3 Easy Ways to Clean a Rubber Gym Floor

Co-authored by Erik Bakirov and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

So you just finished a tough workout, but how can you clean up the sweat, dirt, and other residue stuck on your rubber gym floor? Whether you're cleaning up your home gym or a commercial gym, it's important to clean the floors so they don't get damaged or harbor bacteria. Luckily, you can maintain gym floors and mats easily with a few simple cleaning supplies. Keep reading for the best ways to spot-clean dirt and stains, mop, and deep-clean with a scrubbing machine so your gym floors are ready for your next workout.

Things You Should Know

Spot-clean dirt and dust with a broom or vacuum. If there are stains, try spraying them with glass cleaner to lift up the marks.
Mop your rubber gym floors with a neutral pH cleaner. Avoid using abrasive or homemade cleaners that could damage the rubber floors.
Deep-clean your gym floors with an auto-scrubber to get rid of dirt and sweat deeper in the rubber. Use the auto-scrubber once a week to keep the floors clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Spot-Cleaning

1
Sweep or vacuum daily to get rid of dust and dirt. If you’re sweeping, use a broom with soft bristles. If you’re vacuuming, make sure that the machine doesn’t have a beater brush since it could damage your floor. Go over the entire floor to vacuum up any loose debris before you start any other cleaning.^{[1]
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- Try to sweep or vacuum every day so dirt never gets stuck to your floors.
2
Use a plastic scraper to remove stuck-on items from the floor. If there’s anything stuck on your rubber gym floor, such as gum, gently try to pry it off of the floor with your scraper. Position the edge of the scraper underneath the sticky material and slowly push it to work the material up.^{[2]
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- If the sticky material is really stubborn, lightly wet it with adhesive remover and let it sit for a few minutes. Then try coming at it with your scraper.
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3
Try treating stains with glass cleaner. If there are any stains on your rubber gym floor from water or sweat, mist the area with your glass cleaner until it’s damp. Wipe up any excess cleaner with an absorbent towel and then let the rest air-dry. Once the glass cleaner is dry, use a dry towel to buff the surface until it’s clean.^{[3]
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4
Sanitize your gym floor with a neutral disinfectant. Read the label on the neutral disinfectant to find out how much you need to mix. Combine the disinfectant with warm water following the dilution instructions on the package. Use a clean cloth or sponge mop to apply the disinfectant over your flooring. Leave the disinfectant for 5–10 minutes before wiping it off with a dry cloth or mop.^{[4]
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- If the floors are particularly dirty in some areas, you can use a soft bristle hand brush to gently scrub the disinfecting solution into the flooring.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Mopping

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Mix a cleaning solution of warm water and a neutral pH cleaner. Put 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water in a mop bucket and add 2–4 fluid ounces (59–118 ml) of a neutral PH cleaner. Stir the solution with your mop until it’s thoroughly mixed together.^{[5]
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- In a pinch, you can also use mild liquid dish detergent to clean your rubber gym floor. Just check the label to make sure the dish detergent doesn’t have any moisturizers or additives.
- Avoid using harsh cleaners, such as bleach, vinegar, and commercial cleaners like Pine-Sol since they can damage and eat away at the rubber over time.
2
Wipe the floor clean with a sponge mop. Wet your sponge mop in the cleaning solution and wring it out so it’s damp.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Erik Bakirov
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.} Then, starting at the end of the room farthest away from the door, mop the rubber gym floor thoroughly. Work your way towards the entrance to the room so you don’t have to walk over any flooring you’ve already cleaned.^{[7]
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- Apply enough cleaning solution so the floor is damp but not soaking wet. Excess water could soak into the rubber and cause damage more easily.
- Empty the bucket and refill it with fresh cleaning solution once the water turns brown or grey.
- Avoid using any textured or abrasive mop scrubbers since they could scratch your rubber floors.
3
Let the solution sit on the rubber flooring for 5–10 minutes. Rather than mopping up the cleaner right away, let your gym floor sit with the cleaning solution for a few minutes. That way, it has time to kill any germs and bacteria that are still left on the surface.^{[8]
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- If you notice the cleaner starting to dry, move on to the next step and rinse the cleaner off. If the cleaner fully dries on your floors, it could ruin your rubber floors over time.
4
Wipe the cleaner off of the floor with a damp mop. Fill your mop bucket with clean, warm water and dip the end of your mop in to get it wet. Starting in the corner of your gym that’s furthest from the door, mop back and forth across the floor to lift up the cleaner.^{[9]
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- Be careful not to let water pool up on the floor since it could leave behind stains or soak through the rubber.
5
Allow the rubber gym floor to air-dry before walking on it. Once you've rinsed the entire floor, leave the floor to air dry completely. Walking on the floor while it’s still wet can track in dirt and debris that sticks to the freshly cleaned surface.^{[10]
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- Try setting up a floor fan to help speed up the drying process.
- If you’re in a rush, you can also wipe the floors dry with towels.
6
Clean your rubber gym floor daily or weekly. To keep your gym floors sanitized and dirt-free, make sure that you clean the floors at least once per week. If you use your gym frequently or there are some areas with a bit more traffic, then mop the area daily to keep the floor free of germs and sweat.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Deep-Cleaning with an Auto-Scrubber

1
Use an auto-scrubber with soft bristles. An auto-scrubber is a machine with a rotating scrubbing pad that dispenses and vacuums water. Make sure the scrubber has a soft-bristled pad rather than an abrasive one so you don’t leave scratches or scuff marks on your rubber flooring.^{[12]
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- Auto-scrubbers cost anywhere from $85 USD for a small, personal machine best for home gyms, to over $1,000 USD for an industrial-performance machine meant for larger commercial gyms.
- You may be able to rent an auto-scrubber from a hardware store if you don’t have one of your own.
2
Fill the scrubber with warm water and neutral pH cleaner. Look for the opening on top of the machine to access the water tank. Pour warm water into the tank up to the fill line on the scrubber. Then, add about 4–6 fluid ounces (120–180 ml) of your neutral pH cleaner so you can kill germs and bacteria deeper in the rubber floors.^{[13]
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- Every auto-scrubber works slightly differently, so make sure that you follow the instructions for your specific model.
3
Push the auto-scrubber across the entire rubber gym floor surface. Move your automatic scrubber to the corner of the room furthest from the door as your starting point. Plug in or turn on your automatic scrubber and slowly move it back and forth across the gym floor. Walk slowly to ensure the scrubber cleans the rubber effectively.^{[14]
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- Since the auto-scrubber has a built-in vacuum, it won’t leave behind any water or cleaner so it’s safe to walk on the surfaces you already cleaned. Just make sure you don’t have anything on your shoes that would get the floor dirty again.
4
Clean the gym floor with the auto-scrubber weekly. Use your automatic scrubber at least once per week so you can clean and sanitize deep down in your rubber floors. In between deep-cleanings, be sure to sweep and mop your gym floor daily to keep it maintained.^{[15]
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- If you have a commercial gym that gets a lot of foot traffic, you may want to use your auto-scrubber every day to prevent the floor from getting soiled.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the best way to clean a bamboo floor?

Erik Bakirov
Cleaning Specialist
Erik Bakirov is a Cleaning Specialist at Room413 Cleaning in Los Angeles, California. Erik specializes in deep, move-in, and move-out cleaning services. Room413 matches homeowners with reliable and trustworthy cleaning services. They also promote environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Erik Bakirov

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

The best way to clean a bamboo floor is with dish soap in a bucket of water. Use approximately three drops of dish soap, and warm water and let it dry. Do not apply Boehner or Murphy's oil as it will leave residue on top of the bamboo that builds u over time.

Warnings

Avoid using any abrasive cleaning pads since they could damage your rubber gym floor.^{[17]
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Steer clear of using strong cleaners like Pine-Sol, vinegar or alcohol since they could break down the rubber flooring over time.^{[18]
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