How to Stow and Clean Vinyl Gym Floor Covers

Vinyl gym floor covers are a valuable tool in protecting your gymnasium floors. These covers help keep your gym floor clean, prevent scratches and damage, and increase your gym’s versatility, allowing you to use the space for other events and purposes. But when it’s time to use your gymnasium as a gym again, it’s important to understand how to stow vinyl gym floor covers, as well as how to clean them.

How to Stow Vinyl Gym Floor Covers

When you store away protective vinyl gym floor covers, you’re essentially following the installation process but in reverse. You’ll need your storage rack accessible and two people to complete the job.


Before you stow the protector cover away, you need to clean it. To start, sweep off the flooring and spot clean it if necessary. The flooring should be dry before stowing it away, and taking the time to clean it will help prevent damage and staining, while making for a faster and cleaner installation when you next use the vinyl gym floor covering.

These steps will guide you through how to store vinyl gym floor covers.

1. Remove and dispose of the gym floor tape.


2. Start with one section and fold the last 10 feet of the first section back onto itself.


3. Ruffle the section all the way down to break the seal from the floor and make it easier to retract and roll up.


4. Center the storage rack over the end where the cover is folded back and lock the wheels.


5. Fill the bottom of the rack first.


6. Clip the end of the cover to the roller with 3 white plastic C-clips, one on either end and one in the middle.


7. Remove the blue end caps from the roller and insert the aluminum hand cranks on each side.


8. Start winding up the cover. Each person should use their free hand to keep the vinyl centered on the roll.


9. After the strip has been rolled up, tighten the screw over the yellow retaining bar to keep the roller from unwinding. Replace the endcaps.


10. Then repeat the process for each section.

We recommend flipping the rack around between each section to alternate which side of the rack is loaded. The bottom two rollers should be filled first. Then, turn the rack to the other side and fill the bottom two racks. Continue rolling covers on upper rollers until complete. The weight of the covers on the bottom rollers helps to keep the rack stable.

Additional Options to Help Stow Vinyl Gym Floor Covers

At Greatmats, we sell several accessories that can simplify the process of storing your vinyl gym floor covering.

Brush Assembly

Our optional brush assembly attaches to the storage rack and sweeps the trash and debris off the vinyl cover as you roll it up. When you use the brush assembly, be sure to start the winding process by placing the vinyl cover under the brush head and then onto the roller. From there, you can continue rolling up the covering as usual.

Power Winder

You can also purchase a power winder to use in place of hand cranks. The power winder still requires two people to assist with the process, but it saves you from having to physically crank the roll. One person operates the power winder, while the second person guides the vinyl onto the roller.

Storage Cover

Investing in a storage cover is an excellent way to protect your storage rack and your vinyl gym floor covering. The storage cover helps keep the rack clean and prevents people from leaning on it. You can even order a printed storage cover to display your branding while the rack is stored within the gym, making for a cleaner appearance while promoting your brand.

Order Your Gym Flooring Supplies from Greatmats

At Greatmats, we’re proud to offer an excellent selection of gym flooring supplies, including gym floor tiles, vinyl gym floor covers, vinyl floor cover storage racks, and more. These products can help you protect your investment in your gym while using the space for multiple purposes. The right tools can also make stowing and cleaning vinyl gym floor covers easier, saving your staff time.


Contact our Greatmats customer service team today with any questions. We’re happy to discuss your plans for your gym and identify the products that are best for your needs. Our customer service team is available to answer any questions you might have, provide shipping quotes, and help you place your order.