Introduction
The gym is supposed to be a place where we go to improve our health. However, gyms are also breeding grounds for germs that can make us sick. Every day, gym-goers share equipment and high-touch surfaces, spreading germs in the process. It's estimated that the average gym surface contains over 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat!
This is concerning because gym germs can lead to bacterial infections, flu, colds, skin infections, and more. Fortunately, there is a powerful solution to this problem - professional cleaning services.
Hiring a professional cleaning crew to regularly disinfect your gym can reduce germs by up to 99%. This keeps members healthier and makes the gym a more welcoming place. In this article, we’ll explore how professional cleaners can practically eliminate gym germs.
How Germs Spread at Gyms
Gyms provide the perfect environment for germs to spread rapidly. With many people sharing equipment and locker rooms in a confined space, illnesses have ample opportunity to hop from person to person.
One of the main ways germs spread at gyms is through touch surfaces. Equipment like weights, machines, and cardio equipment are touched by multiple people throughout the day. If someone is sick, they can easily leave germs behind on any surface they touch. These germs can survive for hours or even days, lingering for the next person to come in contact.
Other high-touch areas like lockers, benches, mats, and showers are also prime locations for germs to spread. People may unknowingly touch contaminated areas and then touch their face, causing infection. Locker rooms and showers tend to be damp environments too, allowing certain viruses and bacteria to thrive.
Sharing equipment is another major gym germ culprit. Even if people wipe down equipment after using it, which many do not, germs still spread through contact. Any remaining sweat or moisture left behind makes transmission even more likely. This is why sharing things like yoga mats, resistance bands, etc. can be risky.
Finally, breathing heavily and sweating in shared airspace allows germs to move through the air from person to person. Illnesses like colds, flu, and COVID-19 spread most efficiently through respiratory droplets, which are expelled when people breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze. Vigorous exercise causes more of these droplets to be released and circulated.
Most Germ-Ridden Areas
Gyms contain several areas that tend to harbour more germs than others. Understanding the most germ-ridden spots can help you take precautions.
Equipment and Weights
Free weights, machines, and other gym equipment are touched by multiple people every day. Germs easily spread from person to person through surface contact. Dumbbells, barbells, weight benches, and cardio machines often have the most germs.
Locker Rooms
Locker rooms contain warm, moist environments that bacteria love. Showers, sinks, toilets, and lockers are prime areas to pick up germs. Changing rooms also involve people walking barefoot, which can lead to fungi and wart transmission through surface contact.
Pools and Hot Tubs
The warm, wet environment of pools and hot tubs makes them a hotbed for germs. The chlorine helps kill some bacteria but doesn't eliminate all risks. Diseases like swimmer's ear are common in pools.
Yoga Mats
Shared yoga mats have prolonged contact with sweaty hands and feet. They can easily spread germs between classes. Bringing your own mat is the best way to avoid picking up germs during yoga.
Common Illnesses
Gyms are breeding grounds for illnesses like colds, flu, staph infections, and pink eye. The close quarters and shared equipment mean germs spread easily from one person to another.
Colds and Flu
Colds and flu are among the most common illnesses contracted at gyms. The influenza virus spreads quickly through tiny droplets when people cough, sneeze, or touch surfaces. Working out leads people to breathe heavier and touch their faces more often, increasing exposure.
Staph Infections
Staph bacteria live on human skin and can enter through cuts or abrasions. At the gym, staph spreads through shared equipment and can lead to infections like impetigo, cellulitis, and MRSA. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and pus-filled sores.
Conjunctivitis
Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an infection of the eye's mucous membranes. The culprit is often adenovirus, which spreads through touching contaminated surfaces. At the gym, it transfers via exercise machines, mats, towels, and more. Symptoms include redness, swelling, discharge, and itchy eyes.
Professional Cleaning Benefits
Professional cleaning services offer significant benefits for reducing germs in gyms up to 99%. They have the tools, products, and processes to deeply clean a gym and dramatically cut down on bacteria, viruses, and other germs that can make people sick.
One major benefit is daily disinfecting using commercial grade disinfectant products. Professional cleaning crews will thoroughly wipe down every surface in the gym using medical-grade disinfectants proven to kill illness-causing germs. This goes far beyond the typical cleaning that gym staff have time for.
Another benefit is the attention to detail professional cleaners give to all areas. They meticulously clean every piece of equipment, mat, bench, locker room surface, and more. No area is overlooked, which prevents germs from accumulating in forgotten spots.
Professional cleaning also relies on trained and accountable staff. Cleaners are taught the most effective methods and held to high standards. They understand the science of targeting germs and preventing their spread. Gym members can feel confident that a third-party cleaning service will thoroughly sanitise the facility.
By leveraging daily disinfecting, detail-oriented cleaning, and trained staff, professional cleaning services offer the best defence against the spread of germs in gyms. Their specialised processes can reduce contamination by up to 99% for a healthier exercise environment.
How Professional Cleaning Services Reduce Germs by 99%
Professional cleaning services use hospital-grade disinfectants and sanitizers that kill up to 99% of bacteria, viruses, and other germs. This is far more effective than the regular cleaning products used by gym staff.
The cleaners thoroughly disinfect all high-touch areas like exercise machines, weights, lockers, showers, doors, water fountains, and more. Studies show that high-touch surfaces harbour the most germs since many people are constantly touching them throughout the day.
Professional cleaners are also far more thorough than regular gym staff cleaners. They scrub, wipe down, and disinfect every nook and cranny, whereas staff may only do a quick surface wipe. Cleaners spend hours deep cleaning the gym to eliminate germs, compared to the limited time staff have between other tasks. They are also the best local cleaners available in Melbourne.
The increased frequency of professional cleanings also reduces germs more effectively. While staff may only clean high-touch areas 1-2 times a day, professional teams can provide daily or multiple cleanings to stay ahead of germ buildup. This consistent disinfection keeps germ levels minimised at all times.
By leveraging industrial-strength disinfectants, comprehensive cleaning of high-touch areas, and greater frequency, professional cleaners reduce gym germs by up to 99%. This creates a cleaner, healthier environment for members.
Added Protection
Professional cleaning services provide added protection against germs for gym members in several ways:
- Disinfectant Wipes. Many professional cleaners will place disinfectant wipes throughout the gym for members to wipe down equipment before and after use. This allows members to take cleaning into their own hands and reduce germ spread via shared equipment. Wipes kill 99.9% of bacteria and are more effective than spray bottles.
- Hand Sanitizer Stations. Hand sanitizer stations located throughout the gym remind members to sanitise their hands regularly. Frequent hand sanitising protects against germs that spread through skin contact. Look for sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content.
- Signage. Signs promote cleanliness by reminding members of proper gym etiquette. Posters near equipment can prompt users to wipe down machines after use. Signs in bathrooms can instruct proper hand washing technique. Simple visual cues keep cleanliness top of mind.
Professional cleaning services take a comprehensive approach to reducing germs through both thorough cleaning and added protections like wipes, sanitizers and signage. This multilayered approach provides gym members significant protection against illness-causing germs.
Improved Gym Experience
Professional cleaning services provide numerous benefits that lead to an improved experience for gym members. With rigorous and regular disinfecting protocols in place, members can work out with confidence knowing the equipment and facilities are consistently clean.
- Cleaner equipment and facilities. All equipment, including weights, cardio machines, mats, etc. are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis. Locker rooms, showers, pools, and common areas are also properly sanitised. This reduces the spread of germs and ensures everything is clean for each member every day.
- Less downtime for repairs. Proper cleaning helps equipment last longer and reduces breakdowns or malfunctions. Fewer repairs means machines are available for use instead of waiting on maintenance.
- Peace of mind for members. When members know the gym invests in professional cleaning, it provides peace of mind that their health is protected. They don't have to worry about exposure to germs or becoming sick after a workout. This leads to a better experience and more confidence in the gym.
Find the Right Service
When searching for a professional gym cleaning service, it's important to vet their qualifications and processes. Make sure they have expertise in biohazard cleaning and disinfection specifically for gyms and fitness centres. You want to look for these key factors:
Proper Disinfectants
The cleaning crew should use EPA-registered disinfectants that are proven effective against viruses, bacteria, and other germs commonly spread in gyms. Avoid any companies that use standard household cleaners, as those won't fully sanitise exercise equipment and surfaces.
Biohazard Cleaning Certification
Look for organisations like the Clean Trust that certify cleaning professionals in proper biohazard remediation. This ensures they follow established protocols to thoroughly clean and disinfect. Untrained staff may miss key areas or steps.
Rates and Contracts
Compare rates between a few professional gym cleaning companies. Make sure to understand exactly what's included. Some may charge extra fees for certain services or supplies. Also look at what contract terms they require - some companies lock gyms into long-term agreements. Ideally, find a reasonably priced service willing to work month-to-month.
Vetting professional gym cleaning services thoroughly gives you peace of mind knowing your facility will maintain a 99% germ-free environment for members. Taking these key factors into account helps identify the right disinfection solution for your gym.
Conclusion
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your gym is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness-causing germs. By hiring professional cleaners, you can reduce bacteria by up to 99%. Their specialised tools, disinfectants, and techniques allow them to thoroughly clean even the most high-touch areas.
Professional cleaners have experience dealing with the unique cleaning challenges posed by gyms. They know how to tackle equipment, floors, lockers, and more to remove germs before they can be passed between members. Their work helps create a healthier, more sanitary gym environment.
If you want to protect your gym members and reduce the risk of outbreaks, partner with professional cleaners. Reach out to local companies that specialise in gym and fitness centre cleaning. They can develop customised plans to target germs and keep your equipment sparkling clean. With their help, you can have a 99% cleaner gym.
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