Get a Jump-Start on Healthy Athletic Facilities
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
Shifting into summer mode means that athletic facilities see less action. With fewer bodies in the locker rooms, gyms, weight rooms and training centers, it is a great time to give these areas a seasonal deep clean. Even though most athletes are gone, there are still a number of living organisms that are all too happy to make themselves at home.
Yep, we’re talking about germs with scary names like E. coli, Candida, rhinovirus, dermatophytosis and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). They love to attach themselves to exercise machines, floor mats, free weights and locker room floors to name only a few hot spots. Then add mold, mildew and grime to the mix. Just thinking about that combo will keep your microbiology department up at night.
By selecting the right cleaning tools and materials, your janitorial staff can wipe up dirt and microbes now to create a clean slate for when athletes return en masse at the end of the summer. At the same time, an action plan can be put into place to address the situation for the long term. The result is healthier, safer athletic facilities for students, staff and fans.
The threat is real
Training for and participating in sports produces a dangerous combination of conditions in which microbes thrive and grime collects.
- Surfaces — The variety of surfaces in athletic facilities combined with the volume of activity during the school year means some areas and equipment may need special seasonal attention.
- Sweat — When the body’s natural coolant drips in a humid environment, it does not evaporate quickly, creating a breeding ground for germs in every nook and cranny.
- Skin — People are the ultimate transfer agent for germs and dirt. As athletes move from free weights to exercise machines to locker handles, whatever is on their skin comes along for the ride.
- Showers — Hot water, steamy air and dirty bodies create the ideal conditions for mold, mildew and potentially dangerous fungus.
The shelf life of microbes varies depending on the type. Fungi (skin infections) like warm, wet conditions.[1] The norovirus (stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea) can survive on the surface of exercise equipment for weeks.[2] The S. aureus bacteria (wound infections) forms exoskeleton-like spores to defend itself.[3]
The risk to athletes
Athletics is all about healthy lifestyles and achieving personal bests. If not cleaned properly, the facilities and equipment, which athletes use to train, can cause them harm.
Maladies range from annoying to life-threatening:[4]
- Athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm are caused by fungi that grow in dark, humid conditions.
- Colds and flu are transmitted by viruses that can be picked up from surfaces like free weights.
- Plantar warts are caused by a strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which loves damp shower floors.
- MRSA infections can occur when people are exposed to staph that can live on dry surfaces for an extended period. Some strains of MRSA can be serious because they are resistant to antibiotics.
- Dusty or dirty surfaces can be slippery and create hazardous conditions for athletes moving at full speed.
Put your school in the best light
A thriving sports program is important to most universities and colleges for a number of reasons. In addition to great academics, sports help schools build their name recognition and brand, which is useful for admissions, faculty and staff recruitment—and retention and sponsorship development.
The reputation of your teams’ successes goes beyond their win-loss records at the end of the season. When recruits are considering their options, you can be sure that they are checking out the buzz about each school on social media. Posts about MRSA outbreaks, foot warts, mildewy showers or dirty weight rooms are a definite check in the “cons” column on their pros/cons lists.
During campus visits, the recruits may be excited to meet with coaches and learn about their winning philosophies. Although the student-athlete minds might be otherwise engaged, it’s likely that the practiced eyes of the moms, dads or guardians who accompany them are making mental notes about the conditions of the facilities.
Deep cleaning during downtime
The first part of summer is the optimal time to schedule deep cleaning of athletic facilities.
Weight rooms: Move all equipment to clean the floor under it. Sanitize each individual piece of equipment and the stands or shelves that hold it. Wash down the walls, mirrors and doors.
Workout rooms: Unplug all equipment and move to clean the mats and floor underneath. Sanitize every type of exercise equipment according to manufacturer guidelines using appropriate disinfectants.
Locker rooms: Empty lockers. Inspect for mold and mildew. Disinfect all surfaces.
Gyms: If the gym floor isn’t scheduled for resurfacing, perform a careful cleaning according to manufacturer recommendations. Clean fan seating areas, including floors, bleachers/seats and handrails.
Equipment storerooms: Empty the rooms of all equipment for access to floors, walls and ceilings. Before reassembling, clean shelving, stands and equipment baskets.
What’s in the Healthy Athletics Cleaning Toolkit?
Athletic facilities are host to more than training and competitions. Germs and grime love to compete for space too. To create a healthier environment for athletes and fans, make sure that your school’s cleaning toolkit includes:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Protect the cleaning staff with disposable gloves, face masks and shoe covers.
Disinfectant sprays
Select broad spectrum sprays that kill bacteria, viruses, fungi and mold, which also protect surfaces from discoloration or damage.
Electrostatic sprayers
Use electrostatic technology to deliver disinfectant to hard-to-reach places.
Disinfectant wipes
Help reduce cross-contamination with disposable wipes pretreated with cleaning solution.
Weight room floor kit
Attack the grime beneath the mats and equipment with a variety of mops, buckets and broom/dust pan sets.
Gym floor kit
Restore the gym floor with the right chemicals and tools for stripping, cleaning, finishing and buffing.
Body fluid spill kit
This special kit provides personal protection and cleaning products to safely remove body fluids.
First-aid kit
Make sure first-aid kits are available and stocked. Install defibrillators in key locations.
Hand sanitation
Encourage clean hands by mounting sanitizer dispensers throughout the facilities. Evaluate the need for new wall-mounted soap dispensers near sinks.
Community of clean
Healthy athletic facilities require vigilance. A deep cleaning sets the stage for the coming season. Then it’s time to get the entire campus community onboard to maintain the sanitized environment.
Coaches and staff members set the tone by including healthy equipment usage and locker room practices as part of team training. Modeling the right behavior is also a good way to reinforce healthy practices. If athletes see coaches and trainers wiping down equipment and cleaning up spills, they are more likely to do so themselves.
Setting expectations is key to establishing a culture that supports clean, healthy facilities as part of school pride.
Signage that reminds athletes to “use it, then clean it” in multiple locations throughout training facilities is a helpful reminder. Make sure that disposable cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer dispensers are easily accessible. If athletes have to hunt down cleaning materials, they are less likely to use them.
Office Depot® can help
Being proactive about fighting germs and grime is the best defense to reduce potential threats. Office Depot is available to review your athletic facilities and provide a comprehensive recommendation about what products are best suited for the specific needs of your campus. We offer a wide range of ready-to-ship cleaning products and tools available at contract prices. Contact us today.
[1] Kassel, G., (2018, November 30). 5 Common Fungal Skin Infections You Can Pick Up at the Gym. Shape. Retrieved from https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/fungal-skin-infections-gym
[2] Reyes, M., Germs at the Gym. Fitness. Retrieved from https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/germs/germs-at-the-gym/
[3] Dekenipp, A. (2002, August 22). How long do microbes like bacteria and viruses live on surfaces in the home at normal room temperatures? Popular Science. Retrieved from https://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2002-08/how-long-do-microbes-bacteria-and-viruses-live-surfaces-home-normal-room-tem
[4] Gardner, A. (2018, January 9). 8 Gross Infections You Can Catch at the Gym–and How to Avoid Them. Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.com/skin-conditions/infections-germs-caught-at-gym?
