Ever wondered how dirty a rubber gym mat can become from neglect and lack of cleaning? Take the lick test....would you even consider doing such a thing?
Here is a before and after shot
We get asked how to clean gym mats very often, so we put together this simple and easy step-by-step guide. This can also help if you are planning to buy gym mats in the future, either for your home or fitness business.
The first thing to do is to consider the quality of your gym mats.
Depending on the country of origin, quality and grade of your gym mats, there could be quite a number of different ways you may need to care for them. However, we’ll assume that you bought high quality ones that don’t use any adhesive and are at least 15 millimeters in thickness.
Gym mats these days are typically 1 meter by 1 meter with 15 mm thickness and can be anywhere between 12-15 kg. If your mats are less than this, they could be an inferior type of recycled rubber.
The best way to know what quality your gym mats are is to ensure that the right recycled rubber is as pure as it can be, provided that it meets the Australian standards. Ask your supplier if you are unsure.
Next, let’s look at the tools you might need.
What you may need are some specific tools to get started. These are simple home tools, such as a broom, vacuum, mop and bucket, and some sponge or rags. If you want to clean the mats with a professional standard, you can invest in some neutral PH cleaner. You could also use vinegar for an inexpensive alternative.
If you have installed your gym mats within the last 72 hours, then we would advise that you don’t clean your mats for at least 3 days or so, (this is assuming that the mats have been glued down with an adhesive)
Now, we can get right into the cleaning process.
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First, you want to sweep or vacuum all the dirt and grit on your gym mats. You need to make sure that the surfaces are grit-free and as dry as possible. If you experience high traffic, then you probably want to use a neutral PH cleanser. You can find these at cleaning sections of supermarkets or in hardware stores.
You can always look for an inexpensive way. As I’ve mentioned before, buying vinegar and mixing it with hot or warm water is a good trick. Of course, you don’t want to use too much vinegar because it may leave a distinct smell. If this is the case, you could add a few drops of essential oils or something that might give a much nicer odor or fragrance.
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Next, you want to ensure that you’re using a mop without loose cotton fibers, as they will stick to the surface of the rubber mats. It’d be wise to purchase a mop that has nylon or microfiber ends to save you the trouble.
Use a minimum amount of disinfectant. This is to prevent a build-up of soap on the mats. You want to have just enough so as to kill the germs without flooding the mat’s surface. When you’re using your mop, make sure you change the water often to avoid spreading the bacteria and especially the dirt you’ve picked up.
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Now that you are satisfied with your mopping and cleaning, the final step is to allow your gym mats to have proper ventilation for drying.
Handy Tips
Another thing that you might want to consider is frequency or how often you should clean your gym mats. This can depend on the traffic and how much odor and dirt builds up.
Once you’ve done a thorough job of cleaning your mats, it should be easier to maintain them from here on. All that would be required is quick daily vacuuming or sometimes just a weekly cleaning.
If possible, having a yearly deep or spring clean of your gym mats will certainly keep them in good condition. It can be easy for dust and dirt to build up underneath the mats, so if you can do this at least once a year, it’ll be easier to maintain them.
Final Words
So, there you have it. Hopefully, this article has given you some information and instructions on how to clean gym mats, as well as how to maintain them. Following these steps and knowing all about your gym mats can certainly help you be successful in this.
Be sure to always buy good quality mats because that would definitely help with the maintenance and reduce the chance of future damage.
Choosing quality can come at a price, but the cost of maintenance and not needing to replace them often will give you greater benefits, at least you can be sure of having long-lasting gym mats for years to come.
