It’s no secret that fitness facilities are breeding grounds for bacteria.
With so many people sweating and lifting weights, it’s inevitable that sickness will spread faster than the flu in a kindergarten classroom during wintertime.
The only way to stop this is by hiring a professional disinfection and sanitation service to come into your facility on a regular basis.
To prevent any disasters from happening, here are some of the other steps you may take:
Choose The Right Disinfectant
The first step in any professional disinfection should be to select a suitable cleaning agent.
There are many different types of sanitizers and disinfectants on the market, but you must choose one with an EPA-registered label because this shows it has been tested for efficacy against specific bacteria or fungi.
Some other factors to take into consideration when choosing a product include pH level, boiling point, fragrance, availability in various containers (spray bottles), ease of use, and price.
Generally, fitness facilities use a quaternary ammonium compound (QUAT) for disinfection.
But, be sure to read the label and follow the use instructions carefully because these chemicals can irritate when they come into contact with skin or eyes.
Another disinfectant you may use is hydrogen peroxide because it is highly effective against bacteria and viruses.
It’s a safe alternative to quaternary ammonium compounds, but it can be harmful if swallowed in concentrated form or when mixed with some other household chemicals that contain bleach (such as window cleaner).
Ensure you protect your eyes by wearing goggles and use gloves while handling these cleaners.
Set a Proper Schedule For Disinfecting
Your gym must always be clean and sanitized.
For this to happen, you must set some time to perform deep disinfecting. You have to temporarily close the facility to get rid of all germs by thoroughly cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting it.
This should be done at least once a month or after any instances of illness are reported to prevent germs from spreading.
The best time to do this is when your gym isn’t open so that you can focus on deep-cleaning without distractions such as people coming into the building during business hours or children entering for their gymnastics classes.
If there’s an emergency involving sickness, report it immediately so that someone will come out right away with proper equipment to take care of the situation before anyone else gets infected.
In addition, schedule regular inspections by maintenance staff every day who will look for things like broken equipment, leaky pipes, or any other issues that need to be addressed.
To really prepare your fitness facility for the wintertime when illnesses spread more easily, you should also close off certain areas such as locker rooms and showers during this time of year while they’re being disinfected.
Disinfect Gym Equipments
Along with deep-cleaning, it’s also important to disinfect any equipment and fitness machines that may have been contaminated.
To do this, you can either use a commercial cleaner or hydrogen peroxide as a sanitizer according to the recommendations on the label for best results.
For heavy stains, apply cleaners gently so they don’t leave behind any residue before wiping down each machine one by one.
This is especially important when someone has had an episode of vomiting or diarrhea because these illnesses are highly contagious and will spread quickly through contact with surfaces such as gym floors and weight benches.
Consider installing nonporous matting in your facility if there’s excessive moisture around areas like free weights, aerobic rooms, or shower stalls where people take off their clothes.
This will help prevent the spread of bacteria and other microorganisms because they can survive for long periods on surfaces like these due to a lack of air circulation.
Deeply Disinfect Common Areas
It’s also important to deep-clean high-traffic areas such as around the locker rooms, showers, and saunas.
For these types of surfaces, you can use a commercial cleaner or hydrogen peroxide according to instructions on the label for best results.
You should avoid using bleach in any form because this is harmful if it comes into contact with skin or eyes – especially when mixed with other household chemicals like window cleaner which may include ammonia (this combination produces toxic fumes).
If someone has vomited or had diarrhea near your equipment area, don’t forget to disinfect this region thoroughly before allowing anyone else inside after cleaning up all traces of vomit and feces by scrubbing down floors and walls until they are completely clean.
In Conclusion
We hope that you found this post interesting and informative.
Whether you’re a fitness professional, facility owner, or an avid exerciser looking to take steps towards better health and wellness, we believe that these tips will come in handy for all types of people who are interested in maintaining the cleanliness of their workout space.
Remember these quick points next time your gym is due for some TLC!
Jamie Wong has years of experience in the field of disinfection services. As a result, he is able to provide her clients with excellent service and advice on disinfection and sanitizing.