How Dirty Is Gym Equipment?

4/2/2018 (Permalink)

STAY SAFE

Your local gym is one of the dirtiest places you'll visit today. Free weights are contaminated with up to 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and a treadmill holds 74 times more bacteria than the average washroom faucet, among other really nasty facts.

Think of this??

While the gym is the go-to place to improve your fitness, health and boost your self-esteem, it may be one of the grossest and dirtiest places you're ever going to visit. Truth be told, the griminess of a public washroom doesn't even compare to the filth you'd find in your average gym.

SERVPRO of Carson/West Carson- tested an athletic facility for contamination levels, and we found high levels of bacteria in the following places. 

The typical free weights contain up to 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. It's pretty shocking but, at the same time, when was the last time you saw someone washing down the barbells at your gym?

Exercise bikes aren't much better, containing 39 times more bacteria that a plastic reusable cafeteria tray. You would think treadmills are at least somewhat clean because they're supposed to be wiped after each use, but each machine averages 74 times more bacteria than a typical washroom faucet.

The really bad news? 52% of bacteria found on the average treadmil can cause skin infections, and even pneumonia and septicemia.

On top of all this, 70% of bacteria found on all gym equipment analyzed are potentially harmful to humans, and 31% of all bacteria found are largely resistant to antibiotics.

The free weights and exercise bikes that were sampled also turned up Bacillus, which is a potential cause of various conditions, including ear, eye, and respiratory infections.

There are a few ways to improve cleanliness at the gym.

In an athletic environment, its important to both clean surface areas where athletes are likely to make contact, yet ensure that the disinfectant used is safe for skin contact and does not leave an unpleasant or lingering odor.  

When we’re asked to clean facilities, three questions are normally asked:

1. How do you clean these areas without leaving a chemical odor or harming an athlete's skin?
2. How do you really know its clean?
3. When are you available and how fast can you do the work?

How do you clean these areas without leaving a chemical odor or harming an athlete's skin?

SERVPRO of Carson/West Carson has various options to help meet the needs of different teams and facilities.  A popular option is to use a Fragrance-Free Disinfectant with anti-microbial, mildewcide, bactericide, fungicide, and deodorant properties.  Once this cleaning agent is dried on the surface, it’s safe for an athlete to touch.  To further help eliminate odor, we can also install a temporary air scrubber with carbon and HEPA filtration for the duration of the cleaning process.  

Whatever the needs of your facility, rest assured that SERVPRO of Carson/West Carson will do whatever to help keep YOU and your customers happy.We work quick and efficient, and do whatever it takes to make our customers happy.