Read my health club’s impolite response after I complained about its soiled showers
A mum was disgusted when she discovered clumps of hair and discarded band-aids on the shower floor at her local gym – but the ‘disgusting’ finds opened her eyes to a larger problem.
The 31-year-old American let the sight slide because she thought the litter was a one-time thing, but she realised her gym hadn’t been cleaning their showers when the waste lingered on the floor for the next three weeks.
‘I documented it, reached out to them on Facebook, and got no response,’ she shared on Reddit.
‘A week later I messaged again because it was still there and still no response – until I left a two-star review on Google.’
The gym’s corporate team then sent the mum a ‘rude’ email implying it was time for her to quit the gym if she was ‘dissatisfied’ with the facilities.
A mum complained when she realised her gym hadn’t cleaned its showers in three weeks
‘[The gym branch] is continuing to be a work in progress since we bought the facility a little over a year ago, and we have upgraded lots of equipment,’ the email read.
‘Plus, we are currently transitioning management. We have addressed the issues you brought to our attention. Understand if you continue to be dissatisfied with the facility, [gym chain] may no longer be a good fit for you.’
The woman claimed the gym’s management acted ‘unprofessionally’
‘I’d get it if I was being a pain about something innocuous, but lack of basic sanitation seemed worth complaining about,’ she said.
‘Why own a business if you’re unwilling to do the bare minimum [and keep it clean]?’
Can I get an infection if I shower at the gym?
Fitness centres are a breeding ground for deadly bacteria – which thrive in moist environments – with so many people dripping in sweat in close quarters.
These bacteria can cause warts, rashes, and infections that can travel as deep as your bones.
Taking simple precautionary measures, such as wearing shoes in the shower and wiping down exercise equipment, can go a long way in protecting your body from harmful viruses and infections, such as MRSA and ringworm.
Showering in an unsanitary gym can also cause warts.
Warts that occur on the bottom of one’s foot are called plantar warts, while those on the hands are called palmer warts. They are growths caused by infections on the top layer of one’s skin.
Plantar and palmer warts are caused by a strain of human papillomavirus, the most common STD.
Fitness centres are a breeding ground for deadly bacteria
Many were were horrified but not shocked by the gym’s behaviour.
‘Just clean the showers!’ one said. ‘That should be done several times throughout the day at any gym. There’s really no excuse for not cleaning at a gym.’
Another added, ‘That gym sounds like a germ fest. If they don’t clean the showers they probably don’t clean the equipment properly, if at all.’
‘Maybe you do want to join another gym. Or wait to take a shower at home – yuck! Their response was inappropriate for a legitimate complaint,’ a man said.
