How to Clean Hospital Supplies

Washing hospital supplies after use is the best way to prevent infecting future patients. Cleaning equipment and supplies immediately increases the chances that all dirt, debris and tissue will be removed completely. An automatic cleaning machine allows you to clean more equipment at a faster pace. You can also wash equipment by hand. Inspecting equipment after cleaning helps maintain high standards of quality and prevents broken equipment from being used in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Face mask
• Apron
• Surgical trays
• Large containers
• Automatic flusher or ultrasonic bath
• Cleaning machine
• Small brush
• Paper towel
• Hand towel
• Detergent

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Instructions

• 1

  Wear an apron, gloves, protective eye goggles and a face mask to prevent injury or infection when handling hospital supplies and equipment.

• 2

  Rinse surgical tools and other equipment thoroughly in a large container filled with water. Water temperature should not exceed 50 degrees Celsius, as this could cause hazardous materials to harden, which makes them tougher to remove. Using an ultrasonic bath or automatic flusher allows you to rinse supplies off quickly.

• 3

  Separate supplies into two categories--those that can be washed in a machine and those that must be washed by hand. Remove any supplies considered disposable if you haven't done so already.

• 4

  Load the automatic cleaning machine carefully to avoid damaging equipment. Run machine through a disinfecting cycle. Follow instructions supplied by the manufacturer to complete the cleaning process. If cleaning supplies and equipment by hand, use a small brush, paper towels, hand towels and detergent to remove dirt and debris. Rinse thoroughly in water to remove detergent residue. Allow equipment to air dry before inspection.

• 5

  Carefully inspect equipment after drying. Check all crevices, hinges, nozzles and other areas to ensure all dirt and debris have been removed. During inspection, check to make sure the equipment is working properly. Discard equipment that is broken or in need or repair.

  Inspections aids include protein tests that determine if any blood particles remain on the equipment, test strips that alert inspectors of possible contamination in plastic tubing or equipment openings, and machines that use ultraviolet light to detect particles left behind after cleaning.