Sanitizing wipes is a quick and easy way to disinfect surfaces. Look for ones that say “disinfectant” on the label to kill bacteria, viruses, and mold. They should also stay visibly wet for the time listed on the label. Be sure to follow standard practices and regulations specific to your facility for cleaning and disinfecting.
Effective Disinfection
Disinfecting wipes kill harmful germs on hard surfaces, such as doorknobs and counters. These reusable cloths contain a disinfectant, such as benzalkonium chloride, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to kill viruses and bacteria. Cleaning alone decreases the amount of germs on a surface but does not kill or remove them entirely. Disinfecting helps reduce the amount of germs on a surface after cleaning and can help prevent them from spreading to other areas of your facility.
When you buy sanitizing wipes, look for the EPA list of approved products (List N). These wipes are approved to kill viruses and bacteria and must stay visibly wet on a surface for a certain period, depending on the product’s ingredients and what it’s killing. Disinfecting wipes also effectively remove spores from high-touched surfaces like blood pressure cuffs and equipment used to test for diabetes. The type of wipe material and its ability to hold a high disinfectant concentration can affect the level of removed spores.
High-Touch Areas
The risk of pathogen transmission in healthcare facilities is high due to the many patients and visitors. It is essential to limit the spread of germs between cleaning services using a disinfectant wipe regimen. The sanitizing wipes allow staff to easily clean and disinfect surfaces without using the traditional spray-and-wipe method that can cause contamination to spread from one surface to another.
A recent study found that pre-impregnated disposable wipes are more effective than reusable cloths because they eliminate the need to clean dirty towels and can kill bacteria and viruses quickly. Wipes also provide controlled usage, allowing cleaning and maintenance crews to apply the right amount of hospital-grade disinfectant. This helps save the product and use it wisely.
Door handles, armrests on reception area chairs, elevator buttons, stair railings, shared kitchen surfaces, and coffee pot and dispenser handles are examples of high-touch areas that should be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Creating a cleaning routine focusing on these high-touch areas can help limit the spread of disease in your community center between professional cleaning services.
Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene is one of the most critical steps for preventing infection. With roughly 1,500 bacteria on each square centimeter of your hands, this simple daily habit can protect you from germs and infections. However, this practice needs to be addressed, especially when working in a busy environment like a hospital or workplace. Ideally, wash your hands with warm water and liquid soap for visibly dirty hands.
Washing your hands with an antiseptic solution before invasive procedures or after contact with patients, infected materials, or animals. If you don’t have access to soap or a sink, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and foams are an effective alternative. Practicing hand hygiene is essential for everyone, including healthcare workers and patients. You should wash your hands after using the bathroom, before meals, and when you cough or sneeze into them. Using plain soap is best because antibacterial soaps can contribute to antibiotic resistance. The most effective hand sanitizers contain at least 60% alcohol. This can help remove germs from your hands quickly when washing isn’t possible.
Reduced Risk of Cross-Contamination
Foodborne illnesses are caused by transferring harmful bacteria from one food or surface to another. This is most commonly the case when a chopping board used to prepare raw meat comes into contact with prepared and ready-to-eat foods. Still, cross-contamination can also occur through less obvious ways, like using reusable shopping bags or splashes of blood from cutting meat that contaminates other surfaces.
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas and equipment with single-use, premoistened sanitizing wipes reduces the risk of cross-contamination. This cleaning method is faster, easier, and more effective than spraying and wiping. It’s essential to use only disinfectant wipes with an EPA-approved label that specifies the types of germs it kills, such as COVID-19.
Other types of wipes may only be able to remove dirt or oils, not kill the dangerous pathogens that can cause illness. Look for a long EPA registration number on the label to ensure you get a product that will do the job right. Also, be careful not to flush wipes, even those marked as “flushable,” as they can clog pipes and cause sewage overflows.
Environmentally Friendly
Wipes are a convenient cleaning option for custodial and food service workers. Wipes are pre-moistened and diluted to the proper concentration of cleaner or disinfectant, eliminating the need for mixing products and lowering the risk of chemical spills, splashes, or overspray.
Wipers are a great way to clean and sanitize surfaces and equipment in community centers because anyone can use them without special training or handling chemicals. Wipes are easy to store and readily available for immediate use, making them popular among custodial staff. It is important to remember that disinfecting wipes are EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticides designed to kill or inactivate microbes (germs). They should always be discarded in the trash and never flushed down a toilet – even if the package claims they’re “flushable” or “septic safe.”
