Planet Fitness Member Says She Only Later Realized Members May Be Responsible for Cleaning Tanning Beds

A Planet Fitness member has gone viral on TikTok after sharing her surprise over what she says she learned about the gym’s tanning beds. Tiffany Jeffcoat, who posts as @tiff.jeffcoat, said she believed employees cleaned the tanning beds between every session, only to later realize that, at her location, members were expected to wipe them down themselves.

The video has prompted discussion online about gym hygiene, tanning bed policies, and the importance of understanding cleaning procedures at individual fitness centers.

Discovery

In her TikTok video, Jeffcoat explained that she regularly visits Planet Fitness and occasionally uses the tanning beds.

She described herself as someone who routinely wipes down gym equipment before and after use. However, she said she assumed the tanning beds were cleaned by employees between members.

According to Jeffcoat, that assumption changed after one particular visit.

Experience

Jeffcoat said she was waiting for a tanning bed when staff informed her that one would be available shortly.

After the previous member finished, she said an employee handed her the access card and told her the bed was ready.

At that moment, she realized staff had not cleaned the bed before she entered.

She said it was then that she concluded she had likely been using tanning beds without realizing members were expected to sanitize them after each use.

Reaction

Jeffcoat expressed surprise and concern in the video, saying she had unknowingly used the beds without cleaning them afterward because she believed employees handled the task.

She also acknowledged that previous users may have made the same assumption.

The creator ended her video by encouraging other members to wipe down tanning beds before and after use as a precaution.

Responses

The video generated thousands of comments from viewers, including people claiming to be current or former Planet Fitness employees.

One commenter who said they previously worked at Planet Fitness wrote that employees at their location cleaned tanning beds between every customer, regardless of whether members had already done so.

Others shared different experiences, saying that at their gyms, members are responsible for cleaning the equipment themselves.

Policy

Discussions on the r/PlanetFitnessMembers subreddit reflected similar differences among locations.

Several members said signs at their gyms instruct users to sanitize tanning beds after each session.

Others said they clean the equipment both before and after use, regardless of the posted policy, as an extra hygiene measure.

Some members also recommended using stand-up tanning booths because they involve less direct contact with shared surfaces.

Reminder

Cleaning procedures can vary between gyms and individual franchise locations.

Members who use shared equipment, including tanning beds, are generally encouraged to follow posted instructions and ask staff about cleaning policies if they are unsure.

Planet Fitness has not publicly commented on Jeffcoat’s viral TikTok video.

Topic	Details
Gym	Planet Fitness
Creator	Tiffany Jeffcoat (@tiff.jeffcoat)
Platform	TikTok
Main Concern	Tanning bed cleaning responsibility
Staff Response	Not publicly addressed by Planet Fitness
Online Discussion	Members reported different policies by location

Jeffcoat’s experience has sparked a broader conversation about cleanliness at fitness centers and the importance of understanding facility-specific policies. While some Planet Fitness locations reportedly have staff sanitize tanning beds, others rely on members to clean the equipment themselves, highlighting why checking local procedures can help avoid confusion.

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