciting literature you've ever flipped through, but home fitness equipment owners' manuals can provide valuable information about how to maintain these pieces of machinery. If all else fails, reference the user manual for information on upkeep. Should you misplace this booklet, you may be able to obtain a digital copy directly from the manufacturer.
2. Wipe Down After Use: One of the easiest ways to keep your fitness equipment in good working order is to be diligent about wiping it down after each use. Because your perspiration will dry out the padding on these surfaces and dirt or dust can also make their way onto these machines and result in damage, wiping them down regularly can safeguard them from harm. But don't ever use harsh chemicals, as these can make matters worse. A soft cloth and a non-abrasive cleaning agent (or a water-based disinfectant) will work fine for most equipment. Some owners may want to use a vinyl or leather conditioner on the padded portions to keep the material from cracking.
3. Lubricate Once Per Month: In addition to your daily cleaning duties, you'll also want to perform some maintenance responsibilities on a monthly basis. You should plan to oil or grease any moving parts in your fitness equipment at least once every four weeks to alleviate unnecessary friction. This can increase the lifespan of equipment purchased at fitness stores Seattle residents trust. Although some machines are self-lubricating, others will need your intervention to keep parts in working order and to reduce potential damage.
4. Inspect for Wear and Tear: Once you've cleaned and lubricated this equipment, you'll also want to conduct regular visual inspections to ensure you haven't missed any potential damage. When something feels a bit "off" during your workout, you may want to give your equipment a good once-over to make certain it isn't due to a malfunction. Because wear and tear can happen gradually, you might not even notice the difference it makes until much later; it's also possible you could sustain an injury in the interim due to these malfunctions. Specifically, look at any cables or resistance bands for any evidence of fraying or breakage, as well as any cracks or bends anywhere on your equipment.
5. Replace With Genuine Parts: If you do find something is wrong with your equipment during a regular inspection or annual servicing, you'll want to repair or replace the problem as soon as possible. When you do, you must use only genuine replacement parts. These parts are specifically from the equipment manufacturer, which will guarantee their quality and ease of use. Utilizing comparable parts from other manufacturers is not advised. Not only may these parts fit improperly, but they could shorten the lifespan of your equipment or even cause injury to you during use. If you have questions pertaining to repairs, there are plenty of fitness stores Seattle residents rely on that may be able to provide additional information.

After you bring home your equipment from the best fitness stores Seattle has to provide, you'll want to do everything you can to care for it properly. With these tips in mind, you'll be able to use these machines for a long time to come.