How To Clean A Kettlebell (Simple Guide For Beginners)

Kettlebells are a very common part of many workouts all over the world. 

If your kettlebells get frequent use, you should have a maintenance plan in place, including giving them a good clean to help keep them in full working order for as long as possible. 

In this article, we explain how to clean a kettlebell, how often to clean a kettlebell, as well as other useful information to help keep your kettlebells in top form. 

Here’s how to clean a kettlebell:

After every use, your kettlebells should be wiped down with a microfiber cloth.

At least twice a week, you should be cleaning them with warm water and dish soap, and at least once a week, you should be using a disinfectant to keep germs at bay.  

Step-by-step guide for cleaning a kettlebell

To keep your kettlebells clean, you really only need: 

• Microfiber cloth
• Dish soap
• Warm water
• Disinfectant spray

As a minimum, you should be wiping down your kettlebells with a microfiber cloth after every use – paying particular attention to the handle to remove any sweat. 

To keep hygiene levels a bit higher, you should give your kettlebells a more thorough clean using warm water and dish soap.

This helps remove any grime, dirt, or bacteria that may have avoided your microfiber rub down. 

If you want to make sure your kettlebells are fully clean and germ-free, a disinfectant spray and a clean microfiber cloth can be used.

Simply spray your kettlebells with the disinfectant before drying them off with a microfiber cloth. 

How to clean kettlebell handles

The handle of your kettlebell will be the main area where sweat, grime, and germs build up. 

When doing an after-use clean, you should wipe any sweat from the handle.

This is not only important for hygiene but it is also key to keeping your kettlebells in top condition. 

If doing a deeper clean with dish soap and warm water – dip your cloth into the water and soap mixture, wring it out, and wipe down the handle making sure to cover the entire surface. 

A similar process can be used for disinfecting your kettlebell handle, but instead of dipping your cloth into a bowl of water, simply spray the disinfectant straight onto the handle before wiping. 

Any time you are using dish soap or disinfectant on your kettlebell handle, it is extremely important that you make sure all moisture is dried off using a microfiber cloth before putting your kettlebells away. 

How often should you clean your kettlebells?

As an absolute minimum, you should clean your kettlebells after each use with a microfiber cloth. 

You should also clean your kettlebells with warm water and dish soap at least twice a week to make sure they are clean and germ-free. 

You may need to clean them more or less frequently depending on how often you use kettlebells. 

For daily use, the above cleaning frequency is needed.

But if you only use your kettlebells as part of your workout from time to time, you can probably get away with a quick wipe down every now and again. 

Why should you clean your kettlebells?

Prevent Rust

Any moisture left on a kettlebell can cause it to rust. 

Sweat, spilled water from your water bottle, or even being stored in a humid environment can all be factors that cause rust on your kettlebells. 

By cleaning your kettlebells regularly, you can make sure they are fully dried off each time meaning rust is much less of a possibility. 

Kill Germs

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that germs can quickly spread. 

Regular cleaning of your kettlebells will make sure germs are kept at bay. And you can have greater peace of mind knowing that you have a cleaner, safer, and more hygienic training area. 

Prevent Odors

No one likes smelly gym equipment. 

It can be surprising how quickly new equipment can pick up odors. Kettlebells can easily become smelly and unhygienic due to sweaty hands holding the handle, leftover chalk not being wiped off, and moisture giving bacteria survivable conditions. 

By properly cleaning your kettlebells, you can prevent nasty odors from interfering with your workout. 

General Care

As with all gym equipment, kettlebells require regular care and maintenance to keep them in full working order for as long as possible. 

Cleaning your kettlebells regularly will help maintain their condition and it will help reduce the need to replace them anytime soon. 

Conclusion

In summary:

• You should wipe down your kettlebells after each use and give them a thorough clean at least twice a week.
• Cleaning kettlebells is important to keep them germ-free, stop them from smelling, and to prevent them from rusting.

That’s all for kettlebells, but what about cleaning dumbbells?

Thanks for reading!

Sources

Picking a good microfiber cloth