As the COVID-19 lockdown continues and many people are using a garage gym to meet their fitness needs, individuals who never used to have to consider such topics as germs and sanitization at the gym are going to have to do their research about how to stay clean while getting fit.

Because it’s something you touch every day or two, a good general rule of thumb is that you should aim to clean your barbell approximately every three weeks. This is so that the build-up of dead skin and chalk don’t ruin the finish of the bar.

Note that to keep your barbell in the best possible shape, you should be wiping it down with a clean rag after each use. That way, you won’t have so much of a mess to clean up to begin with.

The products that you’ll need to clean your barbell are two microfiber cloths, a nylon bristle brush with bristles that are just firm enough to agitate and remove grime from your barbell, and a lubricating oil. Bar Shield is a terrific product specifically created for this purpose but if you don’t have access to it, three-in-one is a great alternative.

Step One

Take the brush and agitate the surface of the bar, focusing on the knurling. The primary goal of this step is to remove as much of the contaminants from the bar as possible. Use a back and forth motion with light pressure and rotate the bar to reach its entire surface.

Step Two

Use the microfiber cloth to apply a generous coat of oil to every surface of the bar. Let this soak for five to ten minutes. If you want to, you can focus on the sleeves, but generally, they won’t need as much attention as the rest of the bar, as they’re not being touched as frequently.

Step Three

Like in step one, agitate the entire surface of the barbell once again with your brush. Spend a little bit more time in order to make sure that nothing is left behind on the bar.

Step Four

Apply a lighter coat of oil and let it sit for about five minutes.

Step Five

Use a second microfiber cloth to wipe down any excess oil from the barbell. Once you’re done, you shouldn’t be able to see any visible oil on the bar. However, it will still serve to protect the barbell and leave it in better shape for longer.

Step Six

You may not have to do this step every time you clean your bar, but you should not neglect it. In order to properly lubricate the bushing and bearings in your barbell, let the bar sit vertically as you seep lubricant or oil into the bushing or bearing. Make sure the product you’re using gets all around and you apply enough that it seeps into the bearing or bushing. Let this sit for about two to four hours before repeating on the other side of the bar.

And those are all of the steps. Your bar should now be clean and looking great.