Strength Machines, How Often Should I Clean & Lubricate the Guide Rods?

Your weight machine probably takes a beating with the workouts it endures. 

To maintain smooth operation, the guide rods of your weight machine should be cleaned and lubricated on a regular schedule.  

How often should you clean & lubricate the guide rods? Inspection and performance are the true indicators of when your machine requires cleaning and lubrication. The environment and the use of the weight machine will determine the best schedule. Good maintenance ensures prolonged life and maximum performance.

The makers of commercial equipment that is made for heavy use, in clubs and gyms, suggest monthly cleaning and lubrication. Some locations may even need a weekly cleaning and lubrication. 

A machine in a home that gets less use can be cleaned and lubricated twice a year or as often as every other month.

Why do you need to clean and lubricate the guide rods? The guide rods on your weight machine can become gritty, sticky, and gunked-up with residue from the consistent movement of the machine.  When your guide rod is gunked-up, it can cause the motion of your workout to become jerky and no longer smooth. That is because the weight plates are no longer able to slide up and down as easily as before. The plates may even be sticking. This uneven movement can increase wear and tear on the machine, reduce workout effectiveness, and raise the risk of strain or injury. 

This is when you know it's time to clean the guide rod and apply lubricant to recover that smooth motion. 

Sportsmith provides a guide rod cleaner wipe that cleans and lubricates in one easy step. We offer them in a single tub that holds thirty 6" x 9" wipes. We also offer a case, that is five tubs or 150 6" x 9" wipes. 

Click here for a tub of 30, 6" x 9" guide rod cleaning wipes.

Click here for a case of 5, for a total of 150, 6" x 9" guide rod cleaning wipes.