Caring For Your Equipment

A barbell needs two things: keep it dry and keep the knurling clean. After a chalky or sweaty session, run a nylon brush along the knurl and wipe the shaft with a dry cloth. Once a month, add a light coat of three in one oil on a rag.

Store bars horizontally on a rack or vertically in a holder. Leaning a loaded bar in a corner is how sleeves get bent.

Check bolts on racks and benches every couple of months. Vibration loosens them slowly, and a rattling rack is usually just a quarter turn away from feeling solid again.

Wipe upholstery with a damp cloth and mild soap, never solvents. Keep bumper plates off damp concrete, and rotate your plate stack so the same discs are not always taking the drops.