Back-to-school season is the perfect time for schools to refresh their cleaning routine. As students return and athletic activity ramps up, shared spaces like locker rooms, weight rooms, and equipment storage areas see heavy traffic — and even heavier germs.
Whether you manage a K-12 campus or a collegiate training facility, maintaining clean, safe environments isn’t just about first impressions… It’s essential for better health, safety, and performance.
So, what does it take to keep these high-touch zones in top shape? Let’s break it down.
1. Start with the Right Commercial Cleaning Products
When it comes to cleaning athletic equipment and disinfecting athletic spaces, product choice matters. You need cleaning and disinfection solutions that work hard, minimize odors, and support daily efficiency.
A few top picks from the MAXIM® lineup include:
- Facility+ – With its gentle, hydrogen peroxide-based formula, this powerful three-in-one cleaner, disinfectant, and deodorizer is ideal for gym equipment and locker room surfaces. Get instructions on how to disinfect surfaces with Facility+ here.
- Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner – A one-step germicidal disinfectant cleaner and deodorant designed for general cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing, and controlling mold and mildew on hard, non-porous surfaces. Great for surfaces that require daily disinfection without harsh residue.
- Banner Bio-Enzymatic Cleaner – Designed to make your facility sparkle, this bioenzymatic cleaner contains a selection of specialized bacterial strains and chemical cleaners — all with a fresh scent that’s perfect for areas like sinks, toilets, and showers.
Did you know? All MAXIM® disinfectants by Midlab are backed by EPA registrations and clear label instructions to help cleaning teams apply each product effectively and safely.
2. Pay Special Attention to Shared Equipment
From football helmets to wrestling mats, athletic equipment can harbor bacteria if not cleaned regularly. That’s why we created a simple guide for proper equipment disinfection.
Check out this quick guide on “How to Clean & Disinfect Athletic Equipment” to learn more, or download and post it in your janitorial closets, equipment rooms, or custodial carts to help others keep Everything Clean in your school spaces.
3. Don’t Forget the Daily Details
Between tight schedules and limited staff, your team needs efficient routines that work with the flow of the day, not against it. That’s why the little things matter.
Here are a few best practices to help keep athletic spaces clean, safer, and manageable:
- Stick to dwell times. It’s not just about spraying and wiping — surfaces need to stay visibly wet for the full dwell time listed on the label to ensure proper disinfection. Skimming this step can reduce product effectiveness and leave germs behind.
- Target high-contact zones. Shared spaces like gyms and locker rooms see a lot of hands and feet. Prioritize frequent-use surfaces such as benches, mats, drinking fountains, light switches, door handles, and locker doors, especially during peak activity hours.
- Simplify with a checklist. From daily wipe-downs to deep cleans between sports seasons, a clear cleaning schedule can help ensure no surface is missed. Consider breaking it into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks for easier implementation and accountability.
Want to make training even easier for your staff?
Midlab’s Resource Center was created to serve as a go-to hub for cleaning teams in many industries, including schools and athletic spaces. This free online center features a wide range of print-ready “How-To” guides for cleaning and disinfecting shared spaces.
From gym equipment and locker rooms to lunchrooms and classroom surfaces, each guide offers step-by-step instructions designed to help custodial teams work efficiently and meet high standards of cleanliness throughout the school year. Explore what these resources can do for you and your school today!
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About Midlab
Midlab is a U.S.-based manufacturer of commercial and institutional cleaning products, recognized for its innovation, quality, and environmental leadership. With a broad portfolio of customized cleaning products and solutions manufactured in a LEED Gold-certified facility, Midlab serves a wide range of industries and remains committed to redefining what it means to clean responsibly — for people, for businesses, and for the planet.
