Pilates equipment supplier reveals ignored items and habits that could compromise health at the gym

Sol Scheinmann, founder of Pilates Matters, an online retailer specialising in high-quality Pilates equipment has shared eight commonly ignored items and habits that might be compromising your health during gym workouts and explains simple prevention steps can dramatically reduce illness risk for regular gym-goers.

While most fitness enthusiasts focus on proper form and pushing their limits, they may be completely missing the everyday items silently sabotaging their health.

Scheinmann notes “most people are shocked when they learn what's actually making them ill at the gym. As a fitness professional, I've identified several overlooked culprits that contribute to illness among regular gym-goers.”

Below, Scheinmann shares eight commonly ignored items and habits that might be compromising your health during workouts.

1 Your Unwashed Water Bottle
That reusable water bottle you carry everywhere could be a bacteria playground. Studies have found that reusable water bottles can harbor over 300,000 colony-forming units per square centimetre - that's more bacteria than on your toilet seat. These bacteria can cause everything from stomach issues to respiratory infections.

“I see clients refilling the same bottle for weeks without a proper cleaning,” says Scheinmann. “Bacteria thrive in moist environments, and when you drink from a contaminated bottle during exercise, you're more likely to get sick because your immune system is temporarily suppressed after intense workouts.”

2 Those Earbuds You Never Clean
Your workout playlist may be keeping you motivated, but your earbuds might be introducing harmful bacteria directly into your ear canal. Sweat, ear wax, and oils create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to outer ear infections (swimmer's ear) and other complications.

3 Your Gym Bag's Hidden Threats
That gym bag sitting in your car or closet between workouts is collecting more than just your sweaty clothes. The dark, often damp environment inside your gym bag is ideal for bacterial and fungal growth. These microorganisms can contaminate your clean clothes and equipment, potentially causing skin infections or respiratory issues when inhaled.

4 Shared Gym Equipment
While most people know gym equipment harbors germs, they don't realize just how bad it is. Studies show that exercise equipment carries a great deal of bacteria. These surfaces can transmit everything from common colds to staph infections like MRSA.

“The problem isn't just that equipment is shared,” Scheinmann notes. “It's that people touch their faces during workouts without thinking, creating a direct pathway for pathogens to enter the body.”

5 Your Sweaty Clothes (That You Sit In)
Heading to brunch or running errands in your workout clothes seems convenient, but sitting around in sweat-soaked fabrics creates a perfect environment for bacterial and fungal growth. This can lead to folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles), jock itch, or yeast infections.

6 Studio Mats Without Personal Covers
Pilates and yoga practitioners often use studio-provided mats without covers. These mats encounter dozens of sweaty bodies each day and rarely receive adequate cleaning between uses. They can harbor viruses that cause warts, athlete's foot fungi, and bacteria that trigger skin infections.

7 Improperly Washed Workout Clothes
Simply tossing your gym clothes in with regular laundry might not be enough. Athletic fabrics often need special washing to eliminate the bacteria embedded in sweat and oils. Poorly cleaned workout clothes can cause recurring skin irritations, acne breakouts, and even folliculitis.

8 The Air In Poorly Ventilated Gyms
The air quality in crowded, poorly ventilated gyms can be surprisingly harmful. When many people exercise in a confined space, the concentration of exhaled air, combined with airborne sweat particles, creates an environment where respiratory viruses and bacteria thrive.

“People usually blame their ‘gym cold’ on overtraining, when poor air quality might be the actual culprit,” explains Scheinmann. “This is especially concerning in smaller studios without adequate ventilation systems.”

Scheinmann added “What a lot of gym-goers don't realize is how these seemingly minor oversights can significantly impact your immune system. When you exercise intensely, there's a brief window where your immunity is temporarily lowered. This is precisely when exposure to these overlooked sources of bacteria and viruses can have the greatest impact on your health.

“The good news is that simple prevention steps make a huge difference. Clean your water bottle daily with soap and hot water, wipe down equipment before and after use, shower promptly after workouts, and invest in your own mat for classes. These small habits can dramatically reduce your risk of picking up illnesses at the gym while still enjoying all the health benefits of regular exercise.”

For more information on Pilates Matters