Medical facilities specifically hospitals and clinics have the obligation to keep their facilities clean and disinfected. That is why it’s important for them to have medical cleaning supply all the time. As a health amenity, ensuring the cleanliness and sanitation of each room, equipment, and office is their topmost priority. Autoclave sterilization temperature and time should be monitored religiously for all medical and dental tools to guarantee that no bacteria remains.
Cleaning Materials in Medical Facilities
Dental clinics, pediatric clinics, hospitals, and even therapeutic amenities all use different cleaning materials to ensure the safety of their patients.
Here are the important components of medical cleaning supplies:
Disinfectants
These are chemical agents strategically combined to destroy any microorganisms either on floors or tables. Unlike other cleaning chemicals, disinfectants do not have the capacity to kills microbes. Instead, it demolishes their cell wall that interferes with their metabolism. Generally speaking, disinfectants stop microorganisms from spreading and multiplying. Disinfectants have different types which are:
- alcohol
- chlorine
- iodophors
- peracetic acid
- hydrogen peroxide
- formaldehyde
- glutaraldehyde
- ortho-phthalaldehyde
Hand cleaners and sanitizers
The janitorial cleaning supply will not be complete without products like hand sanitizers. These are typically made of liquid, gel, or foam placed in a sealed bottle. Sanitizers are commonly known to wash away bacteria, microorganisms, and viruses in hands. But beware, as this product is less effective without cleaning the hands with water first. According to WHO, sanitizers are not a replacement for water and soap, which are far more beneficial when it comes to cleaning our hands. There are only 3 types of solutions that are allowed up to this day, these are:
- chlorine concentration
- quaternary ammonia concentration
- iodine concentration
Detergents
The cleaning supply of medical facilities will not be complete without detergents. Detergents are water-soluble cleaning agents. These products are often used to clean clothes, furniture, and anything that could probably hold dust and dirt. But did you know that detergents can be used in household cleaning, medical office cleaning, and industrial purposes as well? Listed below are the different kinds of detergents used nowadays:
- household cleansers
- biological reagent
- fuel additives
- anionic detergents
- cationic detergents
- nonionic and ionic detergents
Air Fresheners
Cleaning the medical facility is important, but making sure that the environment smells good and appealing is another thing. A cleaning supply should also have air fresheners. These kind of products are what makes patients and customers appreciate the cleanliness of the medical place they are in. Air fresheners release fragrance, (typically in different flavors) to make the room smell nice and relaxing. It can be used in houses, cars, hotel lobbies, and even medical offices.
Wipes
Wipes have taken the world by storm when it was first introduced to the market. These sanitary products are handy and come in different fragrances as well. Items like disinfecting wipes are great for medical cleaning as they are easy to access, with just one pull, you can easily wipe the nurse’s table and other surfaces. Additionally, disinfectant wipes are disposable making them one of the medical cleaning materials that are maintenance-free.
Top Chemical Disinfectants in Healthcare Setting
Medical hospitals and clinics take disinfection seriously. Neglecting the sanitation of the medical facility would only cause their business to lose patients and those who regularly go to them for consultation. For your reference, here are the most used disinfectants by medical offices:
- Quaternary ammonium compounds. These are low-level disinfectants that are mostly used in cleaning surfaces like desks and tables.
- Peracetic acid. Peracetic acid can disinfect effectively as long as it is not diluted with other substances.
- Hypochlorites. Hypochlorites are made of chlorine and are usually used in household cleaning. It is known to be safe in general but beware as it could be an eye and skin irritant at some point.
- Phenolics. Hospitals use Phenolics in disinfecting equipment and tools that are non-porous.
