Reopening Your Gym? Here’s What You Need to Know About Keeping It Clean!
This article includes:
-
What fitness center owners need to know about disinfection
-
Your new 5-Step Disinfection plan
-
Additional resources to get your staff certified and ready to reopen safely
What Fitness Business Owners Need to Know About Disinfection
If you own a fitness facility and are preparing for reopening, you’re probably doing a lot of research to make sure you’re following recommended best practices so that your space is clean and safe for staff and members. In your research, you probably have seen the following terms: hygiene, cleansing, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing. Here’s what you need to know about them:
-
Hygiene – Hygiene is what you do to keep yourself and others healthy, like washing your hands or covering your mouth when you cough.
-
Cleaning – Cleaning removes dirt you can see, like when you sweep a floor or wash a plate.
-
Sanitizing – Sanitizing reduces the number of pathogens present on a clean surface, like when you wipe down equipment between members.
-
Disinfecting – Disinfecting eliminates most of the germs that lead to infection, like using an EPA-approved disinfectant to wipe down a clean surface or using an LED light disinfector on surfaces or equipment.
-
Sterilization - Sterilization kills all the microorganisms on a surface and is generally limited to medical settings, or with tools used in services where the skin might be broken. Sterilization is performed with pressure steamers or autoclaves.
The build-up of sweat, oils, and skin cells on equipment and surfaces makes proper disinfection important in gyms, yoga, pilates studios, other fitness facilities. Before the pandemic, many fitness centers relied on solutions made from vinegar or bleach dilutions to clean equipment and surfaces. These solutions are not as effective as EPA-registered disinfectants and can damage rubber or wood flooring, door handles, and equipment.
Disinfect Fitness Equipment Without Ruining It
It’s important to keep your fitness center sanitary, but disinfecting fitness equipment isn’t like sanitation in other commercial spaces. Let’s look at how to disinfect your equipment without ruining it.
Every commercial disinfectant has its own unique chemical combination. Active chemical agents range from eco-friendly citrus oils, to phenol or alcohol-based cleaners, which can be corrosive to use on fitness machine equipment. Likewise, some chemical agents can cause premature wear to equipment, cracking and drying rubberized fitness tools.
EPA Approved Disinfectants for Fitness Facilities
There are over 400 EPA-approved disinfectants that are effective in killing pathogens associated with COVID-19. Even though the products found on List N have not been proven to eliminate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the EPA still predicts these disinfectants will work because they:
-
Demonstrate efficacy (e.g. effectiveness) against a harder-to-kill virus; or
-
Demonstrate efficacy against another type of human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.
Here are the top disinfectants to use in fitness settings.
Zogics
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Concentrated Disinfectants
- Rubber Floor Disinfectant
- Soft Surface Disinfectant
- Glass Disinfectant
- Restroom Disinfectant
- Laundry Products
- PPE
Vapor Fresh®
- Natural Sports Cleaning Spray
- Disinfecting Gym Wipes
- Laundry Detergent Powder
- Foot, Shoe & Glove Powder
- Hand Sanitizer
Steri-Fab®
Steri-Fab® is formulated for industrial and institutional use and is suitable for use on surfaces that other products are not. This product may be used on furniture, lockers, cabinets, drawers, carpeting, and high-risk waiting areas.
- Steri-Fab® Concentrate
- Steri-Fab® Spray
Barbicide®
Traditionally used in the beauty industry, Barbicide® is equally effective for use on non-porous surfaces in fitness and athletic facilities.
- Barbicide® Concentrate
- Barbicide® Spray
- Barbicide® Cleaning Wipes
- Clippercide® lubrication, anti-rust disinfectant spray
- Ship-Shape® Laundry Detergent
- Ship-Shape® Cleansing Spray
Your 5-Step Fitness Center Disinfection Plan
Now that you’re up to speed on the EPA-approved disinfectants, it’s time to create a new sanitation plan. Here are the 5 steps to take to keep your space and equipment safe and sanitary!
Additional Resources
Now that you know the best EPA-approved disinfectants to use and you’ve got a new sanitation protocol, the next step is preparing staff for reopening. Below, we’ve linked to free and low-cost resources, guides, and certifications that will educate your staff and give members peace of mind when they return.
-
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Guide to Disinfecting Building Facilities
-
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Guide to Disinfecting Community Facilities
-
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Reopening Guidelines
-
World Health Organization (WHO) – Resources for COVID-19 Training and Certifications
-
International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) – Cleaning, Disinfecting, & Sanitizing Your Gym During COVID-19
-
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) – A Guide for Personal Training and Staying Healthy During COVID-19
-
Coalition for Registered Exercise Professionals (CREP) –Reopening Guide
-
ServSafe – Free COVID-19 Certification (for fitness centers with juice or smoothie bars)
-
OSHA Campus – Free COVID-19 Awareness Course (Includes 8 modules and Certificate of Completion)
-
Dermalogica Principles for Enhanced Service Safety– Safe Touch Certification Course
This article includes:
-
What fitness center owners need to know about disinfection
-
Your new 5-Step Disinfection plan
-
Additional resources to get your staff certified and ready to reopen safely
What Fitness Business Owners Need to Know About Disinfection
If you own a fitness facility and are preparing for reopening, you’re probably doing a lot of research to make sure you’re following recommended best practices so that your space is clean and safe for staff and members. In your research, you probably have seen the following terms: hygiene, cleansing, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing. Here’s what you need to know about them:
-
Hygiene – Hygiene is what you do to keep yourself and others healthy, like washing your hands or covering your mouth when you cough.
-
Cleaning – Cleaning removes dirt you can see, like when you sweep a floor or wash a plate.
-
Sanitizing – Sanitizing reduces the number of pathogens present on a clean surface, like when you wipe down equipment between members.
-
Disinfecting – Disinfecting eliminates most of the germs that lead to infection, like using an EPA-approved disinfectant to wipe down a clean surface or using an LED light disinfector on surfaces or equipment.
-
Sterilization - Sterilization kills all the microorganisms on a surface and is generally limited to medical settings, or with tools used in services where the skin might be broken. Sterilization is performed with pressure steamers or autoclaves.
The build-up of sweat, oils, and skin cells on equipment and surfaces makes proper disinfection important in gyms, yoga, pilates studios, other fitness facilities. Before the pandemic, many fitness centers relied on solutions made from vinegar or bleach dilutions to clean equipment and surfaces. These solutions are not as effective as EPA-registered disinfectants and can damage rubber or wood flooring, door handles, and equipment.
Disinfect Fitness Equipment Without Ruining It
It’s important to keep your fitness center sanitary, but disinfecting fitness equipment isn’t like sanitation in other commercial spaces. Let’s look at how to disinfect your equipment without ruining it.
Every commercial disinfectant has its own unique chemical combination. Active chemical agents range from eco-friendly citrus oils, to phenol or alcohol-based cleaners, which can be corrosive to use on fitness machine equipment. Likewise, some chemical agents can cause premature wear to equipment, cracking and drying rubberized fitness tools.
EPA Approved Disinfectants for Fitness Facilities
There are over 400 EPA-approved disinfectants that are effective in killing pathogens associated with COVID-19. Even though the products found on List N have not been proven to eliminate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the EPA still predicts these disinfectants will work because they:
-
Demonstrate efficacy (e.g. effectiveness) against a harder-to-kill virus; or
-
Demonstrate efficacy against another type of human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.
Here are the top disinfectants to use in fitness settings.
Zogics
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Concentrated Disinfectants
- Rubber Floor Disinfectant
- Soft Surface Disinfectant
- Glass Disinfectant
- Restroom Disinfectant
- Laundry Products
- PPE
Vapor Fresh®
- Natural Sports Cleaning Spray
- Disinfecting Gym Wipes
- Laundry Detergent Powder
- Foot, Shoe & Glove Powder
- Hand Sanitizer
Steri-Fab®
Steri-Fab® is formulated for industrial and institutional use and is suitable for use on surfaces that other products are not. This product may be used on furniture, lockers, cabinets, drawers, carpeting, and high-risk waiting areas.
- Steri-Fab® Concentrate
- Steri-Fab® Spray
Barbicide®
Traditionally used in the beauty industry, Barbicide® is equally effective for use on non-porous surfaces in fitness and athletic facilities.
- Barbicide® Concentrate
- Barbicide® Spray
- Barbicide® Cleaning Wipes
- Clippercide® lubrication, anti-rust disinfectant spray
- Ship-Shape® Laundry Detergent
- Ship-Shape® Cleansing Spray
Your 5-Step Fitness Center Disinfection Plan
Now that you’re up to speed on the EPA-approved disinfectants, it’s time to create a new sanitation plan. Here are the 5 steps to take to keep your space and equipment safe and sanitary!
Additional Resources
Now that you know the best EPA-approved disinfectants to use and you’ve got a new sanitation protocol, the next step is preparing staff for reopening. Below, we’ve linked to free and low-cost resources, guides, and certifications that will educate your staff and give members peace of mind when they return.
-
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Guide to Disinfecting Building Facilities
-
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Guide to Disinfecting Community Facilities
-
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Reopening Guidelines
-
World Health Organization (WHO) – Resources for COVID-19 Training and Certifications
-
International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) – Cleaning, Disinfecting, & Sanitizing Your Gym During COVID-19
-
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) – A Guide for Personal Training and Staying Healthy During COVID-19
-
Coalition for Registered Exercise Professionals (CREP) –Reopening Guide
-
ServSafe – Free COVID-19 Certification (for fitness centers with juice or smoothie bars)
-
OSHA Campus – Free COVID-19 Awareness Course (Includes 8 modules and Certificate of Completion)
-
Dermalogica Principles for Enhanced Service Safety– Safe Touch Certification Course
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