How to Maintain Commercial Gym Equipment
Whether it's a perspiration-soaked free weight machine or an elliptical that always seems to stick, no one wants to work out at a gym full of dirty or broken equipment. While you can only remind your clients so many times to wipe their sweat from the bench press or treadmill, you can keep your members happy by taking several proactive steps to ensure that your weightlifting and cardio machines stay in working order.
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Things You'll Need
- Anti-bacterial disinfectant
- Towels or paper towels
- WD-40
- Vacuum cleaner
- Equipment warranties
Instructions
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Keep It Clean
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1
Spray each piece of gym equipment with anti-bacterial disinfectant. Make sure to get the hard worn surfaces of bench presses, as members lie down on this equipment when they work out and often coat it with sweat and germs. Use a mild product that's safe for skin.
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2
Wipe the equipment clean. Take a towel or paper towel and scrub the disinfectant into the surfaces. In addition to scrubbing the upholstered pads, clean the grips of each weightlifting machine (where users put their hands) and clear any noticeable dirt or grim from the equipment's metal supports.
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3
Dry the equipment with a different towel. You can't clean the equipment if you're using a dirty rag to dry it.
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4
Repeat Steps 1 to 3 several times daily. Clean the equipment one more time during hours after the gym is closed. That way, you can ensure that the machines dry and do not get dirty again quickly.
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5
Vacuum the entire gym area, including locker rooms, at least once a day. No matter how clean you keep the gym equipment, dust, tape and bandages will accumulate and potentially dirty your machines again. Clean the ceilings at least once a week, as these also accumulate dirt and dust particles and can drop them onto your equipment.
Prevent Damage
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6
Keep an eye out for minor problems that could develop into major headaches. For instance, inspect all of the pins in the weight stacks at least once a week. If you notice any bent pins, replace them. Also replace any frayed cables, as you don't want these to snap while a member is using the equipment.
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7
Oil the machines that need it. Weight and cardio machines include a number of moving parts, including chains, cables, belts, pedals and gears. Spray these with WD-40 during non-gym hours (to let them dry) at least once a week.
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8
Patch minor tears to the upholstery. If you notice that one of the pads on a machine has started to fray or rip or that a grip has started to unravel, you can patch it with duct or electrical tape. You'll ultimately need to send these pads out to an upholsterer to have the vinyl covering replaced, but this short-term fix will let members continue to use the equipment until you do.
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Tips & Warnings
Set up a daily and weekly cleaning and maintenance schedule for your employees to follow and check off as they complete each item. This way, you can keep track of the amount of upkeep your machines receive, which may later help you decide which brands of equipment to purchase again--you probably won't t want to buy from a company whose products break down on a regular basis.
Most commercial gym equipment, especially cardio equipment, comes with a manufacturer's warranty. If something breaks on one of these machines, don't try and repair it yourself; this may invalidate the warranty.
References
- Photo Credit inifinity health and condition concept with running woman image by .shock from Fotolia.com
