Weight lifting has been revolutionized in recent times and is not the same anymore. In the earlier days, iron and steel were used in the sport of weightlifting. However, things have changed now and we use rubber instead for many reasons.
People who are into weight lifting would know that using bumper plates is better.
This is because it provides longevity to the plates, bars, and the surface it is used on. Novice weightlifters choose to use cheap bumper plates to train to lift at home.
Using them often provides them with the cushion of dropping the weights from over the shoulder or after lifting them above the head.
What are bumper plates?
The term bumper plate is very common in weight lifting circles and is easily recognized by lifters. These are usually plates that are completely made of rubber with a hole in the middle.
The hole has an iron hub to protect the center hole and to maintain the shape of the hole. These are weight plates that are essentially manufactured to absorb the shock from dropping from heights such as overhead.
Clean-and-jerk and snatch action and weight lifting competitions, Crossfit games, and the Olympic games are what they are used for. You can easily find these plates in any fitness and training shops in your city.
Types of bumper plates
The three different types of bumper plates that are available in the market are as follows:
Technique plates: These are plates that are very common these days and are indestructible in the real sense. They are plates that are full in size and manufactured from recycled plastic which is very hard.
Training plates: These plates are made from thick rubber and are used in training as well as completions. They have a steel hole in the middle to help insert the bar that is protected with steel.
Competition plates: Typically, these plates are commonly used in competitions and vary in color according to the weights. This makes them easy to identify in competitions for weightlifters, coaches, and judges alike.
This provides a smooth and soundless landing when dropped from a height. The different colors and the weights they represent are:
- The green-colored plate is 10 kilograms (22.04 Pounds)
- The yellow-colored plate is 15 kilograms (33.06 Pounds)
- The blue-colored plate is 20 kilograms (44.09 Pounds)
- The red-colored plate is 25 kilograms (55.11 Pounds)
How to clean new bumper plates?
Irrelevant of you having cheap bumper plates or the ones used for a competition the cleaning process is relatively the same. You mustn’t choose to use any sort of harmful or harsh chemicals to clean them.
Although they are not fragile you can harm them using harmful or harsh items on the plates. So, using water that is warm should be sufficient to clean your plates every once in a while. This would remove the oil and grease accumulation easily.
However, if you wish to take it a step further and require better cleaning you could add the powdered cleaner to the water to clean them. Even with this cleaner, you can choose to use only warm water.
After wetting a cloth in the warm water or the one with soap you can squeeze the cloth to dry. This would mean that the cloth would remain damp and not completely dry. Wipe the plates and bars clean with the application of a little bit of pressure.
Wiping the bars and plates with a dry cloth is recommended after you clean them with a damp cloth. This would essentially remove all the accumulated oil or sweat stains from plates and bars.
Best ways to clean bumper plates
If you ask any person who is experienced with weight lifting they would recommend that you take the basic route to clean plates. This is because you mustn’t harm the surface of the plates at any point in time.
Using a powdered cleaner or mild soap solution would be a good idea to clean the plates. This process would include using warm water and soap solution along with a cloth.
The simple steps include wetting the cloth in the soap water, squeezing water off it, and using it damp to clean the surface of even the Olympic bumper plates. You can repeat the process multiple times until you are satisfied with the cleaning.
This process can be used both for new as well as old plates to have them effectively cleaned without damaging them. Always ensure that you do not complicate things by trying adverse or different cleaning methods. It is always a good idea to stick with the basics.
Where to purchase bumper cleaning liquids and plates?
Usually, bumper cleaning liquids or mild soap solutions can be found in fitness stores in your city or town. These can also be used on Olympic bumper plates if you have a pair of the same.
In case you are not able to find liquids at these stores you can use any basic soap for the cleaning process. However, if you do not find stores locally from where you can purchase plates you have no choice but to look on the internet.
There are loads of fitness stores online from which you can purchase these plates to be used for weightlifting and training. Always choose to buy from a reputed retailer on the Internet. This would assure you of the quality and performance of the plates.
While purchasing these plates online you are likely to get good discounts, offers, and a variety of models to choose from. This would not just help you save some money but also ensure that you get nothing lesser than the best in the market.
Conclusion
When compared to traditional weightlifting plates the process of cleaning the ones made of rubber or plastic is easier. The maintenance for the same is simpler as well when compared to normal weightlifting plates.
In order not to lose color on the plates it is always advised to follow the standard protocol mentioned above. You can always look for tips and tricks on the internet that can help you.
However, you can be assured that there is nothing better than cleaning the plates with basic soap water, and a cloth. It would ensure that the plates are clean and not damaged by any means on the surface.
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