Members make up their minds about hygiene in seconds. A sweaty bench, a smeared mirror or a shower drain clogged with hair is the kind of thing that ends up in a review or a cancelled membership.
Gyms are tough to clean because they're rarely empty. Many run early mornings to late nights, some never close, and the busiest times sit right where a cleaner would like to work. A crew that just mops the floor and empties bins leaves the jobs that matter: grips, cable handles, rubber flooring under the racks and grout in the showers.
Owners and managers end up wiping down equipment themselves between classes. That's time better spent on members and sales.