Gym cleanliness is more than aesthetics; it is also about health and client satisfaction. According to research conducted by IHRSA, customer satisfaction ratings fell from 83% to 43% and retention rates from 90% to 52% when a facility was considered unclean.
Gym owners must establish and put in place thorough cleaning procedures for their members and staff. When well-planned and regularly performed, these procedures are instrumental in ensuring the quality and consistency of the facility’s cleanliness.
Cleaning and disinfection are two crucial aspects of gym cleaning practices. Cleaning involves using detergents to remove contaminants, while disinfecting kills nearly all harmful bacteria and viruses on a surface.
Why You Should Keep Your Gym Clean
Your staff and gym patrons all reap the benefits of a clean gym. The main reasons for keeping your gym clean are discussed below:
- Membership retention: Clean facilities are more welcoming, helping to boost your brand image and encourage membership.
- Shiny, clean gym equipment: Preventative maintenance practices like cleaning will preserve your equipment and extend its life.
- Minimize the risk of germs and diseases: Sweat, mucus from coughs and other bodily fluids in the gym are hotbeds for the spread of infections. Cleaning can help eliminate these, as well as odor, which can be off-putting to clients.
Don’t Forget the Front Lobby!
Clients walking through your front doors will take approximately 7 to 10 seconds to form their initial perceptions of your business, which will probably affect their purchasing decisions.
Encourage the reception staff to keep the area clean and tidy. Remember to keep a regular schedule for dusting and polishing fixtures, counter tops and windows.
Gym Floors
Clean your gym floors after every group session.e Use a floor cleaning machine for a detailed cleaning at the end of the day. Wipe down the exercise mats, as they come in close contact with members and absorb stains, sweat and dirt.
Cleaning Supplies for Patrons
Your gym members are accountable for their health and that of fellow members. It is, therefore, wise to educate them on why and how to clean the equipment after use.
To promote member participation in cleaning, place disinfecting wipes, sanitizers, sprays and other cleaning supplies in strategic areas. It’s also a good idea to put up signs throughout the gym to remind members to do their part in keeping the gym clean.
Hire a Weekly/Monthly Cleaning Team
Professional cleaning services are hands down the best way to get a periodic deep cleaning of your facility. You can have them come in weekly or monthly, depending on the gym traffic.
What You Should Include in Your Gym Cleaning Checklist
A gym cleaning checklist is crucial in ensuring consistency in the quality and frequency of cleaning services. Highlighted below are some of the areas and equipment we recommend including in your checklist.
Cardio Equipment
Wipe down exercise machines such as treadmills, steppers and ellipticals after each use. Be sure to pay close attention to the railings, consoles, keypads, and faceplates where members touch the machines with their fingers and hands. Have daily schedules for the cleaning team to disinfect and sanitize all touch surfaces.
Free Weight Zones
Encourage your members to wipe down bars, weights and benches after every use. Use a barbell brush to clean the caked chalk and grime off the weight handles.
Vacuum and mop rubber mats using a disinfecting and cleaning solution after each use and at the end of the day.
Locker Rooms
Humid locker rooms and showers create the perfect breeding ground for mold, fungi and other infection-causing organisms.
Below is a comprehensive cleaning schedule for the locker rooms and associated facilities:
- Clean and disinfect showers, toilets and benches throughout the day.
- Sweep up debris throughout the day and empty the trash.
- Clean and disinfect the interior and exterior of lockers and door handles at the end of the day.
- Mop the floors daily with disinfectant and spot-clean the walls and doors as needed.
- Empty the towel bins at the end of the day.
Common Areas
Cleaning and disinfecting common contact areas prevents cross-contamination and germ spread. Create a cleaning checklist that all staff members check off to verify everything is done.
The common areas that need extra care and attention include:
- Floors: Vacuum floors and mop all hard surfaces with disinfectant daily or as needed throughout the day, depending on the traffic.
- Mats: Disinfect all rubber and yoga mats after each use and at the end of the day.
- Bins: Empty the trash and towel bins and launder towels daily.
- Contact surfaces: Disinfect all common contact points such as door knobs, countertops, equipment controls, railings, handles, barbells, etc throughout the day.
- Electronics: Dust the television screens and other electronics weekly or as needed.
Train Employees
Your gym is only as clean as you make it. Investing in training will encourage your personnel to follow a cleaning process that meets industry standards. A cleaning and maintenance checklist will make responsibility delegation simple and precise.
Don’t underestimate the importance of demonstrating concern for your client’s health and satisfaction. A clean, hygienic, well-maintained gym will encourage members to return and recommend it to friends.
