Essential gym cleaning and hygiene tips
Fitness centers are facilities with lots of traffic and where naturally, people will sweat on equipment they’re sharing with others. Things can easily get messy and unsanitary. Thus, how well you manage that environment has a direct impact on your customer's safety and satisfaction as well as the success of your business.
We’re here to prepare you with all the knowledge you need to tackle this challenge. From the benefits of a clean gym and potential reasons for unhygienic conditions, to helpful cleaning tips and product recommendations.
Why is a clean gym good for business?
Keeping your fitness center clean can benefit your members and your business in numerous ways. These include:
Positive customer experience
Your members’ main concern when going to the gym is their workout. So, an inviting atmosphere that enables them to achieve their fitness goals is almost a given: enough weights, proper machines, changing rooms... all clean and ready for use. Keeping your fitness center clean helps you meet your customers' expectations, swaying them away from competitors.
Longer equipment lifespan
Regular cleaning can prolong the life of your fitness equipment. This is because over time, debris build-up can impair its function, putting you in a position where you need to replace equipment more frequently. By maintaining a clean gym environment, you can prevent those extra costs and boost your business's profits.
Reduced risk of illness
Fitness centers tend to be damp environments and have high carbon dioxide levels due to people’s sweat and heavy breathing during exercise. [1] Without proper ventilation, this can result in poorer air quality, making them prone to the growth of health-threatening bacteria. That’s why regular maintenance and deep cleans of your gym are essential to minimize the spread of germs. By having a regular cleaning schedule in place, you can help shield your customers and staff from illnesses and ensure they have a pleasant experience.
Enhanced business reputation and revenue
A satisfied customer is likely to recommend your fitness center to their friends and family. Not only does this strengthen your business’s reputation, but it also increases the potential for new members. With 92% of consumers claiming they trust personal recommendations over all other forms of advertising, [2] keeping your gym clean can be an effective strategy to increase your revenue.
What conditions can make a gym unhygienic?
Some of the reasons why gyms are likely breeding grounds for germs are:
Poor gym-goer habits
Unfortunately, many gym-goers fail to practice good hygiene habits like washing their hands after using the restroom and before using workout equipment. In addition, 35% of men and 25% of women do not wipe down gym equipment after use [3], contributing to the spread of germs.
High traffic and frequent equipment sharing
Gyms get a high volume of customers on a daily basis, with many different members using the same exercise equipment. This constant turnover of users can cause an increased presence of germs, particularly during peak hours. Not to mention people usually use several tools, spreading microbes across a range of surfaces.
Basically, with each person who uses a piece of equipment, there's a potential to transmit bacteria and viruses. This is especially true if the individual is ill or carries a contagious condition. Therefore, frequent equipment cleaning, especially during busy periods, is essential to prevent contamination and maintain a hygienic environment.
Environmental conditions
The environmental conditions within gyms can also contribute to the spread of germs. This is because fitness centers tend to have warm and humid environments, which are breeding grounds for bacteria and fungal infections. Additionally, the frequent use of showers, saunas, and pools can increase humidity levels, further promoting the spread of germs in a gym setting.
One study conducted by Fit Rated found that the average locker room faucet handle concealed eight times more bacteria than a school's water fountain. [4] This comes to show that proper cleaning procedures everywhere in your facility are vital to prevent the spread of infections and disease.
Commercial gym cleaning checklist and recommended products
Regular maintenance and effective cleaning products are key to creating a safe environment for your gym members. By implementing daily cleanings, you can ensure a satisfying experience for them, increasing the likelihood of their return and recommendation.
Here are some points to consider within your checklist, including products that will help you create a safe and inviting environment while also simplifying the cleaning process:
Make cleaning products accessible to your customers
While it's essential to hire a professional gym cleaning service to maintain cleanliness standards, it's equally important for your gym members to take responsibility. For this to be possible, you need to offer cleaning supplies across your facility, including:
Wet wipe dispensers and paper towels
Wet wipes and paper towels are an effective way to promote a cleaner fitness center environment. Consider placing disinfectant wipes or in various places so they can easily dispose of the products afterwards.
Hand soap and washroom accessories
Making sure that personal hygiene products are available in washrooms can help prevent harmful germs from spreading to the gym floor. One of the most important aspects of this is hand hygiene, so make sure your washrooms are equipped with water, hand soap paper hand towels and visual reminders of the correct handwashing technique.
To keep high personal hygiene standards in your fitness centre, consider adding accessories such as toilet seat covers and facial tissues to washrooms and locker rooms.
1. Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is an easy and convenient way to maintain a hygienic fitness environment. Place dispensers near your gym's entrance so customers can enter and leave with germ-free hands. Just keep in mind that hand sanitiser doesn’t replace hand washing with soap and warm water. So, encourage both for optimal hygiene.
2. Hair and body wash
If your facility provides showers, you may want to offer hair and body wash to your gym members. This can help them remove sweat, dirt, and germs they may have been exposed to during a workout. Also, paying this extra attention to detail shows a commitment to their wellbeing, which can boost customer satisfaction.
Eliminate odours and improve air quality
All that sweat and humidity makes unpleasant odours common in gym facilities, but there are a couple of solutions for that. Air fresheners can help combat foul scents, creating a pleasant environment and enhancing your customers' gym experience. Additionally, air purifiers can remove germs from the air to further contribute to a safe fitness centre environment.
Educate gym members on the importance of hygiene
Providing cleaning products for customers is an important first step toward a healthy environment at the gym. However, educating them on the importance of good hygiene habits will encourage them to use these products consistently and properly.
Place visual and audio aids around your fitness centre to remind members how personal hygiene can protect themselves and others. This could include reminders to wash their hands or instructions on how to clean equipment before and after use
Carry out periodic deep cleaning and disinfection
In addition to daily cleaning tasks, it's vital to schedule regular deep cleaning for a healthy gym environment. A deep cleaning routine should target beyond visible dirt and obvious areas, pay special attention to areas that can accumulate dirt and germs such as mirrors, door handles and light switches. This is also an ideal time to check all of your gym equipment for signs of wear and tear or damage. This type of extensive cleaning should be carried out at least once a week. [4]
Train your staff
Cleaning staff play a major role in keeping your gym spotless. Regular training sessions can ensure they understand hygiene standards and are able to maintain them. They should know how to properly clean and disinfect all areas of your fitness centre, including which products to use where. If harsh chemicals are necessary, make sure they’re aware that protective equipment must be worn. Finally, don’t forget to assign them periodical deep cleaning tasks.
Gyms are fundamentally a place of health and wellbeing. Therefore, the success of your business is directly linked to every surface and piece of equipment being kept hygienic for all. Keeping your fitness facility clean fosters happy and healthy customers, which in turn can help you boost your revenue.
If you're looking to keep your gym clean and safe as well as sustainable, discover our complete product range.
Reference
[1] Andrade, A., Dominski, F.H., Pereira, M.L. et al. Infection risk in gyms during physical exercise. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 19675–19686 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1822-8
[4] https://www.idealresponse.co.uk/gym-cleaning-services/