The pandemic has not been kind to our waistlines. A recent poll found nearly half of women and 22 percent of men said they gained weight during the shutdown. Some of that weight gain was blamed on snacking, and others said it was because their gym was forced to close due to statewide restrictions. Either way, many people are excited to get back to the gym, and now that reopening plans are underway, gym owners are taking precautions to avoid another shutdown.

While gym owners are following social distancing guidelines, asking clients to wear a mask, and utilizing reservations to avoid problems with over-capacity, disinfecting and sanitizing your fitness facility is more important than ever during the pandemic. Follow these six crucial steps to make sure your facility is safe and clean.

Create a Handwashing Policy

The first step to having a clean fitness facility is to reduce the number of germs and viruses that people bring into the building. You’re probably already conducting health checks when staff and clients enter your facility, including taking their temperature, asking them a few questions about how they’re feeling, and whether they’ve been exposed to someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19. Another step you can take is to ask clients and staff to wash their hands before beginning their shift or workout. This will go a long way to keep your gym clean and safe.

From the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have been stressing that one of the simplest ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and other illnesses, is to wash our hands frequently. Keep your facility stocked with soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer to promote healthy hand hygiene. Consider posting signs to remind people that washing their hands for a full 20 seconds with soap and water is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends as the best handwashing policy.

Disinfect Equipment and Weights

People come to your gym to work up a sweat, so the machines and weights everyone is using will be the focus when you clean and disinfect your fitness facility. You probably don’t have enough staff to clean each piece of equipment after every use. Consider placing containers of wellness wipes around your facility with signs politely asking patrons to wipe down the equipment when they’ve finished using it.

At the end of each day, staff should also disinfect all equipment so it’s ready to go when you reopen the next day. A commercial cleaning company that focuses on gym cleaning services, such as Enviro-Master Services, can help you stay on top of cleaning and disinfecting with its electrostatic spraying services — the Virus Vaporizer™. This service uses an EPA registered, hospital-grade disinfectant that kills coronavirus and other dangerous disease-causing pathogens.

A recent study shows the Virus Vaporizer service caused an immediate reduction in the total number of bacteria and kept the levels of bacteria low for five whole days. It’s also safe enough to use anywhere in your business, including locker rooms and restrooms.

Scrub Locker Rooms and Restrooms

Showers, toilets, sinks, and floors can all become breeding grounds for germs and viruses. The final step in our Restroom & Hygiene Service is using the Virus Vaporizer to coat your fixtures with disinfectant to provide weeklong residual protection for your business. An important part of this service means that a member of your staff only needs to wipe down fixtures with a damp towel at the end of each day to keep your restrooms and locker rooms looking good.

If you or your staff will be handling restroom cleaning and disinfecting, create a restroom cleaning checklist to make sure they’re tackling all areas where germs and bacteria can hide. The list should include disinfecting toilets, sinks, counters, mirrors, showers, and mopping floors. Don’t forget to refill soap, paper towels, toilet paper dispensers, and take out the trash.

Don’t Forget Other High-Touch Surfaces

Now that you’ve cleaned and disinfected the largest areas of your gym facility, it’s time to tackle other commonly touched areas where viruses and bacteria can thrive. We’re talking about the reception desk or check-in counter, doorknobs, light switches, drinking fountains, handrails, gym lockers, and more.

Every business is unique, so you’re the best person to identify high-touch surfaces in your facility. These areas should be wiped down during the day and at the end of the night once all clients have left the building.

Doing the Laundry

If your facility provides small gym towels for clients to use during their workout, you’ll want to take special care to wash the towels to avoid spreading illnesses. Start by placing clearly marked dirty laundry bins around your facility to collect used towels.

When it’s time to wash the laundry, wear disposable gloves when handling dirty towels. Follow CDC laundry guidelines and wash towels on the warmest appropriate water setting and dry completely. Don’t leave towels in the washer overnight. Even though wet towels are clean, bacteria and mold can grow and give the fabric a nasty smell. And don’t forget to clean and disinfect the dirty towel bin before using it to carry clean towels.

Call in the Professionals

Feel confident that you’re giving coronavirus the knockout punch by partnering with the professionals at Enviro-Master. We’re experienced at providing gym cleaning services to protect your staff, customers, and business. Contact us today to learn more about our services!