Gym Etiquette

Yay for another stupid question from me!

So I am becomming pretty regular at the gym lately (been averaging 3 days a week for almost a month now!)

And I have a stupid question that I dont exactly know where else to ask it.

After you are done with the  machine, I know you need to wipe it off so you dont leave it sweaty. But does that mean just wipe it off with your towel? Or am I suppose to break out the spray bottle and clothe they have attached to each machine.

I can honestly say in the past few weeks while at the gym, Id say only about half the people carry towels, and of those very few even attempt to wipe down the machine afterwords.

I just dont want to be that gross guy at the gym, but I also dont want to be the super neat freak either ya know.

Whats acceptable?

Use the spray bottle and cloth, and if other people aren't doing it, I'd wipe everything down before getting on also.

If very few people actually wipe down the machines, then definitely use the spray bottle and cloth if they're available. That way you won't just be spreading sweat around. Myself, I only use my towel to wipe down my face (I get pretty sweaty), I use the machine towel to wipe down any machines I use.

Ditto what the others have said, use the spray and the machine's cloth on the machine, and keep your towel for your face and to put down on the floor mat if you're really sweaty when you use the mat.

I've been wondering something similar. I always wipe down the cardio machines (especially the recumbant bike) after I am finished, and most other people do too. The same goes for the mats in yoga/pilates/etc. But the weight machines never get wiped down it seems. I assume that SOMEONE cleans them off during the day, but the people actually working out on them never do... should we? Haha

i wipe everything!!!  with some sort of disinfectant.  i ALWAYS catch cold when i don't!  rarrrrr. 

it's gotten to the point where i've become a germ-o-phobe!

I wipe everything before and after. And I think I may be the only one who doesn it with the weight machines... which totally grosses me out. I've gotten a weird look or two, but I've also noticed that others have started doing it after they saw me. Not very many girls at my gym do weights, and guys aren't always the best when it comes to cleaning things.

Okay, guilty i don't ALWAYS wipe down the weight machines.
I very rarely sweat on my back (its mostly my face) so the seats dont get sweaty.
If they do, then i wipe them down with my towel because i can't be bothered winding my way behind the treadmills to get the cleaning towel.
Plus, i've never had any bad reaction to using the equipment without cleaning it before hand...
I work out at Les Mills (i live in new zealand) and theres ALWAYS this guy walking around spraying the machines with disinfectant and wiping them down.

Hmmm, I've never seen towels and spray provided at my gym (Ballys). They require each person to bring a towel or they're not supposed to let them in. I don't know, I do see people walking around and cleaning stuff from time to time. I make sure to wipe any sweat of the machines when I'm done, but I guess that's all I can do.