How to Safely Move Your Gym Equipment

If you’re like many workout buffs, moving to a new home means having to figure out how to move heavy gym equipment. Whether it’s as simple as a yoga mat or as complicated as a treadmill, putting your new at home gym together isn’t going to be a walk in the park. There’s a right way and a wrong way to move your workout gear. Here’s a look at how to safely and effectively move your gym equipment.

Clean and sanitize all equipment

First and foremost, it’s particularly important to sanitize and properly clean everything in your gym before the move. This way you won’t bring any sort of nasty bacteria and germs with you into your new pad. Cleaning your equipment will also help keep it in top-top shape after the move.

• Wiping down your yoga mats and yoga accessories. I recommend grabbing paper towels and wiping with either an all-purpose cleaner or an all natural spray solution. You can also purchase a cleanser specifically designed for yoga mats. I recommend both Asutra’s mat cleaner or Manduka’s travel spray .
• Thoroughly clean all handrails and surfaces on your treadmill, elliptical, weight machines and other workout equipment. To clean your gear, I suggest using wet wipes or your own homemade solution. Livestrong.com recommends mixing a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
• Washing towels and blankets on a hot water cycle in the washer.

Moving your yoga mats

When packing up your home gym, start with the smaller items first. Begin the packing process with yoga mats and accessories, including yoga blocks and gym towels and blankets. Once you’ve located all of your yoga equipment, find several boxes large enough to hold all of your belongings. Save space by first rolling your yoga mat from top to bottom. Then secure the mat with a carrying strap or a carrying bag before packing them in the box. This will also keep them clean while in transport to your new house.

Moving your hand weights, dumbbells and barbells

Whether you own multiple sets of heavy weight plates or a few light hand weights, it’s important to make sure your moving boxes are strong enough to handle their weight. Remember: it’s better to use lots of small cardboard boxes rather than trying to stuff everything into one large box. This will help to distribute the weight of your equipment evenly and will help keep the bottom of your boxes from falling out. If your cardboard boxes aren’t sturdy enough to hold your weights, I strongly suggest purchasing plastic bins to handle the load. Once you’ve found the right boxes, wrap your weights in bubble wrap or newspaper to keep them protected during the move. This will also give them a buffer to prevent the weights from hitting each other and damaging the box. You can also prevent them from shifting by stuffing the boxes with plenty of blankets and towels.

Moving your treadmill

Moving large workout equipment is truly a workout, in and of itself! Thankfully, there are a few ways to make your treadmill moving experience less taxing. For starters, make sure you thoroughly wipe down and unplug the machine. All wires should be disconnected from the wall. Next, find a few helpers to assist with the heavy lifting. Fold your treadmill up and lock it into place in the upright position. Once folded, I suggest wrapping the treadmill in moving blankets to protect it from becoming banged up and damaged during the moving process.

Remember: treadmills are extremely heavy. I highly recommend renting some sort of hand truck or a large dolly with wheels to assist in carrying your treadmill to the moving truck. When lifting the treadmill onto the hand truck, make sure you lift with your legs – not your back – to avoid hurting yourself. Once you have the treadmill positioned correctly on the hand truck, secure it with straps. Carefully roll it forward, towards the truck and hoist it up in the truck with the help of your moving assistants.

Moving your elliptical

Unlike a treadmill, which simply folds up, an elliptical’s bulky shape can make it especially tricky to move. First, I highly recommend disassembling the elliptical’s hardware to make it easier to maneuver through hallways and doorways. Take the pedals and handlebars apart from the main base of the workout machine using a wrench and screwdriver. Afterward, collect all of the nuts and bolts, and place them in a labeled bag to keep them safe and secure. Once the machine is disassembled, the elliptical should be light enough to manage by yourself – or with the help of one person. Don’t forget to also cover the equipment in moving blankets to protect it while it’s in transport.

Moving your stationary bike

As indoor cycling studios continue to rise in popularity, many are opting to take a spin in their own homes. Without a doubt, stationary bikes are one of the most – if not the most – popular at-home pieces of gym equipment. Thankfully, moving them into a moving truck isn’t too incredibly difficult. I recommend protecting your bike with a moving blanket. If you own an electric bike, you’ll need to unplug it and save all cords in a secure place. To move the bike through your house, place something underneath the bicycle to protect your floors – otherwise they could end up with some serious scratches. For floor protection, I suggest using pieces of cardboard, towels or furniture sliders. You can find these sliders on Amazon , Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond – among other places. Once you’ve gotten the bike to the truck, you’ll most likely need one or two people to help lift it up onto the truck.

Of course, you can always hire a professional moving company to take care of moving your at home gym for you. To find a reputable and reliable moving company in your area, check out Moving.com’s extensive network of licensed and insured movers. Good luck and happy moving!