Spring Cleaning: How to clean the reformer wheels and tracks.
Welcome to the second installment of “Spring Cleaning (Pun Intended).” We received so many questions about best practices for cleaning and maintaining Pilates apparatus, that what was going to be a single video, will now be a multi-part series. New articles, resources, and videos will post throughout spring, so stay tuned and make sure you subscribe to Pilatay.com to be notified of new content.
Always check with your equipment manufacturer before any cleaning or maintenance procedure or tip provided here or by any other source. Preferred methods vary by manufacturer.
The basics
Nothing ruins a Pilates reformer ride like a bump in the tracks.
But have no fear. We have all the tips and tricks to keep your Pilates Reformer riding smoothly!
The best way to avoid bumps in the Pilates Reformer ride is to keep dirt and dust off the tracks and out of the wheels in the first place!
Do:
Always check with your equipment manufacturer regarding cleaning best practices before any cleaning or maintenance procedure.
Wipe the rails regularly with a mild dish detergent (1:10 solution mixed with water) to keep them clean of debris and dry thoroughly.
Wet the rag, not the equipment (to avoid damaging the components with excess moisture).
Avoid excess grease that can cause dust and debris to clump up and stick to the components.
Remove stuck-on grime using your manufacturer’s preferred method (see below).
Turn the carriage over regularly to inspect the wheels and make sure they are free of debris and hair.
To keep your space free of dirt and dust that can fall into the tracks, try a robot vacuum and make sure that clients are keeping their hair pulled back.
White lithium grease can be used to grease the wheel wells of classical apparatuses (never lubricate the outside of the wheel or tracks). Wipe away any excess.
When working with classical Pilates equipment, lubricate the wheel-well only; do not lubricate the tracks or the wheel itself.
Don’t:
Do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the equipment; always spray the rag.
Never use silicone spray on the wheels or rails.
Do not lubricate the tracks or the wheel itself; when working with classical Pilates equipment, lubricate the wheel-well only.
Do not spray the outside of the wheels with aerosol Lithium grease.
How do I clean the reformer tracks?
To keep dirt and debris out of the wheels, you have to keep dirt and dust out of the air and off the tracks.
Many teachers have found that a robot vacuum is one of the best ways to keep dirt and debris out of the studio and is a great regular supplement to your deep cleaning procedures.
You also want to eliminate any shedding fabrics that are in close proximity to the equipment, make sure clients are keeping their hair pulled back, and if you share the studio space with pets, keep in mind that you’ll need to clean more frequently.
Make cleaning the tracks part of your regular cleaning procedure.
You can use the same 1:10 diluted dish soap mixture that you use to clean the vinyl. Never spray the equipment directly. It is best to spray the rag and never leave cleaning solution or water on the equipment - always wipe the solution off immediately and dry it. If you use an all-purpose spray and leave it on too long, it may result in white spots.
(For Reformers that do not have exposed tracks, such as the Allegro 2, you can see a “how-to” video below).
For tough to remove grime
Always check with your equipment manufacturer first, as different materials may require different treatments.
Pilates Designs recommends removing dirt or grit build-up with a scraper in conjunction with a mild soap solution. If the build-up is severe, Pilates Designs recommends using NAPTHA Thinner (from a hardware store.) Wipe with soft cloth and dry thoroughly. (more)
Gratz Pilates recommends going over the spots gently with a Scotch Brite pad to remove the streaks. More (more).
Pilates equipment maintenance company, The Fit Reformer, recommends using a piece of aluminum foil instead of steel wool to remove stubborn black marks off your reformer rails. “Aluminum foil is far better than steel wool because it softer, so it won't scratch the surface.” (more)
Balanced Body has a Youtube.com video on cleaning the wheels/rails here. They recommend silicone spray and a toothbrush for the Allegros. But remember, contemporary equipment uses different materials than classical equipment so the processes for cleaning and maintaining the equipment will also be different.
How do I clean the wheels?
First, all wheels are not created equal. In fact, it is one of the primary differentiating factors of different Pilates reformers. So, always check with your equipment manufacturer on cleaning best practices.
You can turn the reformer over regularly to remove any exposed hair or debris from the wheels. Monthly or quarterly, depending on usage, the wheels can be removed so that you can clean debris and lubricate the wheel wells (NOT the exterior of the wheels) using a tube of white lithium grease. Your equipment manufacturer can give you more instructions for how to do this.
According to the Gratz Pilates website, ”Be sure to clean all hardware (screws, bolts, etc.) with a clean, dry rag before re-attaching the wheel, as grime, hair, etc. may be present. Lubricate the wheel-well only. It is very important that you do not lubricate the tracks or the wheel itself. If the wheels show signs of wear then the wheels must be replaced. Do not spray the outside of the wheels with aerosol Lithium grease.”
Be sure to remove excess grease when lubricating the wheels wells so that it doesn’t fall on the tracks, and do not lubricate the tracks.
The Pilates Designs and Balanced Body websites also warn against using any silicone spray on the tracks.
You can see a full video on cleaning Allegro 2 wheels on the Balanced Body youtube.com channel, Maintenance Monday playlist.
For more cleaning resources:
Pilatesology has a Pilates equipment maintenance bonanza for Gratz equipment here, and a reformer maintenance video here.
Gratz Pilates cleaning and how-to instructions here.
Balanced Body has an entire Youtube.com playlist with more than 40 videos on maintenance. Check it out here.