How to Disinfect Medical Tables

Keeping your medical supplies, including tables and chairs, clean is important to the integrity of your practice. Proper disinfecting is essential for stopping the spread of pathogens that cause disease to keep your patient safe. Additionally, routine cleaning can make your medical exam table parts last longer.

Properly disinfecting medical tables takes more than a wet wipe or some soap and water. Read on to learn the ins and outs of how to clean this important medical equipment.

Methods of Disinfection

First things first, it’s important to note that not all disinfectants are created equal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that disinfectants are not interchangeable, and incorrect concentrations and inappropriate disinfectants can result in excessive costs.

These costs can be tangible, such as damage to your medical equipment, or more abstract such as the cost to patient and staff health. Either way, it’s essential to only use commercial formulations that are registered with EPA or cleared by FDA.

Essentially, there are two methods of sterilization you can use on medical equipment; chemical and physical. The former is more widely known, and some examples of chemical disinfectants include:

• Alcohol
• Chlorine and chlorine compounds
• Formaldehyde
• Glutaraldehyde
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Iodophors
• Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA)
• Peracetic acid
• Peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide
• Phenolics
• Quaternary ammonium compounds

On the other hand, a physical sterilization process would rely on things like heat, UV rays, pressure, radiation, etc. Many hospitals and medical practices may rely on a combination of both methods for the best results.

Disinfecting Medical Exam Tables 101

Whenever you find a cleaning product, it’s essential to read the labels carefully before use. Products are designed for different purposes and materials, which you should follow. Additionally, disinfectants often have different requirements for proper application to ensure they’re being applied effectively.

While you can’t go wrong with using the chemical sterilants recommended by the CDC, you can also find helpful advice from medical exam table manufacturers. Here are what some of the most well-known medical exam table manufacturers advise when it comes to disinfecting equipment.

Midmark

The experts at Midmark remind us that all disinfectants and cleaning agents contain chemicals that degrade your vinyl medical exam table covers to some extent. They recommend washing your upholstery weekly using mild liquid soap and water mixture. Also, disinfect upholstery as recommended by the CDC using a solution of standard bleach and water mixed 1:10 (10%).

This easy 4-step procedure can be followed:

1. Position the table in a flat position.
2. Disinfect upholstery per the disinfectant/cleaner’s instructions.
3. Rinse with clear water.
4. Wipe with a clean towel or cloth.

Disinfecting Tip: Make sure to thoroughly wash and dry all surfaces when switching between disinfectants and cleaners to prevent adverse chemical reactions that could cause permanent damage to your upholstery.

Brewer

Brewer recommends that all surfaces are cleaned according to your end-user facility’s guidelines, however, they do provide some general recommendations.

A solution of 10% household liquid dish soap with warm water applied with a soft damp cloth will remove most soiling. When it comes to how to disinfect medical exam table upholstery, consider using:

• 70% isopropyl alcohol
• 0.28% diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, 17.2% isopropanol
• 0.25% dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, 0.25% dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides
• 7.85% sodium hypochlorite
• 0.5% hydrogen peroxide

For soft vinyl upholstery, try to avoid hard cleaners like quaternary cleaners. Phenolic disinfectants are the best choice for vinyl products, though properly diluted quaternary can also work.

Disinfecting Tip: Make sure to unplug power medical exam tables and any equipment connected to electricity before cleaning to avoid burns or electric shocks.

Clinton

Another well-known medical exam table manufacturer, Clinton uses only premium, high-quality vinyl for upholstery. Of course, care should be taken when cleaning to ensure that the upholstery or color is not affected by the cleaning agent.

To accomplish this, use only mild cleaning agents on upholstery such as a 1:1 mix of ammonia and water or a 1:4 mix of bleach and water. Always rinse thoroughly with clean water after disinfecting and pat the surface to dry.

Disinfecting Tip: Before trying a new cleaning disinfection product or method, test it on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage.

At ExamTablesDirect, we offer a variety of power exam tables and manual treatment tables from these top brands and more. You can rest assured that your medical examination table is made with high-quality upholstery and a guide to help you properly disinfect it.

Shop medical exam tables for sale from ExamTablesDirect today.