When it comes to the new coronavirus, good hygiene seems to be our best line of defense. A good regimen should be applied to both your personal hygiene and how you clean surfaces, utensils, appliances and equipment.
The coronavirus, like many respiratory viruses, is said to be transmitted from one person to another through respiratory droplets that float through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land on you and make you sick, or they can fall onto a surface and take up residency for some time. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are still learning how it spreads, they do say that touching a surface or object with the virus and then touching one’s own face “is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.“ Nonetheless, World Health Organization has emphasized that washing down all the contact surfaces, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces is import because the virus is known to live on surfaces like plastic, stainless steel and fabric.
But the question that is on everyone’s mind is, how long can the virus survive outside the body and on surfaces? The answer to this question remains unclear, but preliminary research suggests that the virus can live on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to 72 hours, and it survives from a few hours to up to nine days at room temperature. A study conducted by the Journal of Hospital Infection found that the virus persisted on metal, plastic, and glass surfaces.
We are not medical experts; we are simply sharing our knowledge and experiences when it comes to cleaning our machines. Thus, with that in mind, here are our do’s and don’ts when cleaning your stainless steel Movexx electric tugs.
Do’s: Clean
- Turn-off, unplug and remove detachable electric parts (i.e. the battery).
- Use disposable (latex or nitrile) gloves.
- Use a stainless-steel cleaner of your choice and wipe down with microfiber cloth
- Use moderately warm water, and make sure that you dry with a towel or microfiber to prevent water spots.
- Use mildly alkaline all-purpose detergent and a damp cloth and lightly wiping the plastic handle.
- Always wipe in the direction of the grain to avoid leaving streaks.
- After wiping equipment down, allow it to air dry.
- Clean frequently to avoid build-up of hard, stubborn stains.
Do’s: Disinfect
- Use diluted alcohol-based disinfecting solution or rubbing alcohol with at least 70% alcohol.
- If chlorinated cleaners are used, rinse and wipe and dry equipment immediately.
Don’ts: Clean
- Avoid abrasive cleaning products like scrubbing or wire pads or mechanical abrasion, as they can scratch the equipment and ruin its protective layer.
- Avoid anything that contains chloride or hydrochloric acid as it can damage the surface of your equipment and cause it to rust.
- Avoid immersing the machine in water or spraying water directly onto the handles. Instead use water sparingly with a cloth.
Don’ts: Disinfect
- Avoid the temptation to mix different cleaning products because, in some instances, toxic gases can be generated.
As an extra precaution, it is recommended that you discard single-use towels and cloths after cleaning your equipment. Change and wash your clothes when you get home from work.
We would like to say a special thank you to teachers, healthcare workers, retail staff, administrative workers and all the unsung heroes who working tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic.
Movexx will be available during this time. Although some of our staff will work remotely, we are still here to assist you via our regular communication channels.
Infographic about the do’s en dont’s for cleaning the machines