Cleaning is an essential part of everyday life in hospitals and clinical environments. With a number of high risk factors to consider such as the volume of people passing through buildings, different illnesses and those with specific vulnerabilities, keeping surfaces and equipment germ-free is crucial.
There are a number of different types of disinfectants used in hospitals, all of which should be professionally graded cleaning materials – including disposable wipes. Hospitals and medical environments need high quality disinfectant wipes due to the dangers associated with failing to clean properly – they cannot afford to risk the spread of infection, which is why the medical wipes used in hospitals need to be top quality.
In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of using antibacterial wipes in hospitals and clinical environments, why they’re the best way to eliminate cross-contamination, and how they can help to save money…
The benefits of antibacterial wipes in hospitals & clinical environments
Eliminate cross-contamination
Antibacterial wipes are one of the most efficient ways to clean and decontaminate surfaces, which is why they’re the most common type of disinfectants used in hospitals, care homes and dental surgeries.
When wipes are used correctly and are disposed of after one use, the chance of infections being carried from one surface to another is reduced. Spreading germs between different surfaces can be known as cross-contamination and is a danger which is apparent when using sprays and cloths. To find out more about when it is best to use wipes over sprays, visit our previous blog.
Professional graded wipes such as our Midi-Wipe Clinical wipes are engineered to dispense the correct amount of cleaning fluid onto a surface to ensure sufficient coverage in order to be effective. The low contact times of these wipes means microbes are quickly killed, dramatically reducing the chance of passing any infection to those who may come into contact with the surface. Additionally, our Clinical wipes are tested to EN14476 which has the power to kill enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
More cost-effective
All of our professionally tested medical grade wipes are packed in flexible packaging using the Z-fold method of stacking. This means wastage is reduced by up to 70% compared to traditional rigid plastic tubs. Firstly, the Z-fold packing of the wipes means the packs dispense 1 wipe at a time – the wipes used in tubs are packed on a perforated continuous roll and users will often take more than required for the job.
Our research discovered that users tend to use up to 4 times as many wipes when using tubs than single-dispensing packs- highlighting that single pack wipes are more cost-effective.
Less waste
Another source of waste is the empty pack that is left once the wipes have been used. Rigid plastic containers use up to 70% more plastic than flexible packs and are much harder to recycle. Our packs have been designed to reduce waste dramatically which is a large contributing factor to the selection of the type of wipes used in hospitals, with many institutions working towards sustainability goals and restricted by tight budgeting.
Professional medical grade disinfectant wipes used in hospitals use technically advanced biocides to kill bacteria and viruses without the need for alcohol, as was traditionally used. These disinfectant chemicals can be effective in as little as 30 seconds and are great for use in high traffic areas or to decontaminate medical equipment. At Uniwipe, all of our wipes are alcohol free helping to eliminate any harshness on your skin or surfaces.
For more information about how our products have been providing the medical industry with quality and reliable cleaning for nearly two decades, see our Healthcare Hygiene Excellence information, where you can find out more about our range of products for the industry, request samples and more.
