A gym is a multi-purpose area, suitable for not only athletic activities but school and community events. With heavy foot traffic, dirt and debris can build up on the gym floor and spills can stain it. Maintain the gym floor’s functionality and extend its lifespan by keeping it clean.
How does a gym serve as a multi-purpose area?
Gym floors can be found in a multitude of facilities. Elementary schools, high schools, and universities are only a fraction of the number of places gym floors are installed. They are also found in recreational and fitness centers of all sizes as well as stadiums.
These facilities frequently use a gym for gym class, sports competitions, and athletic practice. Gyms are large, open spaces that can be fitted with bleachers or chairs to facilitate large community events and ceremonies. As a result of heavy use, gym floors collect high levels of dirt and debris.
What is the importance of cleaning a gym floor?
A gym is a major investment. So it’s reasonable to want to get the most use out of it. Maintaining the gym floor prevents the surface from becoming scuffed, nicked, and marked up with scratches. Dirt accumulations on the gym floor can dull the surface, too.
The safety of the gym floor is equally important. When dust, dirt, and debris collect on the floor, athletes and visitors can slip and twist an ankle. A number of other injuries can occur when the gym floor is left unmaintained. A clean gym floor is a safe space.
How is a gym floor kept clean?
Tip 1: Prevent Dirt
Prevent dirt damage by placing an entry mat at the gym’s entrance. The mat should be large enough to allow shoes to contact the mat two times, three being ideal. The majority of dirt particles can be captured at the entrance with a walk-off entry mat. Keep shoe scrapers within reach.
Tip 2: Restrict Street Shoes
Another strategy to prevent dirt is to restrict street shoes on the gym floor. Everyday footwear can track in abrasive dirt that scratches, scuffs, or otherwise damages the floor. Permit only gym shoes on the gym floor and prevent unnecessary dirt and damage.
Tip 3: Regulate Food and Drink
Similar to restricting street shoes, regulate food and drink in the gym. During events, guests might bring in refreshments that can spill and stain the floor. Limit potential accidents and keep the wooden floor clean by regulating what comes into the gym.
Tip 4: Dust Regularly
Minimize hazardous dust particles by dry mopping daily. Dust easily scratches a gym floor’s finish. When dry dusting, keep an eye out for stains, scuffs and gum that need to be cleaned immediately. Furthermore, a gym floor that is utilized heavily should be swept multiple times daily.
Tip 5: Wet Mop Weekly
Increase the performance of wood gym floors by wet mopping weekly. Dampen the mophead, dip it into a cleaning solution, and mop the floor along the grain lines. Avoid leaving standing water or using too much cleaner. Excess water can warp, discolor, or cause the wooden gym floor to swell.
Tip 6: Run an Automatic Scrubber
Automatic scrubbers can be used to clean the gym floor if the facility meets certain criteria. For instance, the weight of the scrubber should not exceed the floor weight limit. Some ride-on scrubbers fail to meet this criterion and dent the gym floor.
Walk-behind scrubbers are ideal for use on a gym floor due to their lighter weight. An automatic scrubber is not recommended on gym floors that are brand-new or newly sanded. Gym floors need one to three years of recoating to build up a strong finish that can withstand a scrubber.
Tip 7: Use the Right Cleaner
Different cleaning solutions produce different results. It’s vital to use cleaners that are designed for gym floors. Cleaning with a residential cleaner can leave the gym floor extra-slippery. Similarly, scented solutions leave a residue, causing a slippery floor that is hazardous to athletes and guests.
Opt for a concentrated pH formula that will not damage the gym floor’s finish. Some cleaners promise a protective sheen that helps preserve, protect, and improve traction. Or use a water-based formula to scrub the wooden gym floor and remove dust and dirt without dulling the floor’s surface.
How often should a gym floor be cleaned?
Keeping a gym floor clean requires regular maintenance. Aside from dusting daily, give the floor a thorough clean by scrubbing it weekly with an automatic scrubber. Deep clean on a monthly basis. Abrasion and refinishing annually helps the gym floor remain in peak condition.
By maintaining the gym floor on a regular basis, facility managers spend less on avoidable repairs. Adhering to a routine cleaning schedule prevents bacteria and foul odors from contaminating the floor. Tripping hazards are removed, and premature material degradation is prevented.
A clean gym floor is a daily priority. When you aim to deliver the best experience to your athletes and visitors, rely on the most trusted professional fitness center cleaning service: Stratus Building Solutions. We offer commercial cleaning services to keep your fitness center hygienic and safe.
Our cleaning experts provide comprehensive services to keep every aspect of your fitness facility clean. We sanitize gym equipment using an electrostatic disinfection process. Glasses and mirrors are cleaned. Crews also dust fixtures, like lights and ceiling fans, to remove accumulated particles.
High-touch points, such as doorknobs and gym equipment, are given extra attention by our sanitization experts. We also offer professional floor cleaning. No area of your gym is left uncleaned—we clean locker rooms, showers, steam rooms, restrooms, and equipment rooms with green cleaning products.
Stratus is an environmentally conscious cleaning service that uses Green Seal certified cleaners. When the cleanliness and safety of your gym matters, choose us for one-time or recurring cleaning services. We provide top-notch cleaning to facilities in West Palm Beach, Florida, and nearby areas.