Steps of Cleaning

Wear utility gloves, a mask, and protective eyewear when cleaning instruments and other items.

Step 1
Using a soft brush or old toothbrush, detergent, and water, scrub instruments and other items vigorously to completely remove all blood, other body fluids, tissue, and other foreign matter. Hold instruments and other items under the surface of the water while scrubbing and cleaning to avoid splashing. Disassemble instruments and other items with multiple parts, and be sure to brush in the grooves, teeth, and joints of items where organic material can collect and stick.

Step 2
Rinse items thoroughly with clean water to remove all detergent. Any detergent left on the items can reduce the effectiveness of further chemical processing.

Step 3
Allow items to air-dry (or dry them with a clean towel).

Items that require special attention

Special considerations must be taken when cleaning reusable needles and syringes, gloves, linens, environmental surfaces, and instruments used during manual vacuum aspiration (MVA).

Reusable needles and syringes

Always handle needles in a way that avoids injury.

 

Disassemble the needle and syringe, then wash with detergent and warm water to remove all particles. If a stylet or wire is available, insert it through the needle to make sure the needle is not clogged. Reassemble and rinse with clean water by flushing with water (drawing in and expelling the water) at least three times. Detach the needle and inspect it to make sure the hub area is clean, the needle is not bent, and the tip is not damaged. Check the syringe to make sure the seal is good and the markings are readable. Air-dry needles; air- or towel-dry syringes.

 

Surgical gloves

To avoid tearing gloves, handle with care. Do not scrub with a brush, and always wash gloves separately from other items.

 

Wash with detergent and warm water. Rinse in clean water until all detergent is gone. Check for holes by inflating the gloves with air and holding them underwater (air bubbles will appear if there are holes in the gloves), or fill the gloves with water and check for leaks. Towel-dry inside and out, or air-dry by hanging gloves in an area of low activity.

 

Linens (caps, gowns, masks, and surgical drapes)

Handle soiled linens as little as possible. Always wear utility gloves when handling and washing soiled linens

 

Wash with detergent and hot water and rinse with clean water. Air- or machine-dry. To reduce the risk of exposure to infectious material, machine washing is recommended, where possible. When machine washing is not possible, staff who wash linens by hand should wear protective gear, such as gloves, waterproof aprons, and either face shields or goggles and a mask to reduce the likelihood of exposure to blood and other body fluids.

 

Environmental surfaces

Examination couches, tabletops, operating tables, walls, and other surfaces that may have been contaminated by blood or other body fluids should be cleaned after each client. Wipe these surfaces with a cloth dampened with a disinfectant cleaning solution. For more information on this topic, see the Housekeeping module of this course.

 

Instruments used during MVA

Disassemble the syringe completely, including removing the collar stop and the O-ring on the plunger. On a double-valve syringe, also remove the O-ring from inside the valve. Wash the parts of the syringe and the cannula with detergent and water. Scrub the syringe with a soft brush (e.g., a toothbrush). Do not use brushes or other objects to try to remove blood or tissue from the inside of the tip of the cannula; this may cause scratches that can trap materials and microorganisms or may damage the tip, increasing the risk of breakage. Instead, try to dislodge material in the tip by flushing the cannula with water (drawing up and expelling water) or flicking the top of the cannula with your gloved fingertips. Rinse with clean water and air-dry (drying is not necessary if the cannula will be further processed by boiling or steaming). Dry the syringe thoroughly before reassembling it.