rubber sports floor maintenance

Top 6 Rubber Sports Floor Maintenance and Easy Cleaning Tips

By John Scillieri Hours Published on

Rubber sports floors are used for basketball courts, tennis and handball courts, weight rooms, indoor tracks, and countless other activities.  Rubber flooring offers excellent shock absorption and sound cushioning.  More importantly, rubber gym floors provide top performance characteristics.  Perhaps their most widely-known quality is they are one of the most durable and sturdy gym floor solutions.

That being said, they also require specific care and maintenance practice to uphold their best performance qualities.  Luckily, maintaining rubber sports floors is relatively simple and straightforward.  Here are the six best rubber sports floor maintenance tips that’ll help you maintain a high-performing and safe to use rubber gym floor.

1. Develop Precise Cleaning Routines

If you own or operate a sports facility, having a precise cleaning schedule you stick to is the most important thing you can do to ensure your floor’s maximum longevity and optimum performance. 

It’s best for optimum rubber sports floor maintenance to develop two separate routines you will follow on a precise schedule.  The first would be a daily or weekly routine, and the second would be a periodic one.  We’ll cover both cleaning routines in the following two tips, starting with the daily one first.

2. Regularly Sweep or Vacuum the Floor

Depending on how much foot traffic your sports facility gets each day, you should consider sweeping or vacuuming it at least several times per week, preferably once a day.  Doing so will allow you to remove any dirt or debris that could damage the flooring. 

Using a vacuum to clean dirt off your rubber sports floor is a more effective method than merely sweeping it.  However, you have to make sure the vacuum you’re using won’t damage the rubber flooring in any way. 

To avoid doing so, make sure to use a vacuum with a soft, rolling brush.  They are equally effective in cleaning your floor like any other vacuum, and you won’t run into any mishaps using them.

3. Use pH Neutral Cleaners for Deep Cleaning.

Besides sweeping and vacuuming your rubber floor every day, you should also have a periodic cleaning routine involving cleaners and disinfectants.  When the time comes to clean your rubber floor with a disinfectant, make sure that you’re using a cleaner that’s appropriate for use on rubber surfaces.

The best way to go about it is to always use a pH-neutral cleaner.  It does the job and doesn’t leave any harmful residue that could be detrimental to the users and the floor.  Avoid using any harsh chemicals, as they can significantly diminish the floor’s performance and longevity.

In line with that, avoid using any solvents or oil-style cleaners such as WD-40 or Paint Thinner to remove spots.  Although these chemicals are effective, they should never be used for rubber sports floors.  This is because they will also destroy the floor in the process.

Maintaining a clean and germ-free sports floor is essential, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.  We shared with you the best cleaning tips for hardwood floors during Covid-19 before.  You can apply that advice for rubber sports floors as well to give your floor the best treatment.

4. Use Scrubbers if Necessary

Cleaning with a damp microfiber mop is a very effective way of disinfecting your rubber floor. But, if you’re maintaining a large space, it’s best to use a scrubber to clean the rubber floor as deeply as possible.  These useful tools are designed to clean a large surface quickly and easily. Depending on the size of your facility, you’ll have to decide between a walk-behind or ride-on scrubber.

5. Clean All Spills Promptly

Even though rubber gym floors are some of the most resilient ones around, too much moisture can damage any sports floor, no matter how tough it is.  If any water gets under the flooring, it can affect the adhesive that holds the floor.  To avoid this happening to your floor, make sure to clean any spills immediately after you notice them.

6. Use Dust Control Mats

Although this tip does not pertain to the rubber floor specifically, it’s an integral part of a well-thought-out rubber flooring maintenance routine.  As people walk in and out of your gym, they’ll be spreading small particles of dirt and dust all over your precious floor.  Dust control mats are a simple but very effective way to minimize this problem.

By placing dust control mats at all of your facility’s entry points, you’ll significantly reduce the amount of debris that gets tracked into your gym.  You’ll need to vacuum or wash the mats to ensure they retain their properties from time to time.

Interested in Installing Rubber Sports Flooring? Contact Us Today

Are you considering installing rubber sports flooring in your facility?  At J&J Gym Floors, we offer rubber sports flooring options in various sizes, colors, and installation types. 

Depending on your facility’s use and purpose, we can provide you with flooring solutions that meet your thickness, performance, and durability requirements. Regardless of your flooring needs, we can help you pick a rubber sports floor most suitable for your facility. 

We can install your new rubber sports floor in NY, NJ, CT, PA, DE, and MD.  If your facility is located elsewhere, we can ship our easy-to-install rubber floors to you.  Call us today at (973) 801-7219.  You can also reach out to us through our quick online form, and we’ll get back to you without delay!

John Scillieri

John Scillieri is the Founder and Managing Partner of J & J Gym Floors, bringing over three decades of expertise in hardwood flooring to the sports and fitness industry. Following in the footsteps of his father, a renowned hardwood floor professional, John launched J & J Gym Floors after graduating college, combining rich family tradition with innovative approaches to gym floor installation, maintenance, and customization.

With a passion for quality craftsmanship and a commitment to customer satisfaction, John has led J & J Gym Floors to become a trusted name in the industry. His hands-on approach and deep understanding of flooring technologies ensure that every project, from local school gymnasiums to professional sports arenas, receives the highest standard of care and attention to detail. When he's not transforming gym floors, John enjoys staying active and spending time with his family, always keeping an eye out for the next big trend in sports flooring.