JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON -- The Buckner and Elmendorf physical fitness centers implemented a new sanitization system which saves money, the environment, and is just as effective at disinfecting as previous methods, if not more.
Individual sanitation wipes were favored by gym patrons, but were cost prohibitive.
“In order to outfit both fitness centers with individual sanitation wipes, the Force Support Squadron was spending upwards of $100,000 a year,” said John Limon, director of the Buckner fitness center. “When we moved to the individual towel method, we lost 20,000 towels to theft in just one quarter. We had to find a solution.”
A solution came to Limon after extensive research on how leading gyms in the industry sanitize their equipment.
“We found 77 percent of the fitness industry uses this method of sanitizing equipment, which is backed by research at the university level,” Limon said. “It is just as sanitary as any other method, if not more.”
The newly implemented method is simple. Throughout both fitness centers there are sanitization stations that have disinfecting solution and towels. Patrons saturate the towel with the solution, thoroughly wipe down the piece of equipment they used, and return the towel to the station. Every hour the towels are replaced with clean ones by fitness center staff.
“We’ve received a lot of feedback saying this is unsanitary and more apt to spread germs,” added Limon. “However, research proves this is not the case.”
Patrons see it as spreading their germs with others, but the act of spraying the towel with the disinfectant solution saturates that towel with the disinfectant and kills bacteria, said Limon. Wiping the surface of equipment and leaving it damp with the solution aids in the disinfecting process due to evaporation.
Of the top three factors of having a clean, disinfected gym, equipment wipe-down falls to third place. The number one factor is personal hygiene of gym patrons, followed by an up-to-date heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
In addition to sufficiently disinfecting equipment, the new method is saving nearly $97,000 a year, and is extremely environmentally friendly in comparison.
“With the old wipes, you could only really sanitize one piece of equipment properly,” said Josh Grieser, director of the Elmendorf fitness center. “By the time you’re done with another machine, the wipe is dry and cannot sanitize properly. Over the course of an hour-long workout, if you’re using the wipes appropriately, you’re using a lot of wipes and creating a lot of trash.”
To add, the fitness centers were not able to provide a consistent service with the individual wipes, Limon said. If the wipes ran out, there was nothing to replace them. The new system is very durable, as they always have towels and can keep rolling without investing more money.
“We even had the public health crew get involved to give us a second review, and they gave it the go-ahead,” Grieser said. “The main thing we want patrons to know is we took the time and did the research to make sure this was safe and beneficial for everyone. It was a very hard and long decision to make, but in the end it is the best solution.”