When it comes to your company’s cleanroom, you make sure to abide by federal and industrial regulations. You also follow all of your company's guidelines and procedures, yet you struggle to manage consistent results in the sterilization schedule. Is there anything else you can do in order to get better results? SOS Cleanroom understands that maintaining a cleanroom can be a formidable task, and with that in mind, we’d like to help you in your mission to get the best cleanroom possible.

Cleanrooms are necessary because having something “clean” doesn’t guarantee that it is actually clean enough for a particular job or situation. When a truly sterilized environment is called for, it’s vitally important to make sure it stays that way.

Clean Vs. Sterile

Your house may be clean, but it’s not sterile — clean simply means that an area is free from visible dust, dirt, or stains. Sterile, on the other hand, implies that an area or surface is completely free from not only dirt and dust but microorganisms and bacteria. If you’re concerned about a sterile home as opposed to a clean one, you may want to consider moving out and renting a cleanroom for your living space!

Have A Standard Operating Procedure

You’ll want to make sure your organization has a clearly defined procedure for each type of cleanroom sterilization process you plan on implementing, usually daily, weekly, and monthly. This will ensure that every employee knows exactly what they’re responsible for at each cleaning session. Your SOP should include approved dilution techniques for cleaning solutions and should give an outline of which order employees should clean surfaces and appliances.

Train Your Employees

Never skimp on training! If you haven’t done this already, it’s time to train the employees who will be responsible for sterilizing the cleanroom and sorting/storing cleanroom supplies. It’s a good idea to stick with a few designated employees who will always handle the cleaning; this will ensure that the process is completed as consistently as possible each time. Employees should know exactly what to do, from the point of entering the cleanroom with sterilized cleaning products and equipment to discarding of any waste after the cleaning is complete. By training and regularly observing the employees responsible for sterilization, you’ll be better able to ensure that your cleanroom is always sterilized properly.

Sterilize Everything In The Cleanroom

Don’t sell your company short when it comes to sterilizing the cleanroom. Clean from floor to ceiling and don’t miss a crack or corner. Concentrate on every last inch of equipment, and make sure employees are trained to follow procedure every time they enter the cleanroom — one little deviation from the agenda can mean going back in and doing everything again.

Store Your Sterilization Products Properly

Making sure your cleaning appliances and products are as sterile as possible before they even enter the cleanroom is of utmost importance. In larger organizations, a sterile processing department (SPD) is in charge of keeping cleanroom supplies separated from non-sterile supplies, usually in a storage room that limits access to anyone other than SPD technicians.

For smaller companies, a sterile processing department can be out of the question due to financial considerations. Even in cases where a company is able to implement an SPD, its effectiveness may be limited by how much facility space their current location offers. Considering how storage space is at a premium under the best circumstances, it’s easy to see why companies struggle with sterile storage.

At the very least, cleanroom supplies should always be stored in a separate room, segregated away from supplies that are used in regular situations and situated as close to the cleanroom as possible. Access should be limited to only those who work in and around the cleanroom environment, whether they are SPD techs or cleanroom workers.

Have A Gowning Procedure, And Stick With It

It can be difficult to maintain a proper gowning procedure. Even with supervision, something can be missed during gowning which can lead to contaminants entering the cleanroom. Make sure staff have a set of rules they can easily follow themselves in order to minimize any contamination during gowning.

Disinfect Your Cleaning Equipment

To prevent additional contaminants from getting into your cleanroom, disinfect your cleaning equipment before it enters the workspace and after it comes out of it. Double-disinfecting in this manner ensures that your mops and scrubbers maintain minimum sterility, even during transfer from the cleanroom to the storage room.

Visit US Today for All the Latest Sterilization Products!

With almost 40 years in the cleanroom industry, SOSCleanroom has the experience and knowledge you need to get the best in cleanroom supplies and advice. Whether you’re looking for sterile wipes, mops, liquid cleaners, or industrial swabs, SOSCleanroom will go above and beyond to get you the latest and the greatest in cleanroom cleaning technology, all at a reasonable price.