2-10. HOUSEKEEPING IN CENTRAL MATERIEL SERVICES
a. Cleaning Central Materiel Services.
(1) "Clean" is defined as freedom from all matter in which microorganisms
may find favorable conditions for continued life and growth. This means that the
standards for cleanliness within the CMS must be as high as those maintained in the
OR. THINK STERILE is a motto for both CMS and OR personnel.
(2) To maintain a high degree of cleanliness in CMS you must know the
procedures and means to clean CMS. Sometimes a custodial service is responsible for
cleaning floors, walls, ceilings, lights, air conditioning vents and baffles, doors, windows,
blinds, dressing rooms, and offices. When this service is not available, CMS personnel
are required to clean the CMS.
(3) Regardless of who cleans, the same high standards are required for
cleaning the physical facilities. The rules for cleaning CMS are:
(a) Cleaning methods that stir up dust are prohibited.
(b)
Wet methods of cleaning, dusting, and vacuuming are required.
(c) Supplies and equipment used in cleaning the CMS must be used
only for this purpose and stored within CMS.
(d) Supplies and equipment used to clean the CMS must be cleaned
and autoclaved before being reused.
(e) Cleaning detergents and disinfectants must be fresh and effective.
b. Specific Areas.
(1) Floors. The floor of CMS is considered to be contaminated. Two
methods are used to clean floors:
(a) Double pail technique. Two pails, each containing a
detergent-disinfectant solution such as phenolic germicide cleaner, are used. The
second pail is used solely to rinse the mop head before it is returned to the solution that
is used to mop the floor. After use, mop heads must be laundered and autoclaved
before reusing. Used mop heads must never be hung up to dry inside or outside the
building and then reused.
(b) Wet vacuum-pickup technique. A mechanical, wet-process vacuum
that does not recirculate dust or aerosols into the air should be used. The cleaning
solution must be a detergent-disinfectant. This is the best method.
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