How to clean and dispose of a mask?

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020Rémi Siv

Wearing a mask has become our new habit during the pandemic situation. Therefore, let us explore how to clean and remove a mask or a face cover. In fact, there is more than one way to clean a mask including some additional precautions. So, let’s go over some methods!

CLEAN IN THE LAUNDRY

First, according to Health Canada, if you plan to rewear a reusable (non-medical cloth) mask, we suggest cleaning it by putting it directly in the laundry. It can be washed with other items using a hot water cycle. As for the cleaning product to use, regular laundry soap should be fairly effective, according to the New York Times. In addition, according to Le Parisien, washing with hot water should be at least 60° C for 30 minutes.

CLEAN BY HAND

Second, following what was shared in the New York Times, experts have said that hand washing face covers in a sink works as well. You should lather the soap and rub the mask for 20 seconds. It’s a similar process to hand washing.

SOAK WITH HOT SOAP

Third, soak the mask in warm soapy water. This method comes from Professor Golemi-Kotra, an expert in molecular biology in Toronto York University. She said the best way to clean a cloth mask would be to soak it in hot, soapy water for at least an hour.

DRY THE MASK

Afterwards, dry the mask completely in the dryer or by hanging it.

ELIMINATE A MASK

Finally, we dispose a mask that cannot be washed when it is wet, soiled or wrinkled. So just throw the mask properly in a lined trash can. It’s the same for a damaged reusable mask or a face cover at the end of its life span. Do not leave your mask lying anywhere else.

In short, these were ways to clean a face cover. Which method is right for you? Above all, do not forget to wash your hands properly before putting on a mask and also after removing it! Also, disinfect your surfaces as well!

Visit Lalema for masks and soaps!

Sources:
– https://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/voici-comment-laver-masques-tissu-faits-maison_qc_5e960ed6c5b6a7e383dfffca
– https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/how-put-remove-clean-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html
– http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/coronavirus-comment-laver-et-entretenir-correctement-son-masque-en-tissu-30-04-2020-8308476.php
– https://www.lesoleil.com/actualite/le-masque-en-tissu-doit-etre-desinfecte-apres-chaque-sortie-voici-comment-faire-video-1fcd1b8b27e5a48f580cb589d22273c5

One-wipe cleaning system in hospitals proven to be effective

June 11, 2019March 22, 2019Sara Lafond

According to Infection Control Today (2018), a recent study carried out in a hospital in the UK has determined that a “one wipe” cleaning system was proven to be more effective than the traditional “two wipes” system in reducing the risk of MRSA in hospitals. Between 2013-2016, the hospital had been using a “two wipe” system, which consisted of first using a detergent wipe and then using an alcohol wipe as a disinfectant. In May 2016, a universal cleaning and disinfection wipe was introduced to the healthcare facility, and it made a significant difference.

According to Infection Control Today (2018),

“Using a Poisson model the researchers demonstrated that the average hospital acquisition rate of MRSA/100,000 patient bed days reduced by 6.3 percent per month after the introduction of the new universal wipe.”
Infection Control Today (2018)

These results were significant, and led to a big change in how this UK healthcare facility cleans its equipment. Not only did the universal disinfectant wipes lead to higher efficacy, but they also led to higher efficiency, since healthcare workers now only have to go over the equipment once and are assured that it will be clean.

Keeping this in mind, there are many different types of disinfectant wipes to choose from. If you would like to learn more about different types of disinfectant wipes, and how each of them work, feel free to visit our official website, and view our product offerings, or contact us directly by phone or email.

Click on the link below to view our product offerings for disinfectant wipes.

http://www.lalema.com/catalog/disinfecting-wipers-101

Source:

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/environmental-hygiene/simple-one-wipe-system-cleaning-nurses-effective-strategy-researchers-say

https://www.healthcarefacilitiestoday.com/posts/Study-says-one-wipe-cleaning-system-for-nurses-is-effective–20336

Surface Damage and its implications for healthcare facilities

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018Sara Lafond

Preventing and controlling the spread of contamination and infection is of very high importance for healthcare facilities, and it is safe to say that many measures have already been taken in order to reach these goals. However, like many things, there is still much room for improvement moreover when it is about surface damage.

medical equipment surface damage

Source: Shaw Air Force Base

Evidently healthcare facilities use a wide variety of equipment, from monitors to surgical instruments to cleaning tools, and over time, this equipment wears down. Sometimes, equipment will break completely and be unusable, however sometimes there will only be a few scratches or other small damage. But what happens when these scratches or other forms of damage become shelters and areas of growth for microorganisms? This is an example of how surface damage may not only impede the prevention of bacteria growth, but also provide the microorganisms with a place to grow.

What is surface damage?

According to Infection Control Today, surface damage is defined as:

a quantifiable physical or chemical change from the original manufactured state of an object (surface or device).

While it is recognized that surface damage of medical equipment poses a potential threat in the spread of bacteria in healthcare facilities, there is no standardized method for healthcare workers to determine what is considered surface damage, and at what point the damage is likely to cause the spread of bacteria. In a later blog post, I will discuss the ideal surface damage testing protocol, proposed by Peter Teska et al. in “Infection Control Today.” In this article, the authors discuss ideal methods of avoiding the problems that surface damage presents.

Are your surfaces damaged?

At Lalema, when we talk about hygiene and cleanliness, we offer a wide range of technical and consulting services. Find out more.

You can also read this article about The complete guide for hospital cleanliness.

Source: Infection Control Today. Vol. 21. No. 12. January 2018.

How often should I clean this or that?

September 22, 2017Gaétan Lanthier

I develop maintenance program for my clients and the question that comes up most often is:
“How often should I clean this or that?”

How often should I clean this?

Here is a non-exhaustive list of 16 surfaces to clean regularly at home.

Item	Frequency	Tips
1. Cellular phone	Daily	Wipe with a microfiber glass cloth to remove any greasy substances and germs
2. Kitchen Counter	Daily	Use a mild all purpose cleaner. When using a disinfectant cleaner, rinse the surface.
3. Dishwasher	Monthly	Use specially designed capsules or a little bit of baking soda and vinegar and the trick is done.
4. Refrigerator	Quarterly	To avoid the appearance of mold and other undesirable contents, empty and clean the shelves and containers.
5. Kitchen floor	Weekly	Use a broom after each meal and a good damp mopping every week.
6. Carpets	Weekly	Vacuuming carpets every week will even reduce allergies. Remove the dog and the baby before to do so!
7. Furniture	Monthly	Vacuum furniture and fabrics every month and steam clean annually
8. Remote control or joystick	Weekly	Remove the batteries, clean the remote control surface by rubbing the buttons and gaps.
9. Ceiling fans	Quarterly	With an all purpose cleaner, wipe the blades. Do not forget to turn off the fan!
10. Window blinds	Quarterly	Dust and clean batten by batten with soapy water and a soft cloth.
11. Toilet	Daily	Brush daily and thoroughly clean once a week.
12. Towels	After some use	After the shower or the bath, hang to dry and use a few times (3 or 4 times), then machine wash. Note: If you have teenagers, this thing may not work!
13. Shower curtain	Monthly	Spray a bathroom cleaner to remove residual accumulated soaps and limescale.
14. Bed linen	Weekly	Wash in warm water to remove bacteria and mites. Avoid eating in your bed!
15. Mattress	Biannual	Vacuum the mattress twice a year to remove dead skin cells and mites.
16. Air filter	Monthly	Changing air filters every month or as recommended by the manufacturer contributes to a healthy environment.

We have the tools to clean

At Lalema, we serve a large industrial and institutional clientele with an online catalog of more than 18000 products ! Come and have a look!

www.lalema.com

Source :

inspired from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-how-often-clean-this.

Photos are owned by me or from various talended photographs via unsplash.com

Safe hand soap: a primer

September 8, 2016Rémi Charlebois

Handwashing is the single most important action to break down the transmission of infection. Anyone working in the food industry, in a lab or in healthcare environment will tell you how often they have to wash their hands. So many products are available, however, it is clear that not all product were created equal. Multiple claims are often written on the bottle confusing users and buyers. A lack of regulation is seen. However, recently the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and Health Canada seems to be going toward new regulation in order to increase the safety of hand soaps.

FDA bans Triclosan

The American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) banned the use of Triclosan and 18 other chemicals in consumer hand soap. The decision was based on the lack of information regarding the effectiveness of this product compare to regular handwashing. Also, serious doubt concerning the safety of this product was crucial in the decision process. The debate has been going on for a while before the decision was made.

Health Canada identified risk regarding Methylisothiazolinone

According to Health Canada, the repeated exposure to this substance and its derivatives can generate multiple symptoms including:

a red rash or bumps;
itching;
swelling, burning, or tenderness of the skin;
dry, cracked or scaly skin;
blisters.

These symptoms may occur each time someone uses a product containing Methylisothiazolinone and its derivatives and may become more severe with repeated use.

Multiple solutions exist

Hopefully, many suppliers offer products without triclosan, paraben, methylisothiazolinone, benzalkonium chloride, polyacrylamide, dioxane, nonylphenol ethoxylated alcohol or any chemicals of concern. Ask you supplier what are the options regarding safe hand soap, it might save you a lot of trouble.

Reference:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm378393.htm

http://canadiensensante.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/58290a-fra.php

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