Techniques To Tackling Locker Room Odors

School janitors work hard over the summer to ensure schools are clean and in top shape when students and staff return to school. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for students to stink up school gyms and locker rooms once they return.

To help schools keep the “locker room smell” at bay throughout the school year, Cintas Corporation offers tips to combat the spread of odor-causing bacteria.

“Locker room cleaning not only helps eliminate unpleasant odors, but it also helps to reduce the spread of bacteria and fungus[i] caused illnesses such as athlete’s foot and ringworm,” said John Engel, Director of Marketing, Cintas. “Effective cleaning, routine deep cleaning and adopting correct cleaning procedures can go a long way in maintaining a healthy locker room.”

To reduce the likelihood for odor-causing bacteria to flourish in school gyms and locker rooms, Cintas recommends focusing on the four following areas of a locker room:

Floors. Floors can become a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus and unpleasant odor due to the damp-nature of most locker room floors. Perform regular floor deep cleans as well as routine daily cleaning using an effective cleaning solution, dilution, dwell time and high-pressure steam to sanitize and remove the buildup and accumulation of dirt and grime.
 
Lockers. The mixture of humidity, soiled clothing and shoes left in lockers can quickly cause unpleasant odors. Have students remove soiled clothes and towels weekly, and conduct locker deep cleans with a microfiber cloth and a disinfecting cleaning solution to eliminate odor-causing bacteria growth.
 
Gym equipment. To limit the spread of odor-causing bacteria, encourage students to wipe down equipment using an effective cleaning solution after each use.
 
Restrooms. Offensive restroom odors are not only caused by frequent use, but also by bacteria buildup in clogged drains. Consider using air fresheners, urinal screens and restroom mats to stop these odors.