Although it’s a strong and durable piece of equipment, Barbells still need looking after with care and attention. If you want to make the most out of your barbell and make it last then you need to maintain it well.

Why You Need to Maintain Your Barbell

When you visit commercial gyms, you might not realise the amount of maintenance necessary to keep equipment clean. However, this will soon come to light when you build your own home gym. Although home and garage gyms are convenient, they are often not the best environment for barbells. This is because when it’s cold, moisture builds up, which can then lead to rust.

Regardless of whether you have a garage gym or a commercial gym, barbell maintenance is essential if you want to prolong the life of your equipment and optimise your training performance.

How to Clean Your Barbell

Wipe It Frequently

You should wipe down your barbell with a cloth after every session. This is because the sweat and moisture from your hands will cling to the barbell. Not only should this be done for hygiene purposes, but it will help prevent rust from building up, especially if the barbell is being left in a cold environment.

Every month or so, wipe down your barbell using a silicone based lubricant to keep the coating of the barbell fresh. If you’re using an Olympic Barbell, you should drop some oil in the sleeves to allow them to freely spin and maximise performance.

Brush Off Any Chalk

If using chalk to perform heavier lifts then it’s essential that you pay particular attention to how you maintain your barbell. Every time you use chalk during a training session it should be removed from the bar immediately afterwards.

You use chalk to improve your grip on the bar as it absorbs the moisture from your hands. If not removed, the moisture in the chalk will hold to the bar and increase the chance of rust occurring.

To remove the chalk, use a stiff nylon brush, or even a toothbrush and scrub the bar. Ensure that you get into the knurling, otherwise some chalk could be left behind.

Choose a Low Maintenance Option

If you know that cleaning down equipment isn’t your strongest point, then choosing a low maintenance barbell might be the best option for you. Our M3 Stainless Steel Barbell is a low maintenance, maximum durability barbell that works as a great all rounder.

Although the barbell still needs to be stored indoors and wiped down on a regular basis, the raw stainless steel finish has superior corrosion resistance compared to other barbell finishes.

Written by guest author Eryn Barber.

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Tags: Equipment > Bars & Weight Plates ; Misc > Gym Planning