The most important actions that anyone can take to make their treadmill or elliptical last long as possible is to keep it as clean as possible and keep it lubricated. You should want hospitals to be jealous of the cleanliness of your machine. Intel should contact you about wanting to make computer chips on your treadmill. I know this is silly, but just trying to prove a point. The cleaner you keep your machine, the more likely that it will last a long time. That is why you should wipe down your machine as often as possible, especially in the belt area, and use a treadmill mat.

The maintenance item that runs a close second to keeping your treadmill clean is to keep it well lubricated. You have never seen a maintenance-free treadmill. Oh, you see them advertised all the time. There are some commercial treadmills that have self-lubricating systems, but lubrication is always required.

You can damage your machine in many ways that you might not think of if you don't keep the machine properly lubricated. The additional friction from the belt can wear down the treadmill deck. The decks are made of wood with a special coating applied to them. If the belt is not properly lubricated you can prematurely wear through the finish on the deck and it is that finish that provides the smooth operation of the belt. This problem causes belts to wear much faster and could damage the electronics on the machine from the additional and varying amp draw caused by the increase in friction. If you want to avoid these problems, you have an alternative. Lubricate your walking belt on a regular, systematic basis.

If your treadmill claims to be maintenance-free and you believe it, you should start saving to buy parts now. Do not try and use WD-40, silicone spray, grease, or anything else that is not specifically designed to work with treadmills. These will ruin the backing of the belt and possibly cause much more damage.

Find a good quality lube that is designed for use on treadmills and you will save a great deal of money and time in future repairs or replacement.