While managing a gym, you should focus more on its cleanliness. It is not just about ensuring fitness equipment hygiene. You must ensure that all areas and equipment of your gym are super-clean at all times. This is why every gym owner in Brisbane should follow a gym cleaning checklist. Then you can make sure that you are not overlooking any aspect of keeping your gym clean. From this article, we will share one such ultimate gym cleaning checklist that you can follow.
Cleaning the reception and lobby area
The reception and lobby area helps you offer a perfect first impression for both members and visitors. That’s why you need to keep these areas clean at all times. In other words, you need to make the reception and lobby inviting for anyone. Here are a few cleaning activities that can help you with it.
- Vacuum and mop your flooring. Learn some useful tips that can be helpful for comprehensive cleaning.
- Wipe down countertops, desks, and other surfaces as a part of your daily schedule.
- Clean and disinfect door handles and hand railings. Make sure that you focus more on high-touch areas.
- Empty the trash cans and replace liners.
- Spot clean the walls and windows when there is a need.
Depending on the amount of foot traffic that your gym receives, increase cleaning frequency. For example, if hundreds of people are accessing your gym lobby daily, you should clean it a few times a day.
Cleaning the fitness areas
When it comes to gym cleaning, your main focus should be the fitness areas. In fact, this would be the hardest area of your gym to keep clean as well. Here, fitness areas refer to the cardio room, weight room, and all other areas where your members work out. They require thorough cleaning and disinfection. Then you can maintain a safe and healthy environment. Here’s an essential checklist that you can follow for it.
- Wipe down and disinfect all exercise equipment. This includes treadmills, ellipticals, and weight machines as well. You can keep some sanitising wipes around the gym as well. Then your gym members will be able to clean them after using them.
- Clean and disinfect all the free weights, weight branches, and other strength training equipment.
- Vacuum and mop all floors.
- Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces. They include weight racks, handrails, and door handles.
- Spot clean the mirrors and windows.
- Empty the trash cans and replace liners.
- Pay special attention to cleaning sweat-prone surfaces as they can be germ hotspots in your gym. This is where you should focus more on exercise mat disinfection. Use appropriate disinfectant products for it.
Cleaning locker rooms and restrooms
Restroom and locker room sanitisation should be important gym staff responsibilities as well. Poor hygiene in these areas can lead to the rapid spread of germs. It can also trigger unpleasant odours. This is why you should pay attention to the following tasks in your gym cleaning checklist.
- Clean and disinfect the toilets, sinks, and countertops. They are harbouring grounds for bacteria and viruses. Ensure shower and toilet cleanliness at all times.
- Restock paper towels, toilet paper, and soap dispensers. You should also raise member awareness to keep the restrooms clean. Have some posters in your restrooms highlighting member hygiene practices for that.
- Sweep and mop all floors.
- Wipe down lockers, benches, and other similar surfaces.
- Clean and disinfect showers and shower curtains.
- Check for water damage or any leaks.
- Empty the trash cans and replace liners.
- Properly do towel and linen laundry to disinfect them.
Cleaning the yoga and Pilates studios
Yoga and Pilates studios in your gym have specialised equipment and surfaces. You will need to follow specific measures for cleaning them. That’s where you can include the tasks below in the gym cleaning checklist.
- Clean and disinfect all the yoga mats including storage areas.
- Wipe down and disinfect the Pilates reformers, chairs, and other equipment.
- Pay extra attention to gym floor mopping.
- Clean and disinfect all the high-touch surfaces. Maintain cleaning log documentation to ensure that you don’t miss out on anything.
Use appropriate cleaning supplies and procedures
When you are following this checklist, it is also important to use appropriate cleaning supplies. On top of that, you need to adhere to the right procedures for cleaning. Here are some useful tips that can help you with it.
- Use EPA-registered disinfectants approved for use against viruses, bacteria, and fungi
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper dilution and contact time
- Use microfiber cloths and mops for better cleaning and disinfection
- Colour-coded cleaning supplies can be helpful. For example, use red for restrooms, and yellow for fitness areas. This will help you to prevent cross-contamination
- Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks for cleaning staff
- Establish a cleaning schedule and assign specific tasks to staff members
Regular Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning
While regular cleaning should be performed daily or multiple times a day for high-traffic areas, it’s also important to schedule deep cleaning sessions periodically. Deep cleaning involves more thorough cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces, equipment, and hard-to-reach areas.
Consider hiring professional cleaning services for deep cleaning tasks. Or else, you can schedule dedicated deep cleaning days when the gym is closed or has limited operations. Deep cleaning can include tasks like:
- Deep cleaning and disinfecting all exercise equipment, including hard-to-reach areas
- Cleaning and disinfecting air vents, ceiling fans, and other hard-to-reach surfaces
- Shampooing and deep cleaning carpets and upholstered surfaces
- Stripping and waxing floors
- Cleaning and disinfecting storage areas and staff rooms
By following a comprehensive gym cleaning checklist and incorporating regular and deep cleaning practices, gyms can create a safe, healthy, and welcoming environment for their members. A clean and well-maintained facility not only promotes good hygiene. It also enhances the overall member experience and helps retain loyal customers.
Cleaning Schedule and Frequency
Establishing a comprehensive cleaning schedule is important to ensure that all areas of the gym are cleaned and sanitised regularly. Here are some recommendations for cleaning frequency:
Daily Cleaning Tasks:
- Wipe down and disinfect high-touch surfaces (e.g., door handles, equipment)
- Clean and disinfect restrooms, locker rooms, and shower areas
- Vacuum and mop floors in high-traffic areas
- Empty trash cans and replace liners
- Trash and waste disposal should happen every single day
Weekly Cleaning Tasks:
- Deep clean and disinfect exercise equipment
- Clean and disinfect yoga and Pilates studios, including mats and equipment
- Dust and clean ceiling fans, vents, and high surfaces
- Sweep and mop low-traffic areas
- Attend to water fountain maintenance
Monthly Cleaning Tasks:
- Deep clean carpets and upholstered surfaces
- Clean and disinfect storage areas and staff rooms
- Wipe down and clean walls, mirrors, and windows
- Check and replace air filters
Quarterly or Semi-Annual Cleaning Tasks:
- Deep clean and disinfect hard-to-reach areas
- Strip and wax floors
- Clean and disinfect HVAC systems and ductwork
- Hire professional cleaning services for specialised tasks (e.g., carpet cleaning, floor restoration)
It’s important to note that high-traffic areas and equipment may require more frequent cleaning throughout the day. Consider assigning staff members to regularly wipe down and disinfect equipment and surfaces during peak hours.
Final Words
By following this gym cleaning checklist, you can ensure that your gym is clean at all times. It will also help you to adhere to the health department regulations. While cleaning properly, you should ensure cleaning log documentation as well. Then you can ensure the complete cleanliness of your gym. Doing it properly will not just benefit your gym members, but your staff as well.
If you find it difficult to focus on these cleaning activities on your own, you may seek gym cleaning expert help. This is where Eco Cleaning Brisbane can help. With our expertise, you can get much-needed help with keeping your gym clean. Feel free to go ahead and contact us today.
