Germ and Odor Control That's a Fit For Fitness

Now more than ever, gym owners want their fitness facilities to look and smell as pure as their intentions to help you get in shape, and maybe sell you a membership. Whether it’s overseeing a bustling fitness center or tending to your home gym, the importance of maintaining a clean, germ  and odor free environment cannot be overstated. In today’s fiercely competitive fitness industry, the last thing you want is your patrons heading elsewhere for their fitness fixes due to unpleasant odors, or contracting a flu or other disease.

Given that not all patrons clean, or wipe their sweat off the equipment they use, and washing hands between every exercise is impractical, fitness centers frequently grapple with effective germ and odor control, and with very mixed results. Keeping this in mind, instead of reaching for fragranced cleaning or odor control products that merely disguise the problem, and do little if anything to contain germs, why not invest in a sustainable solution that banishes dirt, germs, other contaminants, and odors?

Where Do Gym Germs and Odors Originate?

Like in every other environment on the planet, over 80% of gym germs are spread by touch, which the above facts make difficult to control. The unpleasant musk that often pervades workout facilities, on the other hand, primarily traces back to the same culprit responsible for that post-exercise funk we’re all familiar with: sweat. Specifically, the potent combination of perspiration and bacteria that produces pungent byproducts known as thioalcohols. This off-putting odor, that’s generally reminiscent of sulfur and onions, appears when bacteria break down human sweat droplets. In the dynamic environment of gyms, fitness equipment and other surfaces become Petri dishes for sweat and germs, allowing bacteria flourish, which further exacerbates the olfactory issue at hand. To transform the ambiance of your fitness center, prioritizing routine cleaning and disinfection to eradicate the bacteria that fuel these unpleasant odors is a must.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Fitness Places & Spaces

To combat and preemptively tackle unwelcome odors and infections, establishing a consistent cleaning and disinfecting regimen throughout the gym that eliminates odor causing germs is key. Gym proprietors and managers should create, and stick to a comprehensive checklist of cleaning and disinfection duties that leave no weight un-lifted, and track the frequency at which these tasks are performed.

Before initiating such a regimen, it's essential to grasp the differences between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning, essentially, targets the removal of visible soils and other surface contaminants, enhancing the surface’s visual appeal. Disinfecting, on the other hand, zeros in on the elimination of germs, specifically bacteria and viruses, including the bacteria that cause foul odors.

For a product to earn the title of “disinfectant,” it must secure registration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and demonstrate an ability to eliminate 99.9% of two specific types of bacteria, two specific types of viruses, and one fungi, on Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces … and ONLY on Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces.

While such limited germicidal effectiveness and surface uses may be adequate for some basic applications, gyms are often exposed to many more types of germs, and filled with many different surfaces and materials that are not “Hard and Non-Porous,” which is an EPA surface classification that includes little more than glazed porcelain bathroom fixtures, some countertops, and various items made from plated or painted metals, sealed concrete and stone, sealed ceramic tiles, Formica, and linoleum, and excludes all materials in the other two EPA surface classifications: “Soft and Porous” and “Food Contact.”

Soft and Porous Surfaces are exactly that: any and all materials that are soft and porous, which in a fitness facility includes carpeting, mats, pads, upholstery, all clothing, footwear, gym bags, anything made of fabric or other textiles, wood and wood-based products, drywall, plaster and concrete, brick, stone, textured surfaces and many others. Similarly, Food Contact Surfaces include glassware, utensils, countertops, blenders, water fountains, coffee machines, and every other item used to prepare, cook, serve or consume food or beverages.

Before we progress any further down the disinfection rabbit hole, we need to remember that we also need to clean these surfaces, expanding our need to include not just a disinfectant, but also a cleaning product. Thankfully, the marketplace is populated with numerous “Disinfectant Cleaners,” products capable of both cleaning and disinfecting, a task they accomplish either simultaneously or after several applications.

In addition to finding a Disinfectant Cleaner capable of killing harmful bacteria on all types of surfaces, it must also do no harm to people, our planet, or your property. However, Disinfectants and Disinfectant Cleaners are inherently toxic. After all, they’re designed to kill living organisms. They’re also typically quite corrosive and a major cause of surface degradation, factors that can quickly add years of wear and tear to gym equipment, and especially their upholstered surfaces.

The Perfect Fit For Fitness Facilities

While the above limitations, and somewhat scary properties, are common amongst most Disinfectants and Disinfectant Cleaners, some do offer more, and a few Much More, with  PermaSafe CLEAN, being a prime example.  Far more than just a disinfectant, CLEAN is an all-purpose, all-surface, germicidal cleaner; advanced level, broad-spectrum disinfectant; heavy duty surface and air odor eliminator; and mold, mildew, fungi and allergen remover; that cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes in one time-saving, “spray-and-walk-away” step, with no need to rinse or wipe after it’s applied, even on food contact surfaces. In fact, according to the CDC, CLEAN might just be the "Ideal Disinfectant Cleaner.”

Unique in the world of Disinfectant Cleaners, CLEAN provides sanitization options for, and effectively kills harmful bacteria on virtually every type of surface, including all Hard and Non-Porous, Soft and Porous, and Food Contact surfaces.

CLEAN also contains no harsh chemicals, bleach, irritants, or fragrances, is 100% biodegradable, hypoallergenic, non-corrosive, and won’t stain or damage any surface that water won’t stain. Further, CLEAN is EPA rated “Category IV” for toxicity,” the very lowest  toxicity rating any disinfectant can be awarded, and one that means no gloves, masks or other Personal Protection Equipment are necessary when using it, and no Precautionary Statements or Hazard Warnings appear on its labels.

With its unique combination of germicidal potency, ability to kill 99.999% of harmful bacteria within 60 seconds, spray-and-walk-away ease of application, all surface compatibility, and people, pet and property safe chemistry, PermaSafe CLEAN is the ideal solution for eliminating germs, odors, and other surface and air hygiene issues in gyms, health clubs, and CrossFit, yoga, and Pilates studios, as well as just about every other space or place in which we perspire.

Learn more about PermaSafe and CLEAN at www.PermaSafe.com. Or, if you have product questions, please feel free to Contact Us directly - we're always happy to assist!