The Complete Guide to Cleaning Your Gym Floor Tiles
The Complete Guide to Cleaning Your Gym Floor Tiles
Maintaining your gym flooring is crucial for both performance and longevity. At Recharge Fitness, we specialise in both EPDM and SBR rubber tiles, and we're here to share our expert knowledge on keeping them in top condition. Just as with fitness, the key to success lies in following proven formulas.
Core Cleaning Formulas:
• Regular Maintenance + High Grade Gym Flooring = Long-Lasting Flooring
• Right Tools + Correct Solutions = Effective Cleaning
• Prevention + Quick Response = Minimal Deep Cleaning Required
Understanding Your Tiles...
EPDM Luxury Fleck Tiles
Our EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) tiles feature a smoother surface texture, making them perfect for commercial gyms or high end home. The premium finish and our signature fleck design not only look professional but also require specific cleaning approaches for optimal maintenance.
SBR Performance Tiles
SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) tiles offer a more textured, grippy surface ideal for functional fitness areas and those shopping on a smaller budget. At 20mm thick and 100cm x 100cm in size, these dense-granule tiles demand particular cleaning methods to preserve their grip and durability.
Essential Cleaning Tools
For both tile types, you'll need:
• ph-neutral cleaning solution (this is a nice-to-have to really maximise the longevity of your gym flooring)
• Hoover or brush
• Appropriate mop (flat-head for EPDM, string/microfiber for SBR)
• Soft-bristle brush
• Clean, dry towels
• Proper ventilation
Cleaning Requirements By Context:
Home Gym Maintenance:
• Weekly or fortnightly cleaning is usually sufficient
• Focus on spill management and hoovering dust
• Less intensive routine needed
• 1-2 users vs 1000s in commercial
Commercial Gym Maintenance:
• Higher frequency required
• Multiple checks daily or weekly, depending on size
• Weekly or fortnightly deep cleans are essential
• Based on footfall (500- 5000+ members)
1. Regular Cleaning Routine
For Home Gyms (weekly):
EPDM Tiles:
• Equipment: Flat-head mop, pH-neutral cleaner
• Process:
- Quick sweep/vacuum before workouts
- Weekly mop with cleaning solution if you want the flooring sparkly fresh
- Spot clean any spills immediately
- Allow to dry before use
SBR Tiles:
• Equipment: String/microfiber mop, pH-neutral cleaner
• Process:
- Weekly vacuum/sweep
- Mop with string mop (light pressure)
- Address any marks or spills as they occur
- Ensure proper drying
For Commercial Gyms (Based on footfall):
EPDM Tiles:
• Equipment: Flat-head mop, pH-neutral cleaner, floor scrubber
• Process:
- Daily spot cleaning in high-traffic areas
- End-of-day vacuum in busy sections
- 2-3 times weekly full floor mop
- Weekly machine scrub for larger areas to stop dust accumulating
SBR Tiles:
• Equipment: String/microfiber mop, pH-neutral cleaner
• Process:
- Daily spot cleaning as needed
- Focus on high-traffic zones
- 2-3 times weekly full mop
- Weekly detailed cleaning of functional areas
Equipment Recommendations:
For Home Gyms:
EPDM:
• Flat-head mop
• Basic vacuum/brush
• Microfiber cloths
• pH-neutral cleaner
SBR:
• String mop
• Soft-bristle brush
• pH-neutral cleaner
• Standard vacuum
For Commercial Gyms:
EPDM:
• Industrial flat-head mop
• Automatic floor scrubber
• Commercial vacuum
• Professional cleaning solutions
- It's not inexpensive, but there are some really good numatic scrubber dryers you can buy online.
SBR:
• Heavy-duty string mops
• Industrial vacuum
• Soft-bristle brushes
• Professional cleaning solutions
- If you own a commercial gym, and have gone for SBR tiles, whilst they are great value, you will probably need to clean these more frequently. As they are plain black and textured, they show up the dirt more, and are harder to keep clean.
Top Tips
- Regular hoovering with a semi-regular mop is realistic to keep your flooring looking at it's best
- Don't mop with excessive water, SBR tiles in particular will absorb water over time and then lose performance.
- Invest in good quality from the start, EPDM is easier to maintain, or if you are on a budget, go for SBR with fine particles on the finish layer.
- Accept that if you own a gym, especially a warehouse-type gym, people will walk dirt into the gym and you will need to clean it.
- Control what you can control; encourage users to have clean shoes, have welcome mats that can be easily cleaned or replaced in time.
- If you don't want the expense of a ph-neutral solution, then a homemade solution of warm water and a mild detergent will do the job.
- Just remember, don't use lots of washing-up liquid to clean the tiles, you'll be scrubbing for hours.
Need specific advice for your setup? Contact our team at team@rechargefitness.co.uk or call us on 0330 043 4554. We'll help you develop a cleaning schedule that matches your gym's unique needs.
