I would write a 5 star review, because I love this gym. It's the best around in my opinion, great equipment, good atmosphere, great price, a parking lot, security, always clean, friendly staff -- and I go there to work out 3 x a week. HOWEVER I can't give that review. Why? Because they are doing something that's ruining my health, and the health of all their members, whether they are aware or not -- Ironic, when their purpose is to improve it! They're using (nationally, at every one of their 2400 branches) a Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC, look them up online!) anti-bacterial, called Diversey Virex II 256, (look up its spec sheet, please!) as the spray-on cleaner we, in our gym clothes, are supposed to use to sanitize all machines we touch.I have challenged local management, and the national office, on this. I have developed a severe and painful case of dyshidrotic eczema from the stuff (see my photo). As have other members I've spoken to. Looking up the Virex product spec sheet, it's got a ton of danger warnings. They argue that they use a diluted product, but it's constantly sprayed or wiped on, so it accumulates and dries and re-concentrates back to danger levels. It kills ALL bacteria, good and bad, causing microbial resistance, which is just like what happened with the overuse of antibiotics. Superbugs will evolve. The stuff destroys healthy skin, can cause asthma, reportedly causes eye problems, and according to the TURI report, it kills the fish in waterways. 14 one-quart spray bottles are always in use, and refilled when low, so I'm guessing several times every 24 hours. Virex was developed to clean in hospitals, between patients, by employees wearing protective equipment -- gloves, goggles etc. -- it has no place in a gym. I repeat, I would give my gym a 5 star review. There is no better alternative, or I'd go elsewhere based on the horrible disease I now have. What I really want, is for everyone (at every branch) to be aware of this, to complain, and force them change to a simple, soap and water type product. You don't need to remove every bacterium from every surface. It's a false premise of safety, and counterproductive to good health. Too bad upper management denied my request. Their email is
[email protected], if you care to chime in. And thanks! You can see from the attached photos, what I'm talking about.