Your Gym Floor Could Be Hiding a Dirty Secret!

How to Properly Clean Rubber Floors and Stop Black Mold in Its Tracks" Cleaning rubber gym floors effectively is crucial to maintaining their condition and ensuring a safe environment. Here’s how I recommend you clean and maintain these floors.

Daily Cleaning

1. Dry Dust Mop: I start by using a dry dust mop to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris from the surface. Doing this daily prevents dirt from embedding in the floor.
2. Spot Clean: For any spills or stains, I immediately clean the affected area with a damp cloth and a mild detergent solution. Afterward, I rinse the area with water and dry it with a clean towel.

Weekly Cleaning

1. Vacuum: I use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove finer particles that the dust mop might miss.
2. Damp Mop: I prepare a cleaning solution with a mild pH-neutral cleaner specifically designed .
   • Solution: Mix the cleaner with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
   • Mop: I use a damp mop (not soaking wet) to clean the floor, ensuring the mop is well-wrung to avoid excess water that could seep into seams and cause damage.

Monthly or Deep Cleaning:

• Scrub: For a deeper clean, I use an automatic floor scrubber with soft brushes or a low-speed buffer with a scrubbing pad.
• Solution: I stick with the same pH-neutral cleaner. Procedure: Following the machine’s instructions, I clean the entire floor surface to remove embedded dirt and grime.

Rinse

• After scrubbing, I rinse the floor with clean water to remove any cleaner residue. I use a wet vacuum to remove the rinse water or mop it up with clean towels.

Tips for Maintaining Rubber Gym Floors

• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: I never use bleach, ammonia, or other strong chemicals that can damage the rubber.
• Protect from Heavy Equipment: I place mats under heavy gym equipment to prevent indentations and wear.
• Regular Inspections: Regularly inspecting the floor for signs of damage or wear allows me to address issues promptly.
• Use Door Mats: Placing mats at entrances helps reduce the amount of dirt and debris tracked onto the floor.

Products and Tools

• pH-Neutral Cleaner: I choose a cleaner specifically designed for rubber floors.
• Dust Mop: A microfiber dust mop is effective in capturing dust and debris.
• Vacuum Cleaner: A vacuum with a brush attachment ensures thorough cleaning.
• Floor Scrubber/Buffer: For deep cleaning, I use an automatic scrubber or low-speed buffer with appropriate pads.

By following these steps and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, you’ll keep your rubber gym floors in top condition and ensure a safe, hygienic environment for everyone.

If you do encounter black mold. About once ever 90 days lift up the corners of a few rubber tiles to check for condensation build up or the start of mold.

Removing Black Mold from Under Rubber Gym Mats

Here's how I handle black mold under rubber gym mats, step by step:

1. Prioritize Safety First I do wear protective gear rubber gloves, and a mask if available to avoid inhaling mold spores. Ensuring good ventilation in the area by opening windows and doors is crucial. Get a few fans going first.

2. Remove the Mats Carefully, I lift and remove the rubber gym mats, placing them outside if possible to clean in an open, well-ventilated area.

3. Clean the Mats I scrub the mats using a mixture of water, mild detergent and vinegar, making sure to reach all the nooks and crannies with a brush. After scrubbing, I rinse the mats thoroughly with clean water and let them dry completely in the sun if possible. Sunlight is a great ally in killing mold spores.

4. Clean the Floor Next, I scrub the floor under the mats with a similar cleaning solution, ensuring I cover all affected areas. I use a disinfectant like bleach (1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) to sanitize the area. I let the solution sit for about 10 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. Bleach DOES NOT kill all mold. So I hit it with a round of vinegar and water after the bleach dries.

5. Ensure Thorough Drying I use fans, dehumidifiers, or heaters to ensure the area is completely dry before replacing the mats. Moisture is a key factor in mold growth, and eliminating it is essential.

Preventing Black Mold

1. Control Moisture To prevent moisture build-up, I keep the gym area well-ventilated, using fans or a dehumidifier if necessary. I ensure there are no leaks in the area, including from windows, ceilings, or plumbing.

2. Clean Regularly Regular cleaning is vital. I clean the mats and the floor regularly to prevent mold spores from settling and growing. Using a mold-resistant cleaner for regular maintenance is a good practice.

3. Optimize Mat Placement I consider using perforated rubber mats or mats with raised edges that allow air to circulate underneath. Occasionally lifting and moving the mats to let the floor underneath air out is a good idea.

4. Monitor Humidity Keeping the indoor humidity level below 60% is essential. I use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity levels.

5. Proper Storage If I store the mats when not in use, I ensure they are completely dry and stored in a dry, well-ventilated area.

By following these steps, you will effectively eliminate the current mold problem and prevent it from coming back in the future.