Healthcare personnel are well-versed in using face shields;however, the general public is less familiar. They’re used in medical situations when it’s likely that body fluids or toxic chemicals may get into the eyes, nose, or mouth and cause serious problems. You may have noticed other vital employees and even family members wearing face shields in recent months, but this is not a new phenomenon.
What is the proper way to wipe a face shield inside a medical environment?
- Use a wash cloth soaked with a mild soap solution or even a cleaning wipe to gently cleanse the interior of the face shield, followed by the exterior of the shield while wearing gloves.
- Clean the exterior of a face shield with a wipe or a dry clean cloth that has been wet sanitizer.
- Use a cloth as well as water and alcohol to clean the outside of the face shield to get rid of any leftover residue from the adhesive.
- Finished with evaporation
Cleanup is quick
Wipes are commonly used in various offices for rapid cleansing of shields and also in patient cleaning. In a pinch, disinfectant wipes can be used, but they can leave a residue on the shield and make it decay more quickly. Preventing cross-contamination by testing a cleaner on a small area away from your line of vision is the recommended practice.
Using warm soapy wipes to rinse face shields is the most effective method of cleaning, especially in dental offices where toothpaste residue may scrape shields. Remove loose particles from the shield by running it under hot water. After that, just clean with a light dish soap. Using a soft, lint-free cloth, dry the surface of the product.
Cleaning and Maintenance of the Face Shields
To wash your face shields, use hot water and a light but effective detergent, like Dawn dishes soap, to rinse them well. Using soap and water, clean the visor, or soak the entire cover in soapy water. To dry the shield, rinse it thoroughly with water and set it aside to dry naturally or with a soft, gentle cloth.Use a moderate but efficient cleaning solution such as a standard household surface cleaner to clean your shields instead of spraying or wiping them. Use a soft cloth to wipe off the shield after spraying it with cleaner. Cleaning wipes are another option. Water can be used to remove any stains that may have been left by cleaning products.
Tips for cleaning
When washing and dry your shield, particularly the visor, be sure using a light, microfiber towel or towel to stop leaving scratches or markings on your helmet. All cleaning solutions which contain bleach and ammonium should be avoided since they might leave a foggy layer on your visor. Whenever you are unsure about whether or not a remedy is suitable to be used on your shield, try this on a section of the shield to see whether any residue or fog remains.
Cleaning Procedures:
- Completely clean your hands.
- Pull the face shield away from your face by grabbing it by the straps at the temples and pulling it down.
- Using a solution containing bleach, liberally splash all surface areas of the face shield
- Let the face shield it stay moist with the bleaching solution.
- With at least 1 minute, thoroughly rinse all sides of a face shield using water.
- Face shield can be dried with such a clean towel or left out to air-dry completely
- Working environment must be spotless
- Toss off your gloves and properly wash your hands.
Most effective method of cleaning
It is simple to clean your face shield with rubbing alcohol as well as a cleaned microfiber cloth or even a lint-free wet wipe after each use. It’s as simple as dampening one side of your microfiber and paper towel using rubbing alcohol, wiping, and then thoroughly drying with other side of your cloth/towel.
Washing a face shield – how to do it
Before and after disinfection, wipe off the work surface with a damp cloth. When dirty, wash the area well before cleaning with bleach. Soapy water should be used to clean visor. Use clean water to finish rinsing. Cleaning the face shield is step three of the process. Only the visor should be disinfected with a disinfectant. Try to stay away from anything containing bleach. To ensure sufficient contact time, keep your visor damp at all times. After drying, a defogging wipe or spray can be used. Maintain a clean environment for storage.
Face shield cleaning and disinfection instructions
For the shields to really be contaminant-free again, a simple alcohol wipe or a thorough cleaning using soap and hot water is sufficient.
- Using warm water to remove particle matter will help you avoid producing surface scratches on your face shield.
- Reduce surface tension by using a gentle liquid dish detergent such as Dawn, and then enable the soapy water to disperse evenly across the surface of the dish.
- Cleaning the shield with a gentle cloth or sponge is recommended.
- Then, using a light cotton towel or an ultra-fine microfiber cloth, gently dry the shield.
- As we all know, soap and water are effective in removing microorganisms from our hands; thus, it will also work for your face shield.
- Using a surface disinfection wipe or spray may seem like a good idea, but these chemicals might create a visible residue that must be cleaned up afterwards.
It is also possible to clean and maintain plastic surfaces clear using a 70% alcohol wipe, but it is necessary to wash the face shield first to eliminate any bioburden before disinfecting it. Be aware that face shields are produced from a variety of polymers, and that some of these plastics, when cleansed using alcohol or other disinfectants, may become brittle or hazy over time. Your face shield’s useful life may be reduced as a result of this. After washing the headband, wiping it down with such a 70% alcohol wipes are appropriate.
