How to Choose a Gym with Clean Showers and Convenient Hours

How can I tell whether a gym's showers and locker rooms are clean?

You can judge a facility’s cleaning practices by checking the surfaces people touch with bare skin and asking staff to explain the cleaning schedule. The CDC says MRSA can spread in gyms, health clubs, and locker rooms through skin-to-skin contact and contaminated surfaces. Its guidance recommends reviewing cleaning measures and schedules with cleaning staff.

During a tour, look at shower floors, benches, taps, handles, and locker-room touchpoints. The aim is not to make a medical diagnosis from a quick visit; it is to see whether the facility can describe a consistent process and whether the areas appear maintained when you visit.

Ask a specific question: “How often are the showers and locker rooms cleaned, and what surfaces are included?” Follow with: “Do staff follow the product directions for cleaning and disinfection?” The CDC recommends asking about cleaning of surfaces people touch with bare skin, as well as whether staff follow product instructions. It also says soap should be available in showers and at sinks.

The New Jersey Department of Health recommends cleaning and disinfecting locker rooms and shower areas daily, with attention to high-touch surfaces and areas that directly contact bare skin. Its guidance also says detergent-based cleaners or EPA-registered detergents and disinfectants should be used according to product instructions. Use this as a practical benchmark when asking about a facility’s routine, rather than assuming every gym follows the same schedule.

Do most gyms provide towels and toiletries?

Towel and toiletries policies vary by gym, so confirm what your membership includes instead of assuming these basics are complimentary. Some facilities advertise them as benefits; others limit towel quantities or charge for shower towels.

For example, 92nd Street Y’s May Center lists complimentary daily lockers, towel service, and toiletries among its membership benefits. Its adult Preferred no-commitment membership is listed at $125 per month. That is a facility-specific example, not a typical price or a guarantee that another gym includes the same items.

Policies can also change with operating costs. In February 2025, Green Mountain Community Fitness limited towel service to one towel per member per visit. The facility said towel demand, laundry capacity, staffing, and outsourced laundry costs affected its ability to maintain service. The useful question is not just “Are towels included?” Ask: “How many can I use per visit, and could the policy change?”

The Wave’s 2025 member handbook says shower towels are available at the service desk for a fee, while sweat towels are free. It also distinguishes free day-use lockers from rental lockers offered for an annual fee. That makes a short checklist useful: ask whether shower towels are included or paid, whether toiletries are supplied, and whether lockers are day-use or rented.

Are gym showers usually open early in the morning?

Opening times vary by facility and by day, so check the exact schedule for the mornings you plan to train. A gym’s advertised amenities do not tell you whether you can use them at the time your commute requires.

92NY’s May Center lists adult hours beginning at 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Green Mountain Community Fitness lists 5 a.m. opening Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. Friday, and 7 a.m. on weekends. These examples show why “early opening” needs a day-specific answer.

The Wave’s 2025 handbook lists weekday opening at 5 a.m. and weekend opening at 7 a.m., while noting that hours can vary seasonally and on holidays. Before joining, ask whether showers are accessible whenever the facility is open, whether any maintenance or cleaning windows affect access, and whether holiday hours differ.

Keep the decision tied to your route. If you need to shower before work, compare the listed opening time with your arrival window, then confirm that towel and toiletries arrangements fit your routine. A convenient location cannot compensate for hours that do not match your schedule; a longer commute may be reasonable if the facility’s access and amenities work better for you.