May 27, 2019 Leave a Comment
A lot of people want to get in shape and stay healthy. Sometimes keeping motivated can be difficult. For this reason, many people get memberships to commercial gyms, believing if they pay for a membership they will be more likely to keep with the program. While a membership is a great way to stay committed to a healthy exercise regimen, going to a public gym can present its own set of issues, especially if the gym isn't kept as clean as it should be kept. Gyms are a hotbed of germs and bacteria, and when they aren't properly maintained, it can be an unpleasant experience to exercise at one.
What Types of Germs and Bacteria are Found in Commercial Gyms?
It's pretty easy to imagine the number of germs you can find in a commercial gym. Countless people use the equipment on a daily basis, spreading sweat and other bodily fluids. Members put their hands on the same equipment, absorbing those germs. Fact is, if you thought too long about how dirty a gym gets on a regular day, even when it is cleaned on a regular basis, you might forget exercising in a commercial gym altogether. Here are some of the germs and bacteria lurking in a commercial gym:
Staph: Staphylococcus bacteria is one of the most common types of germs in commercial gyms. According to the CDC, about one-third of people carry some type of staph on their skin without showing signs of having it. Most types of staph infection are passed from contact with another person, not by touching surfaces.
Cold and Flu: Not as serious as many of the germs that can be spread in a gym, but getting a cold or flu can put a damper on your day. The cold and flu can be a threat no matter where you are, but with the number of people who pass through gyms in such close contact, working out regularly in a commercial gym could make you sick.
Athletes Foot: This is a particularly annoying type of fungus that can lead to dry, itching feet. It's easy to pick up, particularly in gym restrooms and showers. Being barefoot can lead to people getting athlete's foot.
Ringworm: This can be picked up in much the same way that athlete's foot gets picked up, by being barefoot. This can be picked up through surface contact as well as through person to person contact.
Other types of bacteria that can be picked up at a gym include Herpes, Impetigo (which results in oozing skin sores), and even plantar warts (by walking barefoot). Short of staying away from the gym, these are risks you take when you go to a public gym. For instance, Norovirus, which can cause extensive stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea is capable of surviving for a month on exercise equipment, while the fungi that causes foot infections can multiply exponentially in showers and other damp areas. Microbes such as MRSA are commonly found in locker rooms and showers. There really is no end to the health threats you can find in gyms.
What Are the Worst Places in Gyms for Germs?
Although any surface in any public area is susceptible to germs and bacteria, there are some areas in a gym that are almost guaranteed to have all kinds of nasty things lurking on them. Here are a few places to watch out for:Issues with Maintaining a Clean Gym
We've already determined that there are many areas where germs and bacteria can be found in a commercial gym. How difficult is it to keep these areas clean? First, since many gyms are open 24 hours, there will be people sweating on the equipment on a regular basis. This means any gym that wants to maintain a safe environment will need to have someone dedicated to cleaning regularly. This means not only constant wiping down of equipment, but a deep cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing at least once a week. With all of the different types of areas, it will be important to have equipment with the capability of cleaning wide open spaces as well as spaces that are hard to get to. This is the only way to adequately keep a gym clean, disinfected, and sanitized.GenEon Has a Great Solution for Gyms
At GenEon, we understand the importance of keeping any space clean, disinfected, and sanitized, especially when there is a huge potential for the spread of germs. We have safe cleaners and sanitizers and disinfectants that are toxic free. Consumers make these cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products using a process called on-site generation, which means the products are made by consumers on their premises. This is not only cost effective because products are made as needed, it also eliminates the need to keep potentially harmful chemical-based commercial cleaning products on the premises. This is a fantastic benefit. Not only are these products free of toxic chemicals, they are made using water, electricity and natural minerals, making them eco-friendly.
