Gym People Exercising Machine Expected Rules Important Etiquette

People who go to a gym in the United States are expected to follow common gym "etiquette" (rules and expectations about how one should behave to be polite and considerate of other people). In some gyms, these rules are "posted" (hung where people can see them) on a wall, but in other gyms people are simply expected to know "proper" (correct) etiquette.

One of the important rules of gym etiquette is to "wipe down" (move a cloth over something to pick up a liquid) the exercise machines after using them. People who are exercising sweat a lot, and some of that sweat falls onto the machine. It is "gross" (disgusting and unpleasant) and "unhygienic" (unclean) if the next person has to use a machine that it is covered in someone else's sweat. That is why most gyms provide small towels and "spray bottles" (bottles that have a top that can be squeezed so that a small amount of liquid comes out) to wipe down the machines.

Another important rule of gym etiquette is to never "hog" (use too much of something, or use something for too long) the machines. Gyms have limited equipment, and sometimes there are more people than machines. Most gyms have a "time limit" (the maximum amount of time for doing something) of 20 or 30 minutes for their machines if another person is waiting to use it. People who want to use a machine for longer than that time limit need to get off the machine and offer it to others. If no one else wants it, then they can get back on it and continue exercising.