Here's a comprehensive list of cleaning supplies that will help you get the job done.
If you're missing any of these in your facility, head here and stock up!
Gym equipment is a magnet for bacteria and grime. These machines are used by one person after another. Add in the fact that gyms tend to be warm environments, it is easy to see why germs are seemingly omnipresent. Though it is not possible for the cleaning staff to wipe down machines after every single use, a consistent sanitizing of such equipment will reduce the quantity of harmful bacteria members come in contact with. Make use of disinfectant wet wipes to sanitize facility equipment several times per day. These wipes will help eliminate germs, grime and sweat left on the machines from facility members.
It is important to note that there is an important distinction between disinfecting and sanitizing. Wet wipes serve to disinfect, meaning their chemicals destroy bacteria and germs. This style of cleaning is essential as disinfectant is necessary to properly clean surfaces that are laden with perspiration and saliva.
Your staff should use wipes in a nuanced manner. The full surface of the gym equipment should be thoroughly wiped. Let the machine completely dry before members are allowed to use it. This drying period will guarantee that the disinfectant has the chance to work its magic. Ideally, the disinfectant will be allowed to rest on the equipment for at least 2-3 minutes. If your cleaning staff is cleaning the facility late at night when few members are around or when the facility is closed, let the cleaning solution sit on the machines/equipment for 10 minutes or longer. This period of time allows the solution to completely destroy bacteria.
Wet wipes for disinfecting are only half the battle when it comes to gym cleanliness. Have your cleaning staff make use of spray bottles filled with ammonia solutions to boot. This disinfectant solution should be applied to machines on a regular basis. Do not hesitate to leave such spray bottles by popular machines along with disinfectant wet wipes, paper towels and hand sanitizer so members can clean gym machines to their liking.
In terms of the spray bottle ammonia mixtures, it should be quarternary ammonia combined with regular tap water. Quarternary ammonia is the agent within the cleaner that is specifically designed to destroy germs. If you are particularly fearful of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), opt for a cleaning product that is specific to MRSA. Check the label for such information. A quarternary ammonia solution is perfectly safe to spray on surfaces members touch. Such a mixture does an excellent job of eliminating germs that commonly plague fitness center equipment. Just make sure your cleaning staff is aware that the solution should sit on the machines for a few moments before being wiped down. Otherwise, the germs won't be fully removed.
If you don't want to purchase a pre-made ammonia solution, you can take the DIY route and make your own. Combine half a cup of ammonia with half a gallon of water and you will have a highly effective spray cleaner at your disposal. It is also possible to combine dish soap, tap water and vinegar for an all natural gym sanitizing solution. The specifications of such a solution are as follows: one part dish soap should be combined with two parts vinegar. Any style of dish soap will suffice though one with a refreshing scent will certainly put members in a good mood. This mixture is perfect for kettlebells and dumbbells as it does not wear away at their neoprene surface coatings. You can even use such a cleaning spray to clean and deodorize your facility's yoga mats.
The extent of the cleaning process hinges on your unique preferences. If you want to cover all your bases, have your cleaning staff make use of a product that is EPA-registered as antibacterial. An antibacterial cleaner will disinfect, meaning it will destroy the majority of viruses and germs found in fitness centers. Keep in mind that disinfectants have unique chemical combinations. Some are environmentally friendly with chemical agents sourced from citrus oils, etc. Some are phenol-based while others are alcohol-based and pose a threat to machines. Avoid these styles of cleaners as they are likely to corrode your expensive equipment.
Beware of drying chemicals as they have the potential to cause premature wear, cracking and aging of plastics and vinyls. As noted above, quarternary ammonia is ideal as it doesn't pose a risk to humans or machines. However, some quarternary ammonia solutions require a wet surface for upwards of 10 minutes in order for disinfection to occur. Some of the newer versions of quarternary ammonia disinfect in as little as a couple minutes.
Take care to avoid cleaners that pose a threat to human health. Bleach certainly kills germs yet it can harm skin, lungs and clothing. Also, avoid hydrogen peroxide as it has the potential to result in rashes and a severe irritation of the skin.
In the end, the cleaning solutions you select should be safe for the cleaning staff, gym members and the machines they are meant to clean. When in doubt, read cleaning products' labels, get a gauge of their limitations and clean as frequently as possible.
Aside from spraying down machines with cleaning solutions, it is also necessary to vacuum around equipment. A thorough vacuuming every couple of days or even every night will collect all debris and dust scattered around the machines. Have your cleaning staff dust off all cardio equipment, weight machines and weights. Make sure the outlets, plugs and wires are completely free of dust. Wipe the facility's windows, clean off all door handles and perform a thorough cleaning of the lockers rooms, showers and bathrooms.
Some members do not hesitate to use gym weights and exercise machines when sick or after using the restroom and not washing their hands. Your facility's exercise machines and weights will inevitably become laden with germs and other unsavory particles. It is not easy to keep equipment pristine at all times. However, it is not an impossible task. Have your staff clean the facility's exercise equipment and weights throughout the day. Keep a box of anti-bacterial wipes by as many machines and weights as possible. Post signs that encourage members to wipe down equipment after using it. Verbalize this suggestion from time to time and you just might find that your members proactively wipe down machines and weights to keep them as clean as possible.
Though it would be nice if members cleaned the facility's machines after every single use, the odds of that actually happening are quite low. Have your custodial staff and anyone else who is looking for something to do clean touch points ranging from free weights to machine handlebars, handles and treadmill controls. They can use gym wipes or disinfectant spray along with microfiber towels and/or paper towels. Don't forget to arm your staff with high-quality gloves so their own germs won't spread to your facility's machines, weights and other surfaces.
The constant hum of electricity, the inviting flash of rows of LED displays, the ability to watch a Top Chef marathon AND exercise at the same time - one of the most popular areas of any gym is the cardio fitness room. These days, equipment manufacturers are pimping out fitness machine’s with more and more bells and whistles to not only make gym members want to use them, but also to get fitness club owners to buy them. It’s crazy. I was shopping for a treadmill for my home gym (an oversized closet that is more closet than gym) and I couldn’t believe the options you could get on these things; iPod docks, cooling fans, heart monitors, pulse monitors, televisions, virtual running trails – everything shy of giving me my horoscope. I felt like I was looking at options on a Lexus instead of an exercise machine that was designed to make me a sweaty, miserable mess.
Like a Lexus, those bells and whistles are expensive. If you are going to invest thousands of dollars in each exercise machine, you need to protect that investment as much as possible. That means not only routine maintenance, but instructing your staff and gym members how to properly use and clean the equipment.
Yes, there is a wrong way to clean gym equipment. Never, ever, EVER spray chemicals or water directly onto your electrical equipment. If you are using spray bottles and towels to disinfect after use, your gym staff and members should always spray the disinfectant on the towel first and then wipe down the machine. Spraying any liquid directly onto any electrical equipment or display is just asking for an expensive repair. Here’s a good rule of thumb – if you wouldn’t do it to your iPhone, you shouldn’t do it to your treadmill, climber or elliptical machine.
However, we all know that you can't monitor everyone all the time and members aren't always the best at following directions (why can't they put the weights back in the right spot, WHY??) so it's best to avoid this problem all together. Remove spray bottles from your cardio fitness area and make pre-moistened equipment wipes available in a wall mounted gym wipe dispenser or dispensing floor bucket. Users still have the opportunity to wipe down and disinfect equipment without the risk of causing damage to electrical circuits. They are safe, inexpensive and fool proof. Your staff can still use spray disinfectant throughout the day for routine cleaning, but with a more controlled and trained approach.
Basketballs, volleyballs, and every other sports ball: covered in dirt, covered in sweat. But not just these—they’re also covered with dangerous germs. Germs such as staphylococcus, candida and E. coli, oh my.
A study reported by Science Daily found that sports balls “can spread potentially dangerous germs among players. Their findings may bring a new awareness to athletes, coaches, trainers and parents regarding safe sanitation practices for athletes.” The study also found that the germ selected for the study (Staphylococcus aureus) was capable of surviving on the sports ball after 72 hours in storeroom conditions. Yikes.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, is a kind of staph that is particularly worrisome because of its resistance to many antibiotics. Athletes with MRSA infections often must endure emergency room visits, costly outpatient follow-ups, and time away from games and practice. (Three studies by the Texas State Department of Health found that the infection rate among football players was sixteen times the national average.)
The study continues: “The overwhelming prevalence of Staph. aureus we encountered supports our understanding of the gym environment as a reservoir of germs. Institutions, coaches, and athletes should take note of the role the sports ball can play as a vehicle for the transmission of potentially life-threatening germs.”
The UC Irvine folks doing the study used UVC light to sterilize, but the same job can be done by Zogics’ antibacterial gym equipment wipes, or perhaps our EPA-registered broad spectrum surface disinfectant—a one-step surface disinfectant, germicidal detergent, surface cleaner, mildewstat, fungicide, virucide, and deodorizer.
And of course don’t forget to wipe down the gym fitness balls, a piece of gym equipment most people tend to forget to clean. Inflatable fitness balls and weighted medicine balls are a playground for germs. Such balls have been cultured and what did the researchers find? Our old friend Staph. aureus.
Another tip: use a hand sanitizer after using the balls, and keep face towels separate from towels you use on the equipment. And for gym owners and managers, our gym wipes are a great place to start a healthier regimen.
You can dodge, you can crunch, and you can dig all you like to get physically fit—but you also need clean equipment to stay healthy.
Yoga mats can either be hand washed or machine washed. And keeping the mat clean is a very simple and relaxing task that shouldn’t take too much of your time. It's recommended to wash your yoga mats at least after a few months of use, but if your mats are used everyday, you'll have to wash them more often. For regular usage, wash your mat at least once every month yoga mat cleaner. Gaiam's Yoga Mat Wash is a great product that uses all organic, natural oils that clean without damaging mat fibers.
If you're hand washing, first soak your mat for a few minutes in water to help dislodge dirt, odors, and oils. Use a soft microfiber cloth to wash both sides of the mat, making sure to focus on the areas of frequent use (where your feet and hands touch most). Be gentle! You don't want to damage your mat during cleaning in any way.
If you don't feel like spending a lot of time hand washing your mat, use a washing machine to get the job done. Pre-wash the mat in cold water and keep it separate from other clothing when running it in the washer. It's also recommended to use a mild detergent. While this method is surely easier and faster, machine washing can sometimes lower the quality of your mat by making it too slippery.
After you're done washing your mat, squeeze out excess water, unroll the mat, and hang it up to thoroughly air dry. The last thing you should ever attempt to do is put your yoga mat in the dryer. This will damage your mat and could even catch your mat on fire! To know that your mat is completely dry, squeeze it in between your fingers. If it passes the moisture test, you're ready to go.
Invest in at least one reliable vacuum to keep your facility's rugs spotlessly clean. Ideally, you will have several vacuums available just in case one stops working or becomes inefficient. Do not lose sight of the fact that nasty bacteria can move across health club floors with considerable ease. The floors should be cleaned every single day. Keep numerous swiffer dusters on-hand as well. This way, your staff will be armed with all the floor-cleaning supplies necessary to keep those frequently traveled surfaces sparkling.
Gyms have a number of touch points aside from those on exercise machines and weights. Consider the wide array of surfaces members and staff touch each day: exercise mats, benches, computer screens/keyboards, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers. Each of these touch points should be wiped down and cleaned with an anti-bacterial spray several times per day.
