How To Clean Rubber Gym Floors Safely

An often overlooked but essential feature of any great gym is quality rubber flooring. It is durable, prevents slipping when weightlifting, has excellent shock absorption and is relatively affordable. Unlike laminate and wood floors, the rubber will not crack, scratch, or dent from dropped weights and rigorous exercise routines, making it easy to maintain.

Although rubber is excellent for home and commercial gyms, routine sanitation is important now more than ever. Even though it can be great for resisting mildew, mold, and stains, it will inevitably become dirty over time and quite quickly. Fortunately, knowing how to clean rubber gym floors safely is quite simple with the right tools and proper sanitizing products.

Using the Right Product

When choosing a kind of cleaning product to use, it is highly advised to look for one that is pH-neutral. Avoid acidic, solvent, and oil-based cleaners, which can damage and dissolve the rubber entirely.

Many specialty store-bought options for rubber floors take the guesswork out for you, allowing the cleaner to be used without the hassle, and some will even degrease and wax the floors in conjunction with sanitization. Some products contain harsh chemicals and produce strong odors, so it is best to choose one that is safe, low-odor, and preferably biodegradable to keep the rubber lasting longer.

Curious what the pros here at Coverall use? For the cleanest rubber gym floors, we use a product from Diversey Chemicals called Profi, which is formulated to safely clean and degrease rubber floors.

Cleaning Tools and Routine

— Sweep and Vacuum

Before mopping, it is best to start with a quick sweep or vacuum over the gym floors to pick up any small debris on the surface. Having a vacuum with soft, rolling bristles is preferred as to not scuff and tear at the rubber. This will help keep the overall flooring free of any dirt that might get mixed around in your cleaning solution. If there are any items or debris stuck to the floor that cannot be picked up by a vacuum, such as gum or mud, you can use a wooden or plastic scraper to gently lift it up from underneath, being careful not to press too hard on the flooring and damaging it.

— Mopping

Once the floor has been thoroughly vacuumed or swept, you can prepare the cleaner of your choice (we use Profi Floor Cleaner/Oil Grease Remover) and begin deep cleaning. For smaller sized home gyms, you can use a traditional handheld mop, preferably one with a microfiber, nylon, or sponge head. Dip the mop into the cleaning solution and begin at the farthest point away from the door and work your way back. Be sure to change the water once it becomes brown and murky and not to soak the floor too much as rubber is porous and will hold on to dirty water. This is also important if the gym flooring is made of rubber tiles with seams where moisture and water can seep through and become trapped underneath.

For larger gyms, an automatic scrubber will be more efficient. Again, it is essential to choose one that has soft nylon bristles and uses products safe for cleaning rubber gym floors.

Let It Dry

Once mopping has finished, allow the floor to air dry entirely before stepping onto the floor as this will track more dirt into the rubber, making it stick. This will also give the soap or pH cleaner enough time to rid the floor of any germs and bacteria on the surface. 

Now that you know how to clean rubber gym floors safely, it is recommended to do so at least once a week, and for high traffic areas, once a day. As you can see, consistency is key when it comes to maintaining a clean facility, so it may be time to consider a professional cleaning service. At Coverall, our advanced cleaning techniques focus on disinfecting high touch points that are often overlooked by other gym and fitness center janitorial services. A clean facility can differentiate your business and keep members coming back!