Gym Cleaning Checklist

Numerous studies have shown that the gym is a hotbed of harmful germs and bacteria. In fact, your local gym or fitness center is one of the dirtiest places you could ever visit. According to FitRated, a site that reviews exercise equipment, free weights alone host 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Other equipment and facilities in the gym are also a breeding ground for bacteria, as well as germs, viruses, and fungi, some of which are harmful to health.

Gym owners or managers then should make sure that the entire place, including every nook and cranny, is cleaned thoroughly and regularly. With so many items and areas to consider, it is best to make use of a gym cleaning checklist template to ensure you do not overlook any room, touchpoints, or surface.

What is a Fitness and Gym Cleaning Checklist?

Cleaning a gym or fitness facility is no easy task, hence, the importance of having a gym cleaning checklist. It is a list that identifies the rooms, spaces, fixtures, and equipment that has to be cleaned and disinfected. It also includes the cleaning schedule, cleaning equipment, and products, and specific procedures that should be used. Following a list of gym or fitness center cleaning procedures can get rid of dirt and microorganisms that thrive in the different areas of the gym, making the facility a healthy space for members and visitors.

Checklist for Gym Cleaning

Written below are the best ways of how to clean a gym. We will also discuss the gym cleaning supplies and processes you would need.

Fitness Equipment

An investigation that analyzed bacteria samples in three separate gyms has shown that gym equipment is some of the dirtiest, germiest spots in the facility. Aside from the aforementioned free weights, cardio machines, such as treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, and weight machines, are also teeming with germs and bacteria. The reasons for these are aplenty, which include the sweat and personal hygiene of users. Moreover, they have hidden surfaces that could serve as breeding spaces for microorganisms that are harmful to health.

Remember to keep cleaning the gym and fitness equipment after people are done using them.

Daily Cleaning and Disinfection

It is said that using gym equipment and machines is akin to shaking hands with hundreds of individuals in a day. Thus, you should clean and disinfect them as much as possible throughout the day.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Get a dry microfiber cloth and use it along with an eco-friendly disinfectant to wipe every surface and corner.
2. Use a separate microfiber cloth dry off the equipment and machines to avoid cross-contamination.
3. For standalone equipment or items, such as free weights and medicine balls, wipe clean every part of the surface.
4. Mop and disinfect the floor around these machines.
5. Make sure to pay extra attention to high-traffic touchpoints, such as handles and seats, and hard-to-reach areas.

You may also want to make disinfecting wipes available at or near the fitness equipment and let the users apply these wipes on the machines before usage.

Shower and Locker Rooms

After a good workout, part of the gym members’ routines is to wash their hands, take a bath, or have a change of clothes in the locker room. A cleaning checklist or procedure for these areas must then also be created and implemented. There is even a study that shows that gym sinks are the germiest spots inside the entire facility. Some of the unwanted microorganisms present in faucet handles include bacteria, fungi, and bacteria. They can cause illnesses, such as pneumonia and meningitis.

Shower and locker room cleaning procedures are then a must.

Daily Cleaning and Disinfection

These facilities are where many individuals’ bare skin touches the surfaces and floors. Keep them cleaned by taking heed of these directions:

• Use a cloth or sponge and an eco-friendly cleaning solution to clean all interior and exterior surfaces inside the shower and toilet area. Make sure to cover all high-traffic touchpoints, including shower faucets, handles, and sinks.
• Let the cleaning solution dry on its own instead of wiping it dry to make sure the cleansing agents are able to disinfect the surfaces extensively.
• Use a dry microfiber cloth and an eco-friendly disinfectant to wipe every surface and bench in the locker rooms. Be sure to clean the empty lockers as well.
• Mop the showers’ and locker rooms’ floor. Cleaning and disinfecting agents that are also environmentally friendly should be used.
• Allow these surfaces to air dry.
• Make sure to spread out shower curtains, floor mats, and towels to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
• Empty the trash bins properly and remove clutter from any surface or fixture properly.

You may want to consider providing gym members antibacterial hand gel — for free or otherwise — to prevent the spread of germs in gym sinks.

Cleaning Schedule

While there is no specific schedule needed for cleaning and disinfecting shower rooms inside gyms, it should be conducted at least once a day. Also, an hourly inspection of the shower and locker rooms may be implemented. Spraying of a disinfectant on oft-touched surfaces can be done along with the inspection.

Wooden Floors Cleaning

Gym or fitness center floors require frequent cleaning and disinfection because they are some of the most rigorously used parts of the facility. For those that still use traditional a wooden floor, below is the cleaning procedure for this type of flooring.

Cleaning Procedure

It is imperative to clean wooden floors correctly, because not only will it prevent the spread of bacteria and germs, you could also save on unnecessary costs brought about by expensive repairs. These are the instructions you must follow:

1. Sweep the entire floor of dirt or debris and dispose of them in the proper waste receptacles. Using a wider broom can speed up the process.
2. Use an eco-friendly commercial floor disinfecting solution for the wood application. However, do not pour it directly on the floor. This would lead to warping and can damage the floor. Depending on the instructions, dilute the solution in the water correctly.
3. Dampen a mop with the solution and squeeze out excess water before you clean the floor with it. Similar to a broom, a wider or bigger mop is more efficient.
4. Air-dry the floor.

Rubber Floors Cleaning

Rubber is arguably the most common floor type for a gym or fitness facility for several reasons. Among others is that the material is durable, versatile, water-resistant, and slip-resistant. Its impact-absorption property also makes it ideal for a fitness facility that has heavy-duty exercise machines, free weights, and other equipment that weigh a ton. Gym members also prefer having a workout or exercise on rubber floors because of the comfort they provide.

However, there are also downsides to opting for rubber, for instance, floor cleaning. It is not as straightforward as it that of concrete or wood.

Cleaning Procedure

To make sure rubber floors are cleaned well and to keep them from housing bacteria or germs that have an adverse effect on the health, using the cleaning procedure below is beneficial.

1. Use a plastic scraper to remove dirt or residue, such as gum or mud that may have been tracked in from shoes. Dispose of this debris appropriately.
2. Use a vacuum cleaner on the floor to get rid thoroughly of smaller particles of dirt and food.
3. Use an eco-friendly commercial floor disinfecting solution for rubber application. Depending on the instructions, dilute the solution in the water correctly.
4. Dampen a mop with the solution and squeeze out excess water before you clean the floor with it.
5. Rinse the mop with water and dry them for several minutes. Clean the bucket as well or, alternatively, use a different bucket.
6. Fill the cleaned or separate bucket with cold water.
7. Dampen the mop again then use it to clean the entirety of the floor of the facility again. This is to ensure that the rubber flooring is not stained.
8. Air-dry the floor.

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Fitness Mats Cleaning

Fitness mats, such as wrestling or exercise mats, also require special cleaning at least once a day because they are some of the most highly trafficked spots in gyms or fitness facilities. Members may use them for training or workout on bare feet, which means that these fitness mats can be a hotbed for fungi, bacteria, or other infectious microorganisms.

Cleaning Procedure

Keep wrestling or exercise mats clean by applying these procedures.

1. At the end of each day, ensure that every surface, including the side and creases, of the mat, is clean.
2. Use a sponge, cloth, or mop exclusively on the fitness mats. Do not use these cleaning materials in other areas of the gym to avoid cross-contamination.
3. Use an eco-friendly disinfectant in wiping the mats.
4. For optimal disinfection, these mats should be cleaned with bleach every quarter using a 1:10 ratio bleach mix.
5. Air-dry the mats after cleaning them.

Conclusion

Most people go to the gym to improve their body and health. However, failure to keep the facility clean from infectious agents will result in a host of other health problems. Implementing the right sanitary and hygiene procedures is essential to make sure every gym-goer is healthy and happy. For hard-to-clean facilities, hiring professional janitorial services can save you time, money, and energy.