It’s the start of the year once again, and that means the new year’s resolutions will be in full swing as people opt for a happier and healthier year.
A 2021 survey by Finder saw that 54% of people in the UK will make a resolution, with a quarter of those saying that resolution will be health-related. That equates to around 8.5million people if we’re using a very rough estimate – a lot of people then.
With that in mind, gyms are going to be busier than ever, especially as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. Our cleaning experts have put together this handy guide for gym owners and customers to ensure they keep their gyms clean and enjoyable for everyone (even if that well-meaning resolution only lasts until March).
Cleaning gym equipment
Clean equipment is a must at the gym. In 2021, Fitrated found that an average treadmill has 74 times more bacteria than a bathroom tap, with free weights have over 350 times more bacteria than a toilet seat!
Therefore, it’s incredibly important to keep them as clean as possible. Asking your patrons to clean down equipment after use is a great place to start, but we’d also recommend taking the following steps, just for an extra layer of cleanliness.
- Write down a list of each piece of gym equipment
- Allocate cleaning duties to different members of staff in different areas of your gym
- A minimum of three times per day (morning, noon and evening), ensure that staff are cleaning equipment with a suitable sanitising spray and clean cloths
- Tick off jobs completed with staff initials to keep track of what has been done
By giving staff their own responsibilities for equipment cleanliness and having a tracker to ensure it’s being done, you can limit the amount of time that any machines or weights go between a good clean.
Every gym should have a cleaning schedule to help document the sanitisation process. This removes the ability for gaps to form, reducing the spread of harmful germs and bacteria.
General gym cleanliness
Hand sanitiser stations should be dotted around the gym at key touchpoints. It sounds obvious in the world we live in now, but prior to the pandemic, this was an often-overlooked way to ensure hands are being kept as clean as possible.
You can’t be sure that customers are wiping down equipment after each use, but they are more likely to wash their hands with sanitiser when it’s dotted around your building.
Keep an eye on the changing facilities, including areas where people congregate as well as lockers, showers and toilets. You may have your own dedicated cleaners for these areas, but if not, regular and consistent cleaning will help keep things looking tidy.
If you are looking for commercial cleaning in London, be sure to get in touch with our experts who will be on hand to help advise you as to what is best for your business.
Eliminating odours
It makes sense doesn’t it? Gyms are full of people sweating, using equipment and generally getting their heart rates up. This of course, increases body odour – which isn’t the most pleasant of smells.
But how can you remove it in a place where everybody is doing the same thing? While it might not be possible to completely remove every single bad smell, having an effective cleaning regime is the best way to keep your gym smelling fresh.
It’s important not to make the mistake of simply covering up the smells with scents that linger in the air for a few minutes and then subside. These air fresheners are costly and not that effective because they don’t remove the smell from its source.
Top tip: steam cleaning is an effective way to remove germs and to tackle odours at their source. Add a monthly steam cleaning task to your cleaning rota, and steam everything from dumbbells, exercise balls, lockers while your business is closed or when there are less customers around.
Educate your gym-goers
A cleaner gym doesn’t just rest on your head as the owner, your customers need to be educated on how to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. There are a number of ways that you can do this without lengthy health and safety briefings or inductions.
When new customers join your gym, you can explain the cleaning process efficiently, making sure that your clients wipe and wash after the use of each piece of equipment.
- Wipe – customers should be told to wipe equipment before and after use, either with a clean towel or even better, with readily available disinfectant wipes.
- Wash – washing hands is one of the most important ways of killing and removing germs from touchpoints.
If you’re a gym owner in London looking for help keeping your business clean, get in touch with the commercial cleaning team at Crystal Cleaning Servicing – we can help point you in the right direction.
