Updated June 14, 2022
A medical office is a high-traffic area where patients, staff, and visitors come and go. This means that the potential for germs and bacteria to spread is high which is why it should always be clean and presentable to everyone, as it is an image of health and safety to most people. Besides, you won't see people coming inside your doctor's office if your waiting rooms are messy and untidy, right? Also, if your doctors' offices are filthy, no one would entrust their health and well-being to you.
That is why it is important to have the necessary cleaning supplies at hand so you can maintain a clean and safe environment for everyone. And to help you out, we've listed down 11 must-have medical office cleaning supplies that you should always have on hand.
1. Cleaning Solutions for Medical Offices
Knowing what cleaning solutions you have to use is as important as knowing what medical supplies you need for your office. After all, you can't just use any cleaning product for a certain area in your workplace. You have to be specific and use the right cleaning solution to avoid damaging surfaces and equipment.
The most common places where you need to clean in a medical office are:
- The waiting room and reception area
- The examination rooms
- The restrooms
- The nurses' station
- The patient's rooms
For the waiting room and reception area, you will need a general-purpose cleaner and disinfectant. This is to disinfect common areas where there is a high risk of cross-contamination such as surfaces like tables, chairs, doorknobs, and light switches. You can also use this to mop the floor and clean the windows on a regular basis.
For examination rooms, you will need a hospital-grade disinfectant which means it has a broader spectrum of kill claims for bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This is to ensure that the surfaces in these areas are free from bacteria that can cause infections. Usually, a lot of surfaces that need to be cleaned and disinfected are countertops, doorknobs, light switches again, of course, sink handles, and stethoscopes. In a medical facility, you should have a protocol on how often these areas should be cleaned and disinfected.
As for the restrooms, you will need a bathroom cleaner that can clean and disinfect all the surfaces in one go. This is to save you time and effort in cleaning as well as to avoid the spread of germs. Bathroom cleaners usually have strong ingredients that can remove dirt, grime, and soap scum quickly.
For restrooms, you will need a toilet bowl cleaner, shower and tub cleaner, tile and grout cleaner, glass cleaner, and finally, an all-purpose cleaner. A separate cleaner is usually needed for each type of surface to avoid cross-contamination and to achieve the best possible results.
The nurses' station is a hub for activity in a medical office as this is where nurses do most of their work. To keep this area clean, you will need an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant to clean surfaces like countertops, phones, computers, and doorknobs. You should also have a glass cleaner on hand to clean the windows and mirrors in the area.
For patient rooms, you will again need a hospital-grade disinfectant. This is because there are usually a lot of surfaces that need to be cleaned and disinfected in these rooms, like the bed rails, doorknobs, light switches, IV poles, and sink handles. Similarly, you can use them to clean the floors and windows.
These are some of the basic cleaning solutions that you need for your medical facility to keep it clean and tidy for everyone.
2. Laundry Detergent
You will need laundry detergent to wash your towels, bedsheets, and patient gowns. You can use a regular laundry detergent or a hospital-grade laundry detergent. The difference is that hospital-grade laundry detergents have been tested and proven to be effective in killing bacteria. They also usually have a higher concentration of active ingredients than regular laundry detergents.
3. Degreasers
Degreasers are used to remove grease, oil, and dirt from surfaces. They are usually used in the kitchen to clean stovetops, ovens, fryers, and hoods. In a medical facility, you can use them to clean examination tables, wheelchairs, and other equipment that may have come into contact with body fluids.
4. Glass Cleaner
Glass cleaner is a must-have to clean windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces. In a medical office, you can use it to clean the windows in the waiting room, examination rooms, and patient rooms.
5. Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes are a convenient way to clean and disinfect surfaces in one go. They are ideal for cleaning doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and other hard surfaces. In a medical facility, you can use them to clean the nurses' station, restrooms, and patient rooms too because for one, disinfecting wipes are also effective in killing bacteria and viruses.
Moreover, disinfecting wipes are safe to use. They don't contain any harmful chemicals that can cause irritation or allergies. Disinfecting wipes are generally gentle on surfaces. This means that you can use them on most surfaces without worrying about damaging them. Hence, whether you are wiping the light switches or cleaning the countertops in your reception area with these wipes, you can be sure that they will not damage the surfaces.
And finally, disinfecting wipes are very easy to store. You can just put them in a container and keep them in a drawer or cabinet and the attending staff can easily access them when needed.
6. Vacuum Cleaners
Another cleaning essential that you need in your medical office is a vacuum cleaner. This is because there is usually a lot of dust, dirt, and debris that accumulate on the floor, especially in areas like the waiting room and reception area. A vacuum cleaner can help you clean the floors quickly and easily. It can also reach tight spaces and corners where dirt and dust usually accumulate.
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, make sure to choose one that is powerful enough to pick up all the dirt and dust on your floor. You should also choose one that is easy to use and maintain. The most recommended vacuum cleaners for medical offices are the ones with HEPA filters. This is because they can effectively remove all the dirt, dust, and debris from the floor surface. In addition, HEPA filters can also remove allergens from the air, which is beneficial for patients with allergies.
7. Trash Bags
Trash bags do not get the same attention as other cleaning supplies, but they are just as important and not to mention, crucial, since you are dealing with medical waste.
When choosing trash bags, make sure to choose the right size and thickness. Trash bags usually come in various sizes, and you can choose the ones that will best fit your needs. You can also get them in different colors to easily identify which bag is for which type of trash.
In medical offices, it is a common practice to segregate the trash. There are usually three types of trash in these offices: general waste, infectious waste, and recyclable materials.
General waste includes items like paper, plastic, and metal. Recyclable materials include items like glass and aluminum cans. Infectious waste includes items like used gloves, gauze, and Band-Aids.
You will need to have a separate trash can for each type of waste. You can also label the trash cans so there will be no confusion. There are countries where it is required by law to segregate the trash. In these cases, you will need to have a separate trash can for each type of waste.
8. Paper Towels
Paper towels are important in offices because you can use them to clean up spills quickly. They are also useful in cleaning surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and countertops with just a little spritz of cleaning solution. Paper towels come in different sizes, and you can choose the ones that will best fit your needs. You can also get them in different colors to easily identify which one is for which purpose, such as cleaning or wiping.
9. Hand Soap/Hand Wash
You will also need to have a supply of hand soap in your medical office. Hand soap is important in offices because it helps remove dirt, debris, and bacteria from your hands. It is also important to have a hand soap that is gentle on the skin. Choose a hand soap that has a pleasant smell and is hypoallergenic to avoid irritating the skin.
10. Cleaning Rags
Cleaning rags are important in offices because they can be used to wipe surfaces, clean spills, or be used for dusting. They come in different sizes, and you can choose the ones that will best fit your needs. You can also get them in different colors to easily identify which one is for which purpose.
Conclusion
In the end, cleanliness is important in any place of business, but it is especially important in medical offices. This is because there are a lot of risks involved in these types of workplaces. To ensure the safety of your employees and patients, you should make sure that you have the proper cleaning supplies. The cleaning supplies listed above are the most essential items that you should have in your medical arsenal.
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