[ShanIAm]

I was at the gym on Saturday morning and there were about 10 of us there. Two of them (mother, early 50’s - and daughter, late 20’s) were going from one weight machine to another and then back to ones they just used. And when they went to one, they left their crap (shirt, water bottle, towel) on or around the one they just left. One older woman politely asked the daughter if she was done with a machine and pointed to the towel draping the seat and Miss Thang caught an attitude and sarcastically said, “Yeah”. She walked over in a huff, grabbed her towel and said, “Sooooorrryyyy”. You know….the way a 13 year old will say sorry when she is asked to move something that is in the way. But aside from the attitudes from both mother and daughter, they didn’t even have the common courtesy to wipe down their machines with a wet-wipe. And these dispensers are all over the gym with signs that ask members to wipe down machines after every use. I guess this rule doesn’t apply them -- or they can't read. Not to mention they were both sweating pretty heavily. I did see mom take a wet wipe but unfortunately she used it on herself. At one point I took a wet wipe and dropped it on top of the daughter’s discarded sweat towel but she didn’t get the hint.

I’m not a germ-phobe but isn’t this just proper gym etiquette?!?!

Rant over. Thanks!

[beerab]

That's part of the reason I stopped going to the gym- it was disgusting watching someone sweat ALL over a machine then just walk away!

And not to mention people hogging machines! Nope now I got my little weights at home and my treadmill and my videos and I'm a HAPPY camper!

[Serbrider]

That would annoy me. Whenever I'm at a gym, whenever I finish with a machine, I go over to where the wipes/paper towels/whatever they have are... grab several... and wipe down everywhere I've touched (except for the track and pedals and stuff... ). I know I wouldn't like it if I was waiting for a machine and there was sweat and nasty stuff all over it.

I dunno... I consider it common sense... just as much as I consider it common courtesy...

[lucyford]

I love going to the gym. I love being able to use the variety of machines. I do however...HATE that there are signs all over, indicating that when there are people waiting to get off after 30 minutes and people just constantly reseting their machines so it shows 5 minutes. I think it's so rude!!

[Eliana]

I picked up ring worm at my old gym. Back of the knee. I now wear longer pants or capris when lifting. Goodness, lice at school, ring worm from the gym...I went to college why?

[Kateryna]

Ok I don't want to sound stupid asking this but...

Is it ok to bring a towel with you and just either wipe the machine with that towel or place it on whatever you would be using like a seat?

Reason I am asking is because that's what I do and I don't wipe down machines with the provided wipes. Reason for that is that I have severe disphydsosis aka hand eczema that I am able to control with topical steroid and my hand is "normal" looking because of that.

If I dare to touch any chemical and especially alcohol or cleaning solution and several times, I would have a svere outbreak within minutes unless I would go and wash my hands with special mild soap or wear gloves.

What to do? I am also germophobe and try not to hold on to things if not needed.

[Eliana]

Kateryna, to be honest, no one wipes down equipment at my gym. There are paper towels and spray bottles and they're not convenient. It's good etiquette at my gym to wipe down CARDIO equipment, but not the lifting equipment. And yes, using a towel in any manner you care to on a machine WHILE you are using it is perfectly appropriate. Just leaving it there signals that you're claiming that machine.

Basically, if you're new to a gym, take a gander around and see what everyone else is doing and follow suit.

[cherrypie]

I'm sure I've been accused of bad manners. I remember once I was on this kick of riding the bike for 60 minutes. Usually I was there when the gym was really slow so it wasn't an issue. Once this guy came up, looked at my time and made this elaborate show of being annoyed and looking at the sign about time on machines.

the one that said you could only be on the maching 20 minutes AFTER SOMEONE PUT THIER NAME DOWN
the sign up he hadn't put his name on

[ShanIAm]

Yeah, I mean, I can understand if there are not wipe down stations easily around the gym (then you are asking for it not to happen) but at mine - no joke - has at least one station near every 3rd machine. But I have seen people lay down a towel before they hopped on and I had no issue with that personally. But these two women -- grrr -- left head and crotch sweat behind! I don't mean to sound gross but that's exactly what it was. *gag*

Cherrypie, as far as the use of machines -- LOL -- I would have told the guy "I'll be done 20 minutes after you write your name down!". It's funny you mentioned that because I purposely chose this gym because they DON'T have the sign up system. Very much like a homeowners association, it's a catch 22. You have a HOA and never worry about your neighbors house being purple but if YOU wanted a purple house, you can't have one.

Personally, I'll take my chances there is a cardio machine available so I can stay on it for as long as it takes for my back to back episodes of Sex & The City finish. (But I will give up the machine to someone waiting if I am close to being done :-))