Barbells take a ton of abuse. They bear a heavy burden and are thrown around, bumped and jerked, and then often put away filthy to forget about until tomorrow.
But barbells need love, too.
After investing in a quality barbell, you want it to last – and continue working well as long as you’re working. Taking care of your bar will keep its spin smooth, maintain the knurling, and keep it looking shiny and new. Here’s how to properly care for your barbell so it doesn’t rust and bust.
BARBELL CLEANING
You should clean barbells in commercial gyms monthly or sooner, if desired. You should clean the barbells in your home gym quarterly (or more frequently, if you want).
Here’s how to clean barbells, based on the different finishes:
CERAKOTE BARBELL
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Three rags
- Alcohol-free, mild dish soap solution
- Nylon-bristled brush
- Bucket or bowl of clean water
How to clean a Cerakote barbell:
- 1. Wipe down the bar shaft with a rag soaked with an alcohol-free, mild dish soap solution.
- 2. While soap is on the shaft, use a nylon-bristled brush to scrub the knurling.
- 3. Wipe down the bar shaft with a new rag of just water. Rinse out rag and repeat 1 to 2 more times to make sure no excess soap is left.
- 4. Wipe down bar shaft with a new, dry rag, making sure no excess moisture is left.
DURACOAT, CHROME, ZINC, & ANODIZED BARBELLS
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Five rags
- Alcohol-free, mild dish soap solution
- Nylon-bristled brush
- Bucket or bowl of clean water
- 3-in-1 oil
How to clean a Duracoat, chrome, zinc, or anodized steel barbell:
- 1. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with a rag soaked in an alcohol-free, mild dish soap solution.
- 2. Shaft only: While soap is on the bar, use a nylon-bristled brush to scrub the knurling.
- 3. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with a new rag dipped in plain water. Rinse out rag and repeat 1 to 2 more times to make sure no excess soap is left.
- 4. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with a new, dry rag, making sure no excess moisture is left.
- 5. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with another rag dipped in 3-in-1 oil to coat the entire surface (just enough to see the oil on the bar).
- 6. Shaft only: Before next usage, wipe down with new, dry rag to leave minimal, residual oil.
STAINLESS STEEL BARBELL
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Five rags
- Stainless-steel cleaner
- Nylon-bristled brush
- Bucket or bowl of clean water
- 3-in-1 oil
How to clean a stainless-steel barbell:
- 1. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with a rag soaked in a stainless-steel cleaner.
- 2. Shaft only: While the stainless-steel cleaner is on the bar, use a nylon-bristled brush to scrub the knurling.
- 3. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with a new rag of just water. Rinse out rag and repeat 1 to 2 more times to make sure no excess soap is left.
- 4. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with a new, dry rag, making sure no excess moisture is left.
- 5. Wipe down bar shaft/sleeves with another rag dipped in 3-in-1 oil to coat the entire surface (just enough to see the oil on the bar).
- 6. Shaft only: Before next usage, wipe down with new, dry rag to leave minimal, residual oil.
SLEEVE MAINTENANCE
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- 3-in-1 oil
- A dry rag
Barbell maintenance is only needed if you experience drag-to-sleeve spin over time – but this is extremely rare. This kind of maintenance helps remove any debris and dust that may have entered the barbell sleeve. It will not affect factory lubrication.
Note: No disassembly of the bar is necessary for sleeve maintenance, and we do not recommend disassembly at any time.
How to care for your barbell sleeves:
- 1. Turn the barbell vertically to where it is supported safely.
- 2. Drip a minimal amount of 3-in-1 oil down into each bar sleeve where it meets the bar shaft, then support the bar by the shaft only in a horizontal position.
- 3. Manually spin the bar sleeves for one to two minutes to distribute the 3-in-1 oil evenly.
- 4. Keep the bar supported horizontally until your next usage.
- 5. Wipe down the bar shaft with a dry rag to remove any 3-in-1 oil that could have coated the bar shaft during the drip/application process.
- 6. Optional: Repeat steps until desired sleeve spin is restored.
MISC. BARBELL MAINTENANCE
In addition to properly cleaning, follow these tips to keep your barbell in tip-top shape:
STORE YOUR BARBELL PROPERLY
Don’t store your barbell loaded with plates. Other than basic gym etiquette (unrack your weight, bruh), leaving weight on your bar over time can cause it to warp. It’s best to properly store your bar in a barbell holder (either horizontally or vertically). If you don’t have one, store it unloaded on your rack J-cups. Just propping a barbell in the corner risks it being bumped and falling.
DON’T DROP THE BAR
Dropping an empty barbell on the ground can damage the hardware inside, which can affect the spin or sleeves, damage the bearings/bushing, and break your barbell. Only drop a bar if it has bumpers on it to help absorb the shock.
