We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

From being unhygienic to downright rude, here's your lifting cheat sheet to keep everyone happy

Whether you've been going to the gym for five minutes or five years, you know that there's an etiquette and a certain way of going about things to help both yourself and others around you to get the most of the time spent exercising. We're not talking about a secret, holier-than-thou code here, but more of an exercise cheat sheet to keep things going smoothly.

Bookmark this page and be sure to share it with a friend who could use a hand..

The idea is a simple one: once you're done with your sets, put the weights exactly back where you found them. And if you found them on the floor anyway? Re-rack them. By leaving them on the floor, you're risking injury on a fellow gym-goer (everyone's strength is different) with a safety hazard from laziness.

Personal hygiene is just as important as mitigating injury risk at the gym, and it's a gripe that almost everyone shares. They wouldn't share your towel, or wear your sweaty T-shirt after a spicy finisher, so why should they have to tolerate a sweat-soaked bench, dumbbell or barbell? The fix is simple, gents — bring a small towel with you or use disposable wipes that most gyms provide.

There's no denying that the odd grunt or exhalation can help you grind out an extra rep or two, but when your lifting-induced decibels are vibrating the paint from the walls and irking fellow members, it's probably time to lower the noise a tad. Retain your modesty by turning your jarhead grunts to a more gentle growl.

CrossFit zealots, we're looking at you here — dropping weights (and the noise that comes with it) is one of the most frustrating habits a gym-goer can adopt. It doesn't matter if it's five or 50kg, dropping a loaded barbell or dumbbell is a serious safety hazard for other gym-goers. Lower your weight in a controlled manner and you'll get more from your lift.

Like sand, chalk gets everywhere. Sure, it has the potential for you to grind out a few extra pull-ups or deadlifts, but you don't need to coat your hands — and the surrounding equipment — in the white stuff. You're (probably) not an Olympic weightlifter, so be sure to use chalk sparingly. If there's a spill, wipe it up after your set and, of course, clean the chalky equipment with a wipe. Liquid chalk is a good way of keeping things neat and clean.

Working through supersets or tri-sets? Good for you — it's a sure-fire way of gaining muscle quick, but it doesn't give you a hall pass to reserve over numerous pieces of equipment in the gym. Especially when it's rush hour. Let the other members use it — they'll almost certainly understand that you can both work together on it, without you hogging the machine.

Music can make you feel great during exercise — but it doesn't mean you a) need to share your tunes with the world and b) act like you're in a music video by blaring your latest workout playlist. Keep it to yourself and everyone's happy.