Elliptical machines are powerful and effective workout equipment that can provide a full-body workout without straining your muscles and joints. And these days, they are one of the best equipment that you can use at home. However, there are some people who don’t know that it is important to take care of their elliptical trainers.
Cleaning the machine, oiling or lubricating pivot points properly, and tightening nuts and bolts are the most critical aspects of elliptical trainer maintenance. Other components of maintenance don’t have to be done as frequently but should still be done on a regular basis.
And if you don’t know where and how to start, don’t worry! In this article, you will learn how to take care of them to ensure that you will be able to enjoy and use them for a long time.
How to Maintain Elliptical Trainer?
Using an elliptical trainer is simple and easy to use. But one of the things that most people take for granted is the proper maintenance of their equipment. It can be easy to overlook this process and even the parts that are needed to maintain.
To start your maintenance here are the steps that you may need to look into:
- Cleaning
- Inspect the nuts and bolts
- Levelling and stabilising
- Regular lubrication
Here’s what you need to do on each step:
Cleaning
Regular cleaning between your workouts is important to avoid dust and debris buildup including the buildup coming from your sweat. Your sweat actually causes the biggest problem in your elliptical machine especially when you don’t clean them.
Working out makes you perspire profusely and these can be accumulated in the handlebars and other parts like the seat. While it is good to sweat, you don’t want them to stay in your machine. The mineral salts that sweat has can cause damage if not cleaned immediately.
How to clean elliptical trainer?
Clean it off by using a sponge with slightly damp warm water. Make sure that your sponge is not too wet because it can cause corrosion and electrical problems on your equipment. Better yet, use a wet microfibre cloth to capture more sweat and dirt on your elliptical machine.
You may also use a vacuum cleaner attachment to suck up the dirt and dust from the surface of your machine. Next, clean the plastic parts of your elliptical by using vinegar and water to remove sweat and dust as well. Harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia can harm many of the plastic parts so it is best to use gentle and natural ingredients on them.
How often should you clean your elliptical trainer?
Here are some recommendations on when you can clean your elliptical:
After every workout: Clean it regularly. Each day or after every workout, use a lint-free towel or sponge to quickly wipe down the machine. Focus cleaning on the console and handles because this is where sweat and dirt get commonly accumulated.
Monthly: For more thorough cleaning, do it once a month. Wipe off the machine’s whole exterior. If your machine has them, pay specific attention to the guide rails and rollers.
Every six months: Turn off the machine and unhook it from the electric socket then remove the plastic covers and vacuum any visible dust. Try not to collide with any internal components because something could get damaged. The purpose of cleaning it every six months is to avoid keeping too much dust from accumulating and interfering with the machine’s functionality.
Check for loose nuts and bolts
One of the most important maintenance processes to prevent things from breaking is the inspection of any loose parts, especially the nuts and bolts. When a part breaks in your elliptical, it can worsen and you won’t be able to use the trainer right away.
How do you check for loose nuts and bolts?
If are working out and you find that your elliptical gets wobbly or noisy, then the problem may be due to loose nuts and bolts. It is recommended to check and tighten them before or after using your elliptical. This process is to prevent your elliptical from being wobbly or detecting it right away.
Most people don’t do this step. It is a general rule to do a maintenance check every 3-6 months to see if everything is working well. Tightening the screws and bolts is easy and it wouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes to do this step. So, make it a habit to perform regular maintenance checkups on your elliptical.
Checking for loose parts and bolts is also another way to stabilise your wobbly elliptical to ensure that you can use it properly.
Levelling and Stabilising
One of the most common problems that people experience when using their elliptical is wobbling. An elliptical trainer should not move around and must be placed on solid ground. Remember that if not all the feet are firmly standing on the ground, there will be torsional stress on the frame and it can damage the machine.
Make sure that you place your elliptical on firm and solid ground. If you have a wobbly elliptical, check out our tips on how to solve them here.
Regular lubrication
Another important step in maintaining your elliptical is lubricating or oiling it regularly. Since there are many moving parts in your elliptical, they need to be lubricated well for them to properly move smoothly and without noise. This will also prevent them from wearing out quickly.
How Often Do You Need To Check the Parts for Maintenance?
Just like regular cleaning, maintenance checkups are also vital to make sure that your elliptical machine will be working in its optimal condition.
Daily inspection: check for any loose parts and bolts after every workout. Even if you don’t find any, it is better to take a few seconds and take that extra precaution. Use hand tools to tighten when necessary and avoid using power tools.
Monthly inspection: regular usage causes vibrations and movement which causes bolts and other parts to loosen. Don’t worry because this is completely normal. You can review your assembly manuals so you can do a thorough inspection of your elliptical. Check the plastic casing, console cover, power cord, and other moving parts as well. Look if there are signs of damage or wear to prevent it from getting worse.
6-month inspection: as with the cleaning schedule, do a more thorough inspection of all the parts especially if you are disassembling your elliptical. Make sure to check the stride operation and belt drive. The belt lasts a long time but it is best to check early to know if you have to replace them when necessary.
Other maintenance procedures may be specified in your manufacturer’s warranty. However, make sure to follow the instructions well, otherwise, your warranty will be invalidated.
How Do I Keep My Elliptical in Good Condition While on Vacation?
Of course, there will be times that you can’t do your workout because you are on a vacation, or stopped training due to injury or sickness. Make sure that you unplug your elliptical or remove the batteries because this can improve the lifespan of your equipment.
Turning the on/off switch is usually not enough because there is still some power running through it – the same as with other electrical devices. If there’s still some power running through it, there’s a chance that your equipment can break down.
A good example is during power surges, since your machine is still plugged it may cause your elliptical to malfunction which can be expensive to fix.
Therefore, make it a habit to unplug your elliptical if you will not use it for a long time to avoid such problems.
Conclusion
Having a well-maintained elliptical trainer can help you in staying healthy and keep away from having diseases. It also ensures that you can use your equipment for a long time. Aside from that, regular maintenance saves you time and money that would be spent on repairs.
Following these simple steps will ensure that you will have a comfortable and effective workout. Be sure to keep your elliptical trainer clean at all times so that no germs or bacteria will accumulate in them. Keep them away from little children and pets to avoid accidents from happening.
Related Questions:
1. What is the average lifespan of an elliptical?
With regular use, the average lifespan of an elliptical machine can last up to 20 years. This is possible as long as regular maintenance is being done and the machine is used sparingly.
2. How do I stop my elliptical from squeaking?
Lack of lubrication on pivot points can make your elliptical squeak. And because they have more moving parts, it is essential that you oil or lubricate these parts regularly to keep them from squeaking. Apply a thin layer of oil or grease on them to get rid of the squeak.