Any leisure centre or area with frequently used facilities needs to be held to high standards in terms of hygiene and sanitation. The importance of deep cleaning for pools, saunas & changing rooms cannot be overstated, and good sanitation can be what makes a centre thrive or die—but carrying out the proper cleaning can be a challenge.
From preventing slip falls to understanding the hidden dangers of poor cleaning in gyms and other areas, cleaning is something that any centre needs to take seriously and invest in. At Sentrex, we aim to help you meet your cleaning needs, wherever they may be. From meeting Gangmasters Licensing standards, warehouse cleaning regulations, and leisure hygiene safety standards, we want to help.
Why Does Deep Cleaning Matters in Wet Leisure Areas?
Deep cleaning is key in wet leisure areas for a number of reasons—from reducing the risk of slips and falls and treating furniture and materials, to preventing the spread of bacteria and debris. No leisure centre should allow the possibility of health risks, and cleaning wet leisure areas is crucial for minimising the risk of infection while also maintaining high standards and keeping the area looking its best.
Some may believe that wet areas—such as around pools—do not need to be cleaned, but this could not be further from the truth. Whether you are focusing on the poolside, changing rooms, saunas, or anywhere else, daily cleaning is needed, and deep cleans need to be organised monthly.
Are Your Current Cleaning Standards Meeting Expectations?
If you are currently undertaking the job of deep cleaning your leisure centre, there may be concerns about whether you are meeting the necessary standards. Some areas, such as floors, can be easier to clean with the use of robotic floor machines, but this does not mean that the rest of the centre meets expectations.
Common areas that staff may forget to clean include beneath and behind furniture, between tiles, ventilation, and more, or there may be issues around the cleaning solutions being used. When deep cleaning for pools, saunas & changing rooms, special care must be taken to sanitise hard-to-reach and easily-forgotten areas.
Some common areas that are frequently overlooked include:
- Skirt boards
- Ceiling fans
- Ventilation
- Light switches
- Appliances
- Beneath furniture
- Blinds
- Behind plumbing fixtures (toilets, piping, etc)
- In-between tiles
In many cases, specialised equipment may be needed to effectively clean some areas, such as carpets or upholstery—and this is why getting professionals on the job is the best decision you can make. With minimal disruption, quality services where and when you need them, and completed with a sustainable and quality-focused approach, Sentrex offers the cutting-edge equipment and experience needed to ensure that your leisure centre runs and looks its best.
How Often Should Changing Rooms be Deep Cleaned?
Due to the nature of changing rooms, it is important that they are deep cleaned at least once every month to ensure hygiene and sanitation. Any high risk area should be cleaned frequently and properly, and staff should also be carrying out daily cleans of these areas and keeping track of when and where needs attention. Remember that cleaning should be done before something starts to look dirty—which is why daily cleans are always crucial.
Factors that impact how often changing rooms should be cleaned:
- Location of changing room (swimming pool, gym, clothes store, etc)
- Type of clothing being tried on (shoes, clothes, etc)
- Number of customers that try on clothing/items
- Material type being tried on (e.g. cotton, wool, etc)
- Fabrics or materials inside the changing rooms (plastic, fabric, etc)
What Are the Cleaning Requirements for Pools and Saunas?
Basic cleaning should be done after every use of a sauna. This can be done with a damp cloth and a mild detergent (avoiding ammonia), and more in-depth cleaning should be done at least once every week. These more in-depth cleans should include scrubbing and disinfecting surfaces, including floors and benches, to ensure hygiene standards are kept high at all times.
For pools, the temperature should be between 25°C–29°C, and bromine or chlorine will be used for maintenance, in line with PWTAG standards and Code of Practice. However, UV disinfection treatment is an increasingly popular option for pool sanitation.
As laid out in HSE, pool areas must be cleaned with the necessary COSHH safety precautions, the appropriate PPE must be worn, and the proper signage is required. The wider pool area should be cleaned and wiped multiple times a day to remove excess water, and floors should be mopped with a mild detergent. Any furniture also needs to be sanitised at the end of every day and wiped down for hygiene purposes.
Key rules to implement to help keep pool and sauna/steam room areas clean:
- Instructions on suitable attire (especially shoes, with rules for indoor footwear only)
- Tie hair up to prevent hair falling out or getting wet
- Shower before entering pools, saunas, or steam rooms
- Belongings need to be stored in a secure area ahead of time
- No drinks or food permitted in the rooms
- No makeup, oils, other cosmetics, or flammable materials
- No diving, jumping, running, or other behaviour that can result in injury or cause trouble
Health Risks in Pools, Saunas & Changing Rooms
There are several health risks related to being in changing rooms, saunas, and pools that are poorly maintained and unsanitary. From bacteria such as Legionella and E. Coli, to athlete’s foot, rashes, and more, leisure centres are not without risk—but only when the proper steps are not taken to keep these areas hygienic.
Deep cleaning for pools, saunas & changing rooms can and should be done frequently to avoid the spread of disease and illness, and rules should always be in place to keep hygiene standards high. While it might sound worrying, we can assure you that, through our cleaning services, these are problems that you do not need to worry abou
What Should a Proper Deep Clean Include?
A proper, full, deep clean needs to leave no stone unturned. This includes mopping and disinfecting floors, deep cleaning fabrics such as upholstery and carpets, cleaning ventilation systems, vacuuming and disinfecting changing rooms, and more. Deep cleaning for pools, saunas & changing rooms must be taken seriously, and carried out by professionals who know what they are doing and use the proper cleaning equipment and techniques.
Depending on the facilities, additional equipment may be necessary for a deep clean. However, an assessment should be carried out ahead of time to determine the specific needs of a given area.
A proper deep clean at a leisure centre should include all the following:
- Sanitation of all floors and surfaces
- Special attention to high traffic and touch areas
- Disinfecting of changing rooms and equipment
- Any necessary treatment of special materials (e.g. wood in saunas)
- Cleaning in hard-to-reach areas (e.g. behind and beneath furniture)
- Cleaning of ventilation systems and fixtures
- Deep cleaning of fabrics (upholstery, carpets, etc)
How Sentrex Helps You Stay Compliant and Clean
Hygiene is key, and commercial leisure areas need to be given special attention to ensure that standards are high, and the place is safe and sanitary for use. Deep cleaning for pools, saunas & changing rooms should happen monthly, and regular cleans need to be carried out every day to allow for maximum comfort to anyone who visits.
Not sure your leisure facility is clean enough? Contact Sentrex for expert deep cleaning services tailored to pools, saunas, and changing rooms, and get things up to scratch in no time. Or, for more information, find out more about us, our cleaning services, accreditations, and staff monitoring and training.
