How to Clean Surgical Scissors

Many veterinary and medical establishments spend thousands of dollars yearly on surgical instruments. Proper care and cleaning of your surgical scissors and instruments will help keep them sharp and ready for use. The most important part of this care is cleansing them quickly after use to avoid rusting of the stainless steel. Luckily, it only takes minutes a day to properly care for your surgical scissors.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Clean towels
• Neutral pH cleanser
• Ultrasonic cleaning machine
• Instrument lubricant

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Instructions

• 1

  Rinse surgical scissors within 10 minutes of use to remove blood and debris. If unable to quickly rinse them, place them beneath a wet towel to keep the instrument from drying before cleaning.

• 2

  Wash the scissors with a neutral-pH cleanser. Never use dish detergent, surgical scrub or anything with a high chlorine content.

• 3

  Place surgical scissors in an ultrasonic cleaning machine, if available, for 15 to 20 minutes.

• 4

  Rinse scissors one more time under running water and dry by placing them on top of a clean cloth and covering them with a second one. Blot them dry between the towels. Do not allow them to air dry, as this may cause spotting.

• 5

  Spray the surgical scissors with a surgical instrument lubricant.