Sanitation: How to Keep Your Clients Happy & Healthy

Gyms are filthy. There are germs everywhere, and in most cases, nothing is done about it. In fact, according to a survey of 1,000 gym-goers, sanitary practices were the respondents’ biggest pet peeve. This study makes sense considering it has been discovered that each piece of gym equipment has more than 1 million germs per square inch and over 40% of gym-goers admit to never wiping down equipment after using them because there is no sanitation readily available.

Sanitation needs to be taken seriously if you want a strong fitness asset. On a 2022 list of property amenities, providing a fitness amenity is at the top of the list of must-haves. With your fitness amenity being your most sought-after property feature, and how many germs are spread in a fitness center, it should be your top priority to keep your fitness center clean and sanitary.

Research the Differences

Let’s start by understanding the differences in cleaning products.

-Cleaning (with soap and water) can remove impurities, germs and dirt. The CDC recommends cleaning surfaces before disinfecting.

-Sanitization (with appropriate products) reduces bacteria specifically identified on product packaging.

-Disinfecting (with appropriate products) is the process of destroying pathogenic microorganisms and removing most organisms present on a surface.

-Sterilization (which is typically not necessary for your fitness facility or equipment) is the process that eliminates all forms of life (such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi).

Consider how to clean the various surfaces within your facility. For hard and non-porous materials like glass, metal, or plastic, clean the surfaces prior to disinfecting. For soft and porous materials in your space (like carpeting, rugs, upholstered chairs, etc.), you may want to remove them entirely.

Create a Plan

You should prioritize creating a cleaning plan or schedule to ensure the safety of your fitness center. First make a list of every handle, piece of equipment, and surface that will need to be cleaned. Take note of how often things are touched. The more a light switch is touched, the more times it needs to be sanitized throughout the day.

Next create a schedule for how often staff clean the amenity. Whether it be a full clean or a wipe down of the most used features every hour, it is important to create a routine to follow. Bathrooms in restaurants are fully cleaned every hour, a fitness center with sweat and germs piling up needs to be cleaned consistently.

Make sure you have cleaning supplies readily available for your clients to use as well. Studies show that if sanitation products are available and in line of sight, more people will use them to wipe down equipment. Add signs reminding users to wipe down the equipment after each use and wash their hands regularly. Supplies you want readily available to your clients include wipes, hand sanitizer, and soap by all sinks.

Train Your Staff

It is extremely important your entire staff knows the procedure to clean correctly and how to follow the cleaning procedures you set for them. Walk them through the cleaning protocols. Explain to your staff how you are keeping their safety in mind as well, by reminding them to wash their hands before and after and providing cleaning gloves.

While walking your staff through the new cleaning procedures, make mention of how long it takes you to do each task. Cleaning should be completed in a timely manner, while still disinfecting all equipment, surfaces, and handles.

Walk your staff through how to restock wipe and sanitation dispensers. They should be checking the dispensers every time they clean the space.

With a new action plan in place, your clients will notice a difference and assist in keeping the space clean. By doing this you are not only keeping your guests safe, but also showing them you care about their wants and needs. Taking care of your top property asset will help your community gain more clients and in turn a higher ROI. Show your clients your best!