Cleanliness is essential for running a successful gym. Considering the high foot traffic and humidity, the environment can often be a breeding ground for germs if not correctly and regularly cleaned. The lack of routine cleaning can negatively impact the facility. Regular patrons could be deterred from returning to the facility, or encouraged to cancel their membership should they face the effects of a dirty gym.
In an early survey by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), 40% of gym club members are concerned about the spread of germs in gym facilities, and 53% expect their gym clubs to be germ-free. The study also revealed that 82% of members believe that unclean health clubs most likely have germs.
A more recent survey, “The 2021 National Fitness & Nutrition Consumer Study,” showed that 81% of fitness consumers named cleanliness their top priority when choosing a gym, ranking it higher than the quality of a gym’s equipment, which came second at 78%.
Keeping a gym clean and orderly is not just a matter of aesthetics. It must be a non-negotiable for owners and managers wanting to make a successful business.
Cleanliness Impacts Customer Satisfaction
It’s not an exaggeration to say that cleanliness in a gym positively affects customer satisfaction, profits, and longevity. Research studies and surveys show that cleanliness and customer retention are directly linked since many customers consider cleanliness and sanitation among their top service choices. Therefore, investing in gym deep cleaning services gives health clubs a huge advantage over those that do not.
Professional cleaning offers the following benefits for customers and the business:
- Enhanced Membership Experience: Clean surroundings create a pleasant environment that positively affects gym goers, encouraging them to interact more with other members and enjoy the available facilities. There is no hesitation to maximize their access to gym equipment because they’re not afraid of catching diseases from unclean facilities.
- High Membership Retention: Members will see the value of paying their monthly or annual membership fees through the gym’s commitment to keeping the facilities clean and well-maintained.
- Word-of-mouth Referrals: A gym’s members are its most effective marketing assets. When customers are happy with a service, it is the most natural thing in the world for them to talk about their positive experiences to people in their inner circles.
Customer satisfaction is the lifeblood of a subscription-based business, and meeting your clients’ expectations would ensure their loyalty.
Priority Areas To Clean in a Gym
Having established the importance of cleanliness among gym goers, here are the areas, surfaces, and items in a gym that should be kept clean at all times. Doing so will give customers a positive impression of the gym’s management and overall services.
- Exercise Equipment: All equipment should be cleaned and disinfected after use. As gym members sweat through their exercises, they leave traces of sweat on every piece of equipment or surface they touch or lean on. Bacteria and germs breed on damp, high-touch surfaces, so it’s vital to constantly wipe dry and disinfect free weights, barbells, treadmills, leg press machines, medicine balls, and all other exercise machines and equipment.
- Carpets and Rubber Mats: The exercise area is usually covered with rubber mats or carpets to protect the flooring from the weight and impact of the exercise machines and equipment. This means they also absorb a lot of sweat and humidity in the air. These mats should be vacuumed daily and washed regularly to prevent the gym from smelling dank and musty like unwashed laundry.
- Bathrooms and Locker Rooms: Clean bathrooms are a must in gyms. The changing areas should be dry, the showers free of mold and mildew, and the toilets should always smell fresh and clean. Everyone can acknowledge the difficulty of keeping bathrooms clean, so impressing customers with clean, well-stocked showers and changing rooms will speak volumes about the quality of the gym.
- Reception Area: First impressions matter, so the reception area should give walk-ins and first-timers a good impression from the get-go. The reception desk must be neat and organized, the counter wiped clean of fingerprints, and the floor spotless.
- Exercise Studios: If you have separate, enclosed studios for spin classes, aerobics, or group yoga, they need equal attention from the cleaning staff. Studios often have wood flooring, glass walls, and windows – surfaces that require frequent polishing and cleaning because they are notorious for collecting hand prints, condensation stains, and dust. There will also be yoga mats and blocks, which can stink if not cleaned regularly.
- Mirrors and Windows: Everyone in the gym looks at the mirrors to check their form and ensure they perform exercises correctly. It would send a wrong message about the management’s attitude towards cleanliness and hygiene if everyone sees foggy, dirty, stained mirrors that look like they haven’t been cleaned in days. The same goes for the glass windows, which people often face when using the treadmill.
- HVAC Vents: Air conditioners and heating vents need regular cleaning because it quickly becomes evident when dust accumulates in the ventilation system. Dust has a distinct smell; worse, people sensitive to allergens will know if the indoor air has lots of dust, pollen, and other particulates. They will show symptoms like sneezing, red eyes, itchiness, etc. It’s not a good look for a gym when registered members see regulars sneezing and coughing everywhere.
Keeping all of the above clean will be a huge undertaking for gym staff who already have other tasks to do. It’s one thing to sweep a tiled floor in a small reception area, but it’s another to operate a wet and dry vacuum, lift heavy equipment out of the way, and clean the bathrooms after business hours.
Paying for professional gym cleaning services in Charlotte, NC, costs money, but they are worth the price if you pick a reliable cleaning company.
Why Choose Professional Gym Cleaning Services?
Considering that professional gym cleaning services aren’t free, this is a fair question. Yes, gym staff can help clean the surroundings. However, cleaning will only be a second priority unless they are full-time custodians, as they have other tasks to fulfill.
Here are more reasons to consider professional gym deep cleaning services:
- Professionals Are Thorough: Seasoned cleaners are systematic and have a well-rehearsed cleaning routine, preventing them from overlooking surfaces or areas that need cleaning.
- Professionals Are Well-equipped: Cleaning companies use top-of-the-line cleaning equipment and products, like industrial wet and dry vacuum cleaners, that can cover a wider floor area in a shorter time than your average vacuum cleaner.
- It is Cost-effective: You won’t have to buy expensive cleaning machines, train staff how to use them, and pay for full-time cleaning staff. For a single affordable fee, you can have certified professionals who use industrial-grade cleaning equipment and disinfectants regularly cleaning your gym.
- More Time for Improving Customer Experience: Gym staff can focus on their primary duties, like assisting members with their exercises. They won’t have to interrupt their duties to sweep the floors, mop up spills, or wipe disinfectant on the equipment.
- It Promotes Health and Safety: One of the best reasons to pay for quality gym cleaning services in Charlotte, NC, is their health-related benefits. Their thorough cleaning and disinfection services prevent disease-causing germs and bacteria from spreading through the air or the exercise equipment that gets passed from one person to another. Customers can have peace of mind knowing they’re not at risk of catching the flu, cough, or cold virus when exercising at the gym.
Each one of these benefits enhances a customer’s experience. They help keep gym members happy, which is the key to earning their loyalty and ensuring they renew their memberships.
Trust Our Cleaning Expertise at JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting
Professional gym cleaning services in Charlotte, NC, benefit customers and businesses, especially in the hands of established cleaning and disinfecting professionals.
JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting is a renowned commercial cleaning company serving gyms and fitness centers nationwide. The company has ranked #1 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Commercial Cleaning Franchises for 14 consecutive years, providing top-notch cleaning services that satisfy the most demanding and discerning customers.
If you’re looking for a professional cleaning service in the Charlotte Region, we’re the ones to call. Contact us today.