Welcome to part two of this educational blog post! In part one, we discussed the basics of cleanrooms, as well as the various types of shoe and boot covers on the market. In this article, we’ll dive a little deeper into cleanroom supplies, covering the different types of wipes, safety glasses, and gloves.

Now that you have an understanding of the different materials that make up cleanroom wipes, let’s dive deeper into wipe characteristics. The type of wipe you choose for your facility or application will have a tremendous effect on the quality of your product and processes. Some common wipe characteristics include:

Cleanliness

Any cleanroom wipe you choose will have some form of contaminants, and this is often referred to as cleanliness. If you truly want to minimize the amount of contaminants on a particular surface, you’re best bet will be to find some laundered, sealed-edge synthetic wipes. While these wipes tend to be more expensive than those made with natural fibers, they are the cleanest option available.

Sorbency

If you work in a facility that requires the use of liquids, you’ll want to find cleanroom wipes that offer tremendous sorbency properties. Look for wipes that are made of natural fibers for the best absorbent properties. Keep in mind that while these wipes are great at cleaning up spills, they tend to release high levels of particulates and fibres when in use.

Sterility

When it comes to aseptic applications, you’ll want to use wipes that are sterilized. Most cleanroom wipes are sterilized by validated gamma irradiation. These wipes are used in Grade A and Grade B environments.

At SOSCleanRoom, we carry an impressive selection of wet and dry cleanroom wipes that can be useful in a variety of applications. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite wipes below.

TechniSat 7" x 11" Cellulose/Polyester Cleanroom Wiper Pre-Wet 70% IPA

As a world leader in contamination control supplies and cleanroom supplies, ITW Texwipe offers some of the best wipers, swabs, and sterile products on the market. This particular cleanroom wipe incorporates a pre-wetted fabric blend of nonwoven hydroentangled, cellulose, and polyester. As a highly absorbent cleanroom wipe, these wipes come in a resealable dispenser, and they can be used for a plethora of applications. Some of the biggest benefits of these wipes include:

• They can be used to eliminate issues with storing, diltering, diluting, and mixing alcohol.
• They deliver a premeasured amount of high-purity alcohol to the surface you wish to clean.
• They offer low particle generation.

We recommend using these wipes to clean the exterior of laboratory equipment or to wipe down surfaces following production.

TechniClothII 12" x 12" Cellulose and Polyester Cleanroom Wiper

Another great wipe from ITW Texwipe is the TechniClothII 12" x 12" Cellulose and Polyester Cleanroom Wiper. With a unique fabric blend, this wipe features high absorbent properties of natural fiber, with the strength and cleanliness of a synthetic wipe. These wipes are great for reducing particle generation in an environment, and they can be used for cleaning and polishing precision components. Use these wipes in ISO Class 6-7 environments.

Best Practice For Cleanroom Wipes

• If you want to get the most out of your cleanroom wipes, it’s important to train your employees on the proper ways to use them. Let’s take a look at some tips to keep in mind to ensure you get the most out of your cleanroom wipes.
• Try to follow a specific schedule. Cleanroom wipes are wonderful when it comes to reducing particles, so you should incorporate them into your regular cleaning schedule. If you need to sterilize equipment in your facility, you should wipe machines down with cleanroom wipes daily.
• Did you know that you can get more out of your wipes by folding them in half or in quarters? This will let you get the most out of the surface area of your cleanroom wipes. The idea of using one wipe to clean a small area is wasteful, so inform your employees about this trick.

Avoid reusing wipes at all costs. When you reuse a wipe, you put your facility at risk for cross-contamination.

Safety Glasses

Did you know that the majority of workplace injuries are caused by tiny particles or objects? According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this can mean metal slivers, dust, wood chips, and the like. People who work in construction, manufacturing, auto repair, electric, or welding are often the victim of eye injuries on the job. When these small particles come in contact with your eyes, it can lead to a slew of issues. Some common eye hazards that may be present in your facility include:

• Chemicals - A splash of a certain chemical or contact with hazardous fumes can lead to eye injury.
• Bloodborne Pathogens - This may include things like HIV, hepatitis, or any pathogens that can be found in blood or bodily fluids.
• Projectiles - Most construction workers experience eye injuries due to dust, concrete, metal, wood, or other particles flying in their eyes.

An on-the-job eye injury can result in permanent vision damage and may disable a worker for life. Luckily, OSHA estimates that 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented by ensuring employees are wearing the proper protective eyewear in the workplace.

If you’re concerned about the eye health of your employees, there are a few things you can do to protect your staff.

Make sure you have a full understanding of the eye safety dangers in your facility, and make a point to educate your staff on these hazards.

Provide your employees with proper eye protection and do your best to keep all eyewear in good condition.

UVEX Astro OTG 3001 Over-the-Glass Clear Safety Glasses (Anti-Fog)

UVEX is known for their innovation in safety eyewear, and the company is always looking for ways to improve their products and their protective capabilities. As a leader in protective eyewear innovation, we love the UVEX Astro OTG 3001 Over-the-Glass Clear Safety Glasses. This anti-fog safety glasses feature adjustable temple lengths to ensure a comfortable and snug fit. These safety glasses filter 99.9 percent of UV radiation from 200 to 400 nanometer.

UVEX Astrospec 3000 Shade 5.0 Infra-dura Safety Glasses (Anti-Scratch)

Another popular product from UVEX is the UVEX Astrospec 3000 Shade 5.0 Infra-dura Safety Glasses. These anti-scratch safety glasses were created for specific welding operations like torch soldering and torch brazing. With reduced levels of light transmittance, only about two percent of light will pass through the lens of these safety glasses.

Cleanroom Gloves

People who work in medical facilities and cleanrooms utilize sterile gloves each and every day. Disposable gloves are used to prevent cross-contamination in the workplace, and they can protect employees against harmful chemicals and bacteria. As you start shopping for cleanroom gloves online, you’ll come across a large and varied selection. Different sterile gloves are used for different needs, so depending on the scope of your application, one type of glove may be better for you than another. This can make shopping for cleanroom gloves a bit overwhelming, so we’ve broken things down to give you a better understanding of the various gloves on the market.

• Latex Gloves - These gloves offer incredible comfort and flexibility and they are made from natural rubber. With incredible tactile sensitivity, these gloves will protect against bacteria and viruses. Due to the rise of latex allergies, you won’t find these gloves in healthcare facilities. These gloves are extremely durable and comfortable, offering mid-range protection.
• Vinyl Gloves - Most vinyl gloves are made from synthetic materials. These gloves are often described to be comfortable and stretchy, and should be used to protect against harmful chemicals in the workplace. These gloves are often used in clinical work because they are cost effective, latex-free, and they offer a standard amount of protection.
• Nitrile Gloves - Also made from synthetic materials, nitrile gloves are among the most cost-efficient options on the market. Most people use these gloves to protect themselves against chemicals. You’ll find nitrile gloves in pharmacies, trauma units, and laboratories because they are puncture resistant, latex-free, and chemical resistant.

Powdered & Powder-Free Gloves

Depending on the industry you work in, you may want to invest in powdered or powder-free gloves for your facility. Powdered gloves are doused with cornstarch, making them incredibly easy to put on and take off. These gloves are often avoided in the medical industry because the powder on the gloves can actually impede the healing process.

Powder-free gloves, on the other hand, tend to have a higher price point than powdered gloves, mainly because they take more effort to make. Powder-free gloves are a great option for medical facilities because they can reduce allergic reactions from patients. Also, since these gloves don’t leave any residue on the surface, they make for a more cleanly cleanup. If you choose to purchase powder-free safety gloves for your application, you’ll have to choose between chlorinated and non-chlorinated gloves. Let’s take a look at their differences below.

Chlorinated & Non-Chlorinated Safety Gloves

Some types of safety gloves come chlorinated, which means that they have been treated with chlorine (this makes the gloves a little easier to put on). These particle-free gloves are ideal for medical facilities because they do not cause allergic reactions among patients. Non-chlorinated gloves are just what you’d think, safety gloves that haven’t been treated with chlorine. These gloves are harder to put on and take off, and because they are not particle-free, you won’t find them used in most cleanrooms.

Cleanroom TN1000 Series 12" Nitrile Gloves

TechNiGlove International has been a leader in the design and manufacturing of disposable gloves for years. Most of their products are used in sterile, non-medical environments, cleanrooms, and pharmaceutical applications. These 12-inch nitrile gloves are double chlorinated, and they do not contain any natural rubber or silicone. This is a great powder-free safety glove to consider for your facility.

Cleanroom TN300W Series 9.5" Nitrile Gloves

Another popular nitrile glove option from TechNiGlove International is the Cleanroom TN300W Series 9.5" Nitrile Glove. This 9.5-inch, powder-free nitrile glove is puncture-resistant and made from 100-percent nitrile. This helps reduce the potential of allergic reactions to natural rubber. These safety gloves are used to resist a wide range of harmful chemicals.

Cleanroom TGL1400 Series 12" Latex Gloves

The Cleanroom TGL1400 Series 12" Latex Gloves are powder-free gloves that are specifically made for Class 100 cleanroom use. These safety gloves are fully textured from wrist to fingertip, allowing for incredible grip control. As a silicone-free glove, you’ll find these used in most medical facilities.

Cleanroom SGPF Series - Sterile Powder Free Latex Gloves

If you’re looking for sterile, powder-free latex gloves, look no further than Cleanroom SGPF Series - Sterile Powder Free Latex Gloves. These safety gloves were made to provide outstanding strength and stretch, and they have been tested to meet or exceed all standards and requirements. You’ll find these safety gloves in pharmaceutical facilities.

Cleanroom NSGF Series - Sterile Powder Free Class 100 Nitrile Gloves

These sterile, powder-free nitrile gloves are made from 100-percent nitrole and are ideal for Class 100 cleanrooms. Offering superior strength and flexibility, these gloves are puncture-resistant, making them great for a variety of applications. With zero latex proteins, you don’t have to worry about employees or patients having allergic reactions.

We hope that this blog has been helpful as you navigate through the various types of cleanroom supplies. If you’re looking for cleanroom supplies online, be sure to browse SOSCleanRoom’s online store today. We’ve been an industry leader in the distribution of cleanroom supplies used in commercial, medical, and industrial industries, and we’re confident you’ll find what you’re looking for in our online store. Whether you’re looking for quality cleanroom wipers, swabs, sticky mats, cleaning supplies, safety gloves, or safety goggles, we’ve got you covered. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our online store, or you have questions about some of our products, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team today.