Equipment & Furniture in medical clinics, hospitals and doctors’ offices need to be kept exceptionally clean. As the equipment works hard, proper upkeep becomes vital, to help it stay healthy and perform better. Some pathogens can live on surfaces for up to 5 months outside a host. Germs and bacteria on medical furniture and hard surfaces can spread disease and cause particularly serious problems for people with compromised immunity due to illness or injury.

Optimum care and cleaning combined with streamlined annual maintenance provides you with complete peace of mind. We care as much about your furniture as you do and here are a few tips from our service desk:

Cleaning Metal / General Surface

• All surfaces must be kept dry at all times. Exposure to wet or humid conditions could result in rust, paint lifting, discolouration or corrosion.
• Any stain, spills or soiling should be cleaned up immediately to prevent the possibility of permanent staining.
• Clean all surfaces with a soft, damp cloth and polish completely dry. Abrasive cloth must NOT be used.
• For disinfection, use diluted chlorine products at a strength of 1,000ppm chlorine and 10,000ppm for blood/blood stained body fluid spillages.
• Do not use concentrated bleach, synthetic detergents, solvents, wax polishes or aerosol sprays on any surface.

Cleaning Vinyl Upholstery

In general our vinyl are excellent stain repellents and they can further be customized with or without antimicrobial properties. In spite of that, it is mandatory to clean them on a daily basis in order to maintain its appearance and prevent build-up of dirt and contaminants.

• Clean the entire surface daily using a mixture of 1:9 liquid soap (neutral pH) and water with a clean, soft cloth. Abrasive cloth must NOT be used.
• Completely remove excess cleaner solution with a white, clean, damp cloth. All surfaces must be thoroughly cloth dried.
• Any stain, spills or soiling should be cleaned up immediately to prevent the possibility of permanent staining.
• Do not use soap or cleaning solutions that contain alcohol, ketones, xylene, acetates or solvents (mineral/white spirits).
• Do not use solvents, abrasives, synthetic detergents, wax polishes or aerosol sprays.
• For disinfection, use diluted chlorine products at a strength of 1,000ppm chlorine and 10,000ppm for blood/blood stained body fluid spillages. Rinse and dry all surfaces immediately

Cleaning Electrical Components

• Electrical components must not be exposed to any form of liquid or humid conditions.
• Plastic casings containing actuators or handsets should be cleaned using a soft damp nonabrasive cloth and polished dry immediately.
• Do not use solvents, abrasives, synthetic detergents, wax polishes or aerosol sprays
• Please note: Using cleaning products contrary to the manufacturer’s instructions may compromise the integrity of the furniture and may invalidate your warranty

What AHE Recommends?

What are the best techniques for keeping medical furniture clean? The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) offers these detailed guidelines:

• Bleach – AHE recommends a 10:1 ratio of water to bleach for sanitizing surfaces. Bleach is one of the few disinfectants that is effective against the dangerous, antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficile (C. diff) bacterium.
• Peroxide – Peroxide is a beneficial low- to mid-level disinfectant when used in a 3% solution. Some peroxide cleaners qualify for the EcoLogo green product certification.
• UV lights – Ultraviolet light at a 254-nanometer wavelength (the visible light spectrum ranges from 390 nm to 710 nm) works well as a bactericide. Cycle time exposures vary, so users should follow manufacturers’ guidelines to maximize effectiveness.
• Alcohol – Alcohol and alcohol wipes are convenient for minor cleaning. Isopropyl or ethyl alcohol diluted to a 55 to 70% solution is effective against mycobacterium tuberculosis but has limited effectiveness against other pathogens.
• Quaternary ammonium compounds – Quats are potent disinfectants often found in antibacterial wipes and other cleaners intended for high-touch surfaces such as countertops (or household toilets). A number of companies make hospital-specific quat-based cleaners that disinfect and deodorize in one step. Some compounds have proven effective against staph bacteria.
• Steam – In some situations, steam makes an effective weapon against bed bugs as well as bacteria, fungi and viruses in upholstery.