It’s National Hobby Month! If you’ve made a resolution to try something new this year, congratulations! Or, maybe you just want to keep focusing on what makes you happy. Either way, your leisure activities help relieve stress while you use your creative talents.

Whether you’re a scrapbooker, hiker or yogi (or maybe you have a little gamer at home), most hobbies involve one kind of clean up or another. So we’ve decided to share some tips for making the most of your downtime and maybe prevent some messy moments along the way.

Weekend Warriors– For those who enjoy the great outdoors backpacking, biking, camping and fishing, consider taking along a few essentials to keep the dirt and germs at bay. We suggest packing small bottles of hand sanitizer and dish soap. Some avid outdoorsmen and women swear by baby wipes to keep clean on the trail.

Artful Aficionados– Do you build models, carve wood, or make pottery? Just a little prep work – setting up a lined trash can, having some soap and water nearby, and keeping some disinfectant wipes handy – can mean the difference between a little clean-up now and a lot of clean-up later.

Electronic Fanatics– Whether your hobby involves joysticks and consoles or keyboards and control panels, those little buttons can attract all kinds of dust, germs and crumbs. Use the brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner to gently pick up loose dirt. Use a wrung-out disinfectant wipe to carefully clean in and around the nooks and crannies. You can even use a cotton swab or toothpick to reach the smallest spaces.

Exercise Enthusiasts– Mats, weights, bars, and other pieces of workout equipment are naturally touched a lot and can grab onto some germs of their own. When working out, especially at a gym, take a few moments to wipe down your equipment before and after using it. Check out our post on cleaning your gear as well!