Gyms and Covid General Chat

[Cherub]

Just wondering if anyone knows what the guidelines were given to gyms on the cleaning of equipment (if any). My gym just introduced using your own towel (including your sweat towel if that's all you have) which is now mandatory in addition to disinfectant spray. Disposable towels not to be used anymore.

Janey, Gemma or anyone?

 

[Welshy]

Your own sweat towel is not great. It's only clean once when you first use it. It's then being used to wipe down equipment and your own sweat! Last thing I would use to wipe equipment.

 

[Gemma]

Just wondering if anyone knows what the guidelines were given to gyms on the cleaning of equipment (if any). My gym just introduced using your own towel (including your sweat towel if that's all you have) which is now mandatory in addition to disinfectant spray. Disposable towels not to be used anymore.

We ask that you wipe down your pole to the height you have used at the end of each class with the antibacterial wipes we provide. We will then do a deep clean of equipment before the next class begins. The gym has much the same routine with wiping down your equipment with antibacterial wipes before staff deep clean it.

Do they give any reason why disposable towels haven't to be used anymore?

 

[Franco Pinion]

The gym I go to have always had a wipe down rule for machines and benches after use and putting plates back, most people do it but some don't. We have everything sprayed between our one hour sessions with plenty of sanitizer to use on the way in and out, the one-hour sessions are annoying but it gives a chance for everyone to use the facility which is good and we are limited to 4 in weights and 4 in cardio so there's enough room for social distancing.

 

[Fraser]

In my gym they have sanitising spray and rolls of pull wipe, people are expected to wipe down the equipment they use.

The gym is operating a book in system and there are 15 minutes between slots where the gym staff clean down the gym (although that seems to have fallen a bit by the wayside recently).

I can only do a very early slot to make it to work after (no showers allowed in gym so I am showering in work), and the slots have been very empty. I've had the place to myself a few times, mostly only 3-4 other people.

 

[Lee]

I've been avoiding the gym to be honest, I can't think of much worse than a covid-y gym when people are hot and sweaty. I know I am probably being a bit dramatic, but I have health anxiety so I'll be avoiding.

 

[Janey]

I'm not really sure why they would be telling anyone to wipe down with a towel. There is nothing in the legislation that says you shouldn't use wipes or blue towel (at least in Scotland). In our gym, you are basically just asked to wipe down the equipment and apparatus like you would have done in normal times. Our staff will then give it a deep clean before the next scheduled slots arrive.

We've not been too busy in the first week of opening. I think a lot of people are a little wary of returning to the gym especially as we still don't know the full ins and outs of the virus and also because we are seeing a rise in positive cases throughout the country - it is maybe not worth the risk. Also, many people have found that they can exercise just as effectively at home.