Keeping Your Fitness Facility Clean and Safe During COVID-19
With the onset of COVID-19 and the presence of other harmful germs (bacteria, viruses, fungus), it’s imperative that fitness facilities take proactive measures to protect the health of their staff, members, and guests. Typically, in a fitness center, health club or gym, surfaces & equipment get touched by many different individuals. Locker rooms, workout equipment, exercise mats, and restrooms can quickly become germ hot spots.
By ensuring that all surfaces are routinely cleaned and disinfected, your team, members, and guests can have peace of mind knowing that your facility is clean, hygienic, and virus-free. Make sure that you and your staff have a good understanding of what disinfecting products meet the EPA criteria and can be used against COVID-19. You also want to make sure that you know the differences between cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing as these terms are often used interchangeably and incorrectly:
- Cleaning (with soap and water) can remove impurities, germs, and dirt. The CDC recommends cleaning surfaces before disinfecting.
- Sanitizing (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.
- Sterilizing (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 fungus).
In order to kill germs and minimize the risk of COVID-19 surface transmission, disinfecting equipment, doorknobs, and other high-touch areas must be part of your routine cleaning and disinfecting program. For hard and non-porous materials like glass, metal, or plastic, clean the surfaces prior to disinfecting. For soft and porous materials such as carpeting, rugs, upholstered chairs, etc., you may want to remove them entirely or hire a professional cleaning service that utilizes electrostatic spray technology.
Electrostatic Spray Technology
At Cleanstart, we use a combination of hand wiping and the use of an electrostatic sprayer to apply a safe, EPA-certified disinfectant solution proven for use against COVID-19 and other viruses. Electrostatic spraying provides uniform coverage – plus, it’s safe for sensitive surfaces (including equipment and electronics).
The sprayer emits positively charged particles that “wrap around” surfaces in your facility (which are negatively charged) – reaching impossible corners, crevices, and other hard-to-reach places that are often missed during general cleaning. Electrostatic spray technology is highly effective and the touch-less application means zero cross-contamination.
“Dwell time” is the amount of time that a disinfectant must remain wet on the surface being treated in order for it to be effective. When the EPA approves a particular disinfectant, it goes through extensive testing to show that it can actually kill what it says it can kill on the label. Part of the testing involves how long the chemical must remain wet on a surface to be effective.
CDC Recommendations
Follow these CDC recommendations to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection in your facility:
- Optimize and increase your sanitation procedures. High-touch surfaces should be sanitized several times per day. Clean surfaces to remove dirt and particles before disinfecting using products labeled effective against viruses, as approved by the EPA.
- Increased air circulation reduces the risk of infection. Consider what can be done at your facility to improve airflow and filtration, including opening doors and windows and increasing the filtration standard of your ventilation systems.
- Encourage members to practice safety and disinfect surfaces. Educate members and staff on your safety policies, and post signage to remind them.
- Provide hand sanitizer (70% alcohol or higher) at the door, and sanitizing wipes for the equipment.
- Physical distancing is extremely important. Try to maintain a 6-foot distance away from others, to be safe.
- Cleaning of equipment should be done immediately after use to avoid virus transmission from these surfaces.
- Commonly used surfaces should be cleaned hourly or more frequently during high traffic times.
- A schedule of cleaning and sanitizing should be detailed and clearly communicated with those responsible for upholding these duties. – Ideally, a schedule should be posted requiring individuals to sign off when duties are completed.
Keep in mind that these guidelines will likely be your standard cleaning protocols going forward into the “new normal.”
Additional Guidance, References, and Resources:
- CDC – Hand Hygiene Recommendations
- CDC – Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
- Zogics Clean Guide – Cleaning Protocols and Resources for Fitness Centers
- CDC – COVID-19 Guidance for Small Business
- CREP – Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals, Reopening Guide
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Why Hire Cleanstart
We have been in the commercial cleaning business for over two decades and have been on the front lines fighting the spread of COVID-19 since the outbreak. (See Cleanstart featured in TIME Magazine Video).
Our cleaning technicians are thoroughly trained in the latest technologies, products, and procedures and follow proper guidelines established by the CDC, EPA, and OSHA. We use CDC approved and EPA-registered disinfectants with a broad-spectrum kill claim and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and full-face respirator masks.
You can count on Cleanstart for high-quality cleaning and disinfecting with every visit – no job is too big or too small. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee: If for whatever reason our 5-star quality cleaning standard is not met, we will make it right by correcting the issue within one business day.
Daily, weekly, monthly, and even one-time cleaning and disinfecting services, as well as day and night options, are available. You can be assured that our commercial cleaning and disinfecting services tick all the boxes:
✓ Over 25 years in the cleaning industry
✓ Professionally trained janitorial specialists
✓ Committed to the highest quality of clean
✓ Local, licensed, bonded & insured
✓ 24/7 cleaning options & support
✓ Customized cleaning solutions
✓ 100% satisfaction guarantee
✓ OSHA, HIPAA, EPA, CDC, AORN compliant
✓ BBB A+ rating
For more information about our high-quality commercial cleaning and disinfecting services for COVID-19, please give us a call at (253) 921-2593 or request a free estimate today. Let us know how we can help you during this unprecedented time.
Where we service in the PNW:
Auburn, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bonney Lake, Bremerton, Factoria, Fife, Gig Harbor, Kent, Lakewood, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, and Thurston County.
5013 Pacific Hwy E unit 16 Fife, WA 98424 • Phone: 253.921.2593 • Email: Caleb @ thecleanstart.com


