Gym equipment cleaning is a hugely important part of the daily routine at fitness and leisure centres across the UK. Considering the amount of customers who touch your gym equipment every day, it’s not surprising that surfaces harbour dirt and germs. In fact, a recent study found that treadmills can harbour 74 times more bacteria than a typical public bathroom tap.
For this reason, gym cleaning is extremely important both for aesthetic purposes and to keep your customers satisfied and healthy. Afterall, we go to the gym to stay fit and well, not to catch illnesses like the common cold. So how can you keep your gym clean and hygienic? Simply follow our easy guide to gym equipment cleaning.
Why a Gym Cleaner is Important
Thorough gym cleaning creates an attractive space for people to work out. Due to the nature of the environment, sweat and dirt can easily build up on gym equipment. It is imperative that you introduce a regular cleaning routine to your gym to keep on top of this and ensure your gym remains pristine.
What’s more, as gym equipment is being handled by a multitude of different people, they can easily harbour germs. In fact, gyms can be breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and fungi. So keeping your gym equipment clean is an easy way to ensure your customers stay happy and keep visiting.
Gym Cleaning: Making a Start
Gym cleaning might feel like a daunting task considering the amount of people who walk into the gym every day. A recent survey found that 14% of people in the UK are currently members of a gym which amounts to approximately ten million people. Fortunately, keeping on top of gym equipment cleaning is easier than ever before.
By pairing a daily routine with quality gym cleaning products, life as a gym cleaner will be a breeze. To clean gym equipment, all you need is a few everyday essential cleaning products that are easily sourced from Galleon Supplies. These include:
- Microfibre cloth
- Antivirus sprays
- Surface disinfectant wipes
- Hand sanitizer
Running Machines or Treadmills
Running machines, also known as treadmills, are a classic piece of gym equipment used by beginners and seasoned gym-goers alike. Because of this, it’s important to keep these machines hygienic and running smoothly.
The buttons on the machine can easily build up with dirt and germs as users need to touch them to set the speed of the treadmill. What’s more, because of the nature of cardio, users work up a sweat which is easily transferred onto the device.
How to Clean Your Running Machine or Treadmill
Running machines are large electronic machines so be safe and switch off or unplug before you begin cleaning. Waiting until the end of the day will make this an easier task. Furthermore, because it uses electricity, you do not want to be introducing large amounts of liquid while cleaning the machine.
The best way to clean them is to spray some disinfectant onto a microfibre cloth rather than directly onto the device. Alternately, to make life even easier, use surface disinfectant wipes which are disposable so even more hygienic. Make sure that you wipe all the buttons as well as the handles and other surfaces that any user may touch. With a surface wipe, you can easily get into any cracks or crevices that sweat and germs may linger.
Barbells and Dumbbells
Barbells and dumbbells are another high touch zone in a gym. Weight lifters need to adjust the amount of weights to suit their individual needs and so pick these up regularly.
Cleaning barbells and dumbbells should be about not only removing any surface layer of dirt or sweat, but sanitising them as well. It’s important that gym cleaners remember to wipe the weights themselves down too, not just the bar or handles.
How to Clean Dumbbells and Barbells
Use a good antivirus spray with microfibre cloth or paper towel. Using a product such as an antiviral disinfectant can kill a range of viruses in under 5 minutes. The safe formula is suitable for use on most non-porous surfaces and leaves surfaces safe for human contact soon after when used as directed.
An antiviral disinfectant is highly effective as it eliminates 99.9% of germs and bacteria, to reduce the spread of viruses. The solution is both non-bleach and non-tainting, so it is safe for usage on gym equipment and even in environments where food and drink is present.
Rowing machines, multigyms and assisted machines
Keeping gym equipment clean from dust, dirt and grime ensures they are fit for purpose. A quick wipe down of surfaces like benches to remove dust or sweat is an effective way to keep machines pristine and functional. Simply use a microfibre cloth and a mild but effective antibacterial spray.
Machines like rowing machines, multigyms and assisted machines have handles that are gripped by customers when using the equipment. These are the type of surfaces that might be easy to overlook but can be common breeding grounds for germs and as such require regular hygienic wiping.
Other gym equipment cleaning you may overlook
Yoga mats or exercise mats are not just touched by hands and feet, but at times the whole body. This makes them prone to a layer of sweat and dirt which ideally needs cleaning after every workout. At a minimum, spray and allow to air at the end of the day before packing away.
Water fountains might not sound like gym equipment but they are an important area of any gym. It is a place for gym users to hydrate and recover well, and can also be a place to socialise. Keeping gym surfaces like the tap or water fountain clean is vital for obvious hygiene reasons.
Foam Rollers like exercise mats can be easily overlooked by a gym cleaner. Foam rolling is a great exercise or for self-muscle release and tissue massage. It is a popular tool at the gym used to roll areas such as the legs and back. It can become dirty over time but a quick wipe and spray is all it needs.
How to Clean a Gym with Galleon Supplies
The best way to clean gym equipment is to keep on top of the daily build up by wiping down gym equipment regularly. Post COVID-19, some gyms have introduced a cleaning policy to members after each use or supply hand sanitiser for use before/after using gym equipment. When used in tandem, these are simple methods of ensuring your gym equipment remains clean and germ free.
Get all of the supplies you’ll need for gym equipment cleaning and more from Galleon Supplies today.
