As any gym manager knows, your gym floor cover are an integral part of protecting your gym.
Not only do they protect your floors, but they provide a visual and acoustically pleasing space that allows gymnasiums to be used for many functions besides sports.
Below is the ultimate guide to keepings your gym floor covers clean.
We have included everything from how to clean your hardwood gym floors to maintenance of your gym mats and gym floor covers.
When using your gym floor cover there are 5 steps to ensure your hardwood gym floor is protected and your gym floor cover functions at its peak performance.
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Dust or mop your gym floor before you use your floor cover.
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Lightly damp mop your gym floor with a neutral-PH floor cleaner is needed.
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Install your clean and properly stored tile or roll gym floor cover system.
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During use and before take-up, properly maintain your gym floor cover and clean daily.
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Dust or mop your gym floor after the gym floor cover is removed.
A hardwood gym floor is a big investment for any athletic facility.
Proper training for your gym floor maintenance staff is critical as the proper knowledge will protect both your gym floor investment as well as your gym floor cover system.
Failing to follow maintenance recommendations could potentially lead to damage to the floor surface, as well as damage to your gym floor cover.
*Also, failure to follow the maintenance suggestions of both the floor and cover company may void your warranty.
The 5 Steps to Maintain Your Hardwood Gym Floor:
1. Dust or mop your gym floor before you use your gym floor cover.
Your gym floor should be dusted routinely once daily.
Dust and dirt settle every day and it is this dirt that becomes abrasive on the gym floor surface, leading to the floor finish being scratched.
Vacuum the floor weekly or biweekly (for carpeted floors only)
Have a professional Hardwood Gym Floor Refinisher inspect your gym floor twice per year to spot any potential issues before they become major problems.
HVAC systems in older buildings often are the culprit of heavy dust, and if you see a buildup, it is highly suggested that the floor be dusted more than once a day, even as many as 3 times daily.
*Remember to wipe up spills immediately.
*Remove Heel Marks using an approved floor cleaner using a dust mop or soft cloth.
2. Lightly damp mop your gym floor with a neutral-PH floor cleaner if needed.
If dust and dirt has built up, a light damp mopping will help to pick up the debris.
It is recommended that the maintenance instructions provided by the floor manufacturer and installer be followed.
Often it is recommended that floor scrubbers made specifically for your type of flooring be used, to save considerable time.
**The MFMA (Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association) is guarded on their approval of floor scrubbers on maple gym floors, so always check carefully as to what is recommended for your flooring.
3. Install your clean and properly stored gym flooring tiles or gym flooring rolls.
When your gym floor needs the protection during a special function, having a gym floor cover that is clean and ready for deployment is a time saver.
Having the gym floor covering system stored in a clean condition gives you peace of mind that your investment will stay functional and great looking for years and keep your gym floor in its best shape.
4. During use and before take-up, properly maintain your gym floor cover.
The best gym floor protection is either the roll or tile system in conjunction with basketball courtside runners as needed.
Vinyl floor covers have been used for many years, long before the carpet gym floor covers were developed.
They provide some coverage, but remember that coverage and protection are two totally different elements.
With the new gym floor covers in both tiles, rolls and runners, on the market, check out the options as well as the ease of deployment and takeup.
Ease of cleaning and maintenance which includes the needed time to handle this properly, is always a consideration.
Newly out on the market are specialized vacuum cleaners made especailly for gym floor covers. They have a wide width and appropriate cleaning, and can reduce the vacuum time down to only 2 hours.
Storage is a huge part of maintnenance. An improperly stored roll or tile system can be damaged, wrinkled or twisted which would cause the installed cover to be rippled and a trip hazard.
Storage has also evolved in the past years and it is no longer a necessity to have a huge racking system that cannot easily be tranported to your storage area.
Today, storage racks and tile platform trucks can roll through a standard 36″ door for convenient storage and if the floor cover is shared among several facilities, it can be easily transported.
All of these considerations should be taken into account when selecting your gym floor protection.
*Failing to follow maintenance recommendations could potentially lead to damage to the floor surface, as well as damage to your gym floor cover.
5. Dust or mop your gym floor after the gym floor cover is removed.
It seems like a lot of dusting, but there will be debris and dust loosened during the take-up, and this dust/dirt needs to be removed from the gym floor to prevent scratching and damage.
By following the 5 steps to ensure your hardwood gym floor is protected and your gym floor cover functions at its peak performance, you will keep your gym floor looking great and your investment in a quality gym floor cover system one of your best decisions.
Steps to Clean and Maintain Your Gym Floor Cover
Daily Cleaning
When the gym floor cover is deployed, it should be cleaned daily.
This will remove deeply embedded dirt particles, especially in heavy traffic areas.
This includes daily vacuuming with a heavy-duty “commercial style” vacuum cleaner that features a rotary power brush or beater bar.
Check out Enhance Mats wide width vacuum made specifically for gym floor cover maintenance.
Spot Removal
If a spill occurs, blot the excess liquid with a clean absorbent cloth or paper towel.
Remove any solid components with a scoop.
Spray the affected area with an all-purpose spot remover and rub** the surface with a clean white cloth.
Grease or oil-based stains may require a degreaser** which can be found at a local janitorial supply distributor.
**NOTE: Always test spot removers and degreasers in an inconspicuous area of the gym mat and contact your gym floor cover supplier to be sure the cleaner you are using is recommended.
Gum Removal
Using a putty knife, remove excess chewing gym from the carpet/matting.
For gum residue, a commercial grade solvent-based gum remover may be required.
Before use of the gym remover, score the surface of the remaining gum.
This allows the gym remover to penetrate more effectively.
Always refer to the gum remover’s directions for detailed instructions.
Gum removers are available at your local janitorial distributor.
Periodic Maintenance/ Deep Cleaning
Carpet and matting are subjected to varying environments and traffic levels.
Your specific traffic and environmental variants will dictate actual periodic maintenance requirements.
When deep cleaning is required, not water extraction is recommended to loosen and remove deeply embedded soils.
*NOTE: Care should be taken to not put water on the hardwood flooring.
Separate tiles or basketball runners can be rinsed off in an appropriate area to remove dirt and debris.
Quarterly extraction is the minimum recommended frequency for high traffic areas or areas that are heavily affected by inclement weather.
Please consult your local cleaning professional for a personalized recommended cleaning schedule.
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Choosing the best gym floor cover system with the best storage rack for your school or facility takes selecting the right company.
Check out our videos on the roll, tile, and courtside runner pages to see all the key points you need to know to make the best decision.
Enhance Mats offers roll systems in both 6’ and 8’ widths, heavy duty tile systems, custom color tiles and courtside runners to protect your gym floor.
Enhance Mats also offers the new wide width vacuum to keep your gym floor cover clean and looking new.
Trust Enhance Mats, the leader in Sports Surface Protection to help your choose the right gym floor cover system for your facility. Call 877-318-8625 or Request a Quote today!
