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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Gym Cleaner

💰 $ - $

FacilitiesJanitorialFitness

🎯 Role Definition

A Gym Cleaner is responsible for maintaining a clean, sanitary and safe environment across all areas of a fitness facility, including locker rooms, restrooms, studios, cardio and strength zones, pool decks, and common spaces. This role focuses on routine and deep cleaning, disinfecting high-touch surfaces and fitness equipment, performing floor care, managing waste and supplies, and supporting a positive member experience through visible cleanliness and responsive service. The ideal candidate is dependable, detail-oriented, comfortable with cleaning chemicals and equipment, and understands health and safety protocols relevant to commercial fitness facilities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Part-time Custodian / Janitor
  • Housekeeping or Hospitality Associate
  • Building Services Attendant

Advancement To:

  • Lead Cleaner / Shift Team Lead
  • Facilities Maintenance Technician
  • Assistant Facilities Manager
  • Facilities Manager / Head of Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Front Desk or Member Services Representative
  • Maintenance Technician (mechanical/plumbing focus)
  • Pool Operator / Lifeguard (with certification)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Clean, disinfect and sanitize locker rooms, showers and restrooms on a scheduled basis, including toilets, sinks, partitions, shower stalls, mirrors and tile grout to meet health and safety and club sanitation standards.
  • Wipe down, disinfect and sanitize fitness equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, weight machines, free weights, mats) and all high-touch surfaces multiple times per shift to reduce infection risk and maintain member safety.
  • Sweep, mop, vacuum and spot-clean all floor surfaces (rubber gym flooring, tile, wood, vinyl, carpet) using proper floor-care techniques and equipment such as wet vacs, autoscrubbers, buffers and carpet extractors.
  • Empty trash and recycling receptacles throughout the facility, replace liners, compact waste where required and transport refuse to designated disposal areas in compliance with facility procedures.
  • Replenish and restock restroom and locker room supplies (paper towels, toilet paper, soap, disinfectant wipes) and maintain inventory records to prevent stockouts and ensure constant availability for members.
  • Perform routine deep-cleaning tasks on a scheduled basis—stripping and waxing floors, shampooing carpets, deep-cleaning grout and tile, and descaling showers—to extend life of facility assets and maintain a professional appearance.
  • Clean and maintain glass surfaces, mirrors and windows (interior and accessible exteriors), removing smudges, fingerprints and streaks to enhance facility presentation and natural light.
  • Follow product-specific mixing and dilution guidelines and Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS) instructions when handling and applying cleaning chemicals to ensure safe and effective sanitation.
  • Identify, report and log facility maintenance concerns (broken equipment, plumbing leaks, burnt-out lights, damaged flooring) immediately to facilities management to prevent hazards and downtime.
  • Operate and maintain cleaning equipment (floor machines, carpet extractors, pressure washers) including routine inspections, basic troubleshooting and reporting of faults to the maintenance team.
  • Maintain cleaning logs, checklists and digital reports for opening/closing rounds, deep-clean schedules, and special cleaning projects to ensure accountability and regulatory compliance.
  • Follow OSHA, local public health guidelines and internal infection control protocols (including bloodborne pathogen precautions) when cleaning biohazardous spills or bodily fluids.
  • Participate in opening and closing procedures such as turning on/off lights, sanitizing touchpoints, locking doors and securing storage areas to support smooth facility operations.
  • Launder and fold facility towels, rags and fitness linens, ensuring proper use of detergents and sanitized folding and storage to prevent cross-contamination.
  • Assist with set-up and breakdown for classes, events and special programs—cleaning studios, moving mats, wiping down props and ensuring shared spaces are sanitized between sessions.
  • Monitor high-traffic and high-touch areas during peak hours and perform spot-cleaning duties as needed to maintain a clean member experience throughout the day.
  • Implement spill control and slip prevention measures immediately following leaks or spills by placing wet-floor signage, drying surfaces and performing surface treatments to protect members and staff.
  • Dispose of sharps and biohazardous waste properly in accordance with regulatory requirements, and coordinate pick-up or disposal with designated vendors when necessary.
  • Participate in periodic facility safety audits, infection control checks and cleanliness scorecard reviews; take corrective actions and document improvements.
  • Train and mentor new cleaning staff on standard operating procedures, safe chemical handling, proper equipment use, and customer-facing conduct to maintain consistent service levels across shifts.
  • Support emergency cleaning responses (e.g., vomit, blood spills) with appropriate PPE, disinfectants and documented procedures to reduce health risk and return the area to safe use quickly.
  • Coordinate with suppliers and facilities management to track cleaning inventory levels, place orders for consumables and receive deliveries to keep supplies stocked and budget-conscious.
  • Maintain a neat, organized cleaning closet and equipment storage area, labeling products and ensuring safety and accessibility of supplies and machines.
  • Communicate proactively with members and front-desk staff about temporary space closures for cleaning or maintenance and escalate recurring cleanliness concerns to management for resolution.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist facilities team with seasonal deep-clean projects such as upholstery cleaning, HVAC vent dusting and high dusting of gym rafters and fixtures.
  • Support facility onboarding by providing input on cleaning schedules, traffic patterns and equipment placement to optimize sanitation workflows.
  • Help maintain compliance documentation for inspections and certifications (health department, local safety audits) by supplying cleaning logs and material safety data sheets.
  • Participate in cross-functional initiatives such as sustainability programs (recycling, reduced-chemical cleaning options) to improve environmental footprint.
  • Provide courteous, member-facing assistance when appropriate—guiding members to staff when there are spills, reporting equipment issues and reinforcing safety reminders.
  • Assist with basic preventative maintenance tasks (changing light bulbs, tightening loose screws on fitness stations) and escalate complex repairs to maintenance technicians.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Commercial cleaning and janitorial experience in a fitness center, commercial building or hospitality environment.
  • Proficient in disinfecting high-touch fitness equipment and surfaces according to infection-control protocols.
  • Floor care expertise including sweeping, mopping, buffing, stripping, waxing, and carpet extraction.
  • Operation and basic maintenance of cleaning machinery: autoscrubbers, buffers, carpet extractors, wet/dry vacuums and pressure washers.
  • Safe handling, dilution and storage of cleaning chemicals; familiarity with SDS/MSDS documentation and label-reading.
  • Knowledge of OSHA regulations, bloodborne pathogen precautions and local health codes applicable to public fitness facilities.
  • Waste management skills: trash and recycling handling, compacting, and biohazardous/sharps disposal procedures.
  • Inventory management and supply replenishment—tracking usage and placing orders to maintain stock levels.
  • Incident reporting and documentation—maintaining logs, checklists and digital records for audits and management review.
  • Basic preventative maintenance awareness—identifying facility/ equipment issues and communicating effectively with maintenance teams.
  • Ability to perform routine laundering of gym towels, cloths and service linens using commercial washers and dryers (if applicable).
  • Experience with opening/closing checklists and facility sanitation schedules.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and pride in delivering consistently high standards of cleanliness.
  • Reliable and punctual with an ability to work early mornings, late evenings, nights or weekends as required by gym operations.
  • Customer-service oriented: courteous interaction with members and willingness to respond to requests or concerns professionally.
  • Time management and ability to prioritize tasks during busy periods to keep high-traffic areas sanitary.
  • Team player who collaborates with front-desk, maintenance and management to maintain facility standards.
  • Discretion and respect for member privacy while working in locker rooms and sensitive areas.
  • Adaptability to changing schedules, special events and emergency cleaning needs.
  • Clear verbal communication and the ability to escalate safety issues to supervisors in a timely manner.
  • Initiative and problem-solving mindset for identifying and addressing cleanliness or maintenance gaps.
  • Physical stamina and endurance to stand, lift, bend and carry cleaning equipment and supplies for multi-hour shifts.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (GED) preferred but not always required.

Preferred Education:

  • Vocational or certificate training in commercial cleaning, facilities maintenance, or health and safety practices.
  • Certifications such as OSHA 10-hour, Bloodborne Pathogens, or cleaning industry certifications (e.g., ISSA) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Facilities Management
  • Hospitality or Hotel Management
  • Environmental Services / Janitorial Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0–3 years of cleaning/janitorial experience; entry-level candidates with strong reliability and willingness to learn are often considered.

Preferred:

  • 1–2+ years of experience in a commercial fitness center, gym, or high-traffic public facility with demonstrated knowledge of disinfection, floor care and equipment operation.
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