Cleanrooms are incredibly common within a variety of industries. A cleanroom, as its name suggests, is a controlled environment that contains low levels of contaminants, particles, and chemical vapors. In the ISO standard 14644-1, a cleanroom is defined as:

“A room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled, and which is constructed and used in a manner to minimize the introduction, generation, and retention of particles inside the room and in which other relevant parameters, e.g. temperature, humidity, and pressure, are controlled as necessary.”

Some common industries that utilize cleanrooms include:

• Pharmaceutical and healthcare
• Electronics and optics
• Biotechnology and medical device facilities

When you work in an industry that requires a controlled environment, it’s important to have the necessary equipment on-hand to ensure optimal cleanliness. Let’s take a look at some common cleanroom supplies, as well as some of our favorite products, below.

Boot & Shoe Covers

People who work in the medical industry are most known for wearing boot and shoe covers. Shoe and boot covers are useful because they can help protect unwanted germs and debris from entering a workplace or cleanroom. Your shoes are one of the dirtiest things you own, and simply walking in a room can track in dirt and grime, which can compromise your operation if not monitored appropriately.

As employees walk from one room to another, their shoe covers should be changed out. This will help prevent things like cross contamination. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has certain standards for shoe covers based on the work environment. If you’re unsure of your facility’s standards, reach out to your manager or direct report.

Popular Boot & Shoe Covers To Consider For Your Facility Or Cleanroom

DuPont Tyvek IsoClean Clean Boot Cover

When it comes to cleanroom shoe and boot covers, DuPont makes some of the best products on the market. This particular cleanroom shoe cover offers the perfect balance of protection, comfort, and durability for the user. Constructed with a patented, flash-spinning process, these Tyvek shoe covers are great when it comes to providing a barrier against microorganisms and particles. These boot covers feature bound seams that help to reduce the potential for particle penetration, and they have ankle ties to ensure a secure fit. These shoe covers are ideal for ISO Class 6 and up.

DuPont Tyvek IsoClean Sterile Boot Cover

Another popular boot and shoe cover from DuPont is the Tyvek IsoClean Sterile Boot Cover. This product has serged seams with multiple interlocking threads to create a strong and sturdy seam that can withstand wear and tear. With a PVC sole, these shoe covers are skid-resistant and incredibly durable. These boot covers are gamma sterilized to SAL of 10-6.

Cleanroom Wipes

One of the best ways to maintain a controlled environment or cleanroom is to use cleanroom wipes. Pharmaceutical facilities and semiconductor industries are most known for using wipes due to the stringent procedures that must be followed in the workplace. Cleanroom wipes are made with low levels of lint to help protect specific environments from contaminants. Some cleanroom wipes on the market are better for absorbency, while others offer advanced cleaning capabilities. Let’s take a look at the differences between wet and dry cleanroom wipes below.

Wet vs. Dry Cleanroom Wipes: What’s The Difference?

Depending on the type of facility you work in, and the number of contaminants you’re trying to keep out, you’ll want to find cleanroom wipes that work best with your application. Wet wipes are ideal in cleanrooms because they are excellent at trapping tiny particles. These wipes are pre-wet or pre-saturated with a cleaning solution (such as isopropyl alcohol) to allow better surface contact. Available in both sterile and non-sterile formats, these wipes are saturated in solutions like:

• Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)
• Sodium Hypochlorite (or bleach)
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Denatured Ethanol (DE)

Dry wipes, on the other hand, are great at retaining particles from a surface and can come in handy when you need to clean up minor spills.

Cleanroom Wipes & Their Different Materials

Contrary to popular belief, all cleanroom wipes are not created equal. There are a variety of different cleanroom wipes on the market, all made from various materials and developed for specific uses. As you start shopping for cleanroom wipes for your facility, you may come across options that you’re not familiar with. To clear up some confusion, here’s a list of common wipe materials and phrases that you may come across.

• Blended Nonwoven Wipes - These cleanroom wipes often consist of hydroentangled, polyester, and cellulose blends. This wipes are ideal for spaces that require moderate contamination control.
• Sealed-Border Synthetic Wipes - These large specialty wipes should be used in critical environments that require stringent contamination control.
• Sterile Wipes - Simply put, sterile wipes were created to clean aseptic cleanrooms. These wipes will not compromise the sterile nature of sensitive environments.Synthetic Wipes - These cleanroom wipes are cut, laundered, and packaged for various environments and applications.

In part two of this blog post, we’ll go over what characteristics to look for in cleanroom wipes, popular cleanroom wipe options, the benefits of safety glasses in the workplace, and the different types of cleanroom gloves. We’ll also take a look at some of our favorite safety glasses and cleanroom gloves, so be sure to stay tuned for our next article!

When you need cleanroom supplies online, you can trust SOSCleanRoom to provide you with the best selection of supplies on the market. We’ve been a leader in the distribution of cleanroom supplies for over 33 years, helping commercial, medical, and industrial applications find what they need to create a safe space for employees. We also work with clients that are involved in electronics manufacturing, semiconductor, and healthcare industries. When you browse our website, you’ll find some of the best brands including ITW Texwipe, RR Lotions, S-Curve, Micronova, Static Solutions, and more. If you have any questions about our cleanroom wipes, swabs, or apparel, or you can’t find what you’re looking for in our online store, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today.