Product Care
Before you start cleaning
Before you start cleaning the shield, it is important to protect yourself. Use gloves, a facemask and if possible another face shield. For safety reasons, consider the shield you are about to clean contaminated at every possible surface and take appropriate measures!
In case the shield was contaminated directly by aerosol (e.g. cough) and you have another face shield(s) at your disposal, consider throwing this one into hazardous waste. If this is your only face shield, wash it thoroughly under running water first and make sure you have properly disinfected the sink, otherwise consider it contaminated and alert your colleagues.
Prepare your workplace, where you will clean the shield(s). Disinfect the surface of the desk properly before you start.
Don't clean multiple shields at once, separate them into several batches, avoid cross-contamination!
Recommended methods
The methods listed below, seem to be the most promising to kill the virus and are currently being verified by the professionals. Hospitals and other medical workplaces can use their professional sterilizing equipment to properly sterilize (disinfect) the face shields before using them again. A test on a single shield is recommended to verify possible damage of the sterilization.
RECOMMENDED METHODS | |||
METHOD | CONDITIONS | EFFECTIVE AGAINST | VERIFICATION STATUS |
Hot Air Dryer | 65 °C (149 °F), 60 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by SYNLAB1 |
WHO Handrub disinfection* | 75% IPA, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by UCT2 |
Isopropanol (IPA) | 96%, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by UCT2 |
Isopropanol (IPA) | 75%, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by Labtech3 |
Sodium Hypochlorite (household bleach) | min. 0.01 % of hypochlorite (e.g. SAVO 1:10), 2 mins+ | bacteria, viruses | Verified by Labtech3, SYNLAB1 |
UV-C | radiation, 30W, wavelength below 280 nm, 15 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by SYNLAB1 |
Ethanol | 70-80% max**, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by UCT2, Labtech3 |
IPA steam (70 %, 30 % water) | 45-65 °C (113-149 °F), 30-90 mins, patent info | bacteria, viruses | verification in progress |
PVP-I (iodine disinfection) | 4%, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | verification in progress |
Hydrogen Peroxide | 25%, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | Verified by ZUUSTI5 |
Soap water | repeated washing, 5 mins | bacteria, viruses | verification in progress |
Ozone | strong oxidating effects, depends on the chamber | bacteria, viruses | verification in progress |
Gamma radiation | strong ionizing radiation, depends on the chamber | bacteria, viruses | verification in progress |
*Tested on the WHO Handrub formulation 2
**Higher Ethanol concentration significantly decreases its effectivity
Not recommended methods
The methods listed below were tested and evaluated as not ideal for the disinfection process or causing structural damage to the shield.
NOT RECOMMENDED METHODS | ||
METHOD | CONDITIONS | CONCLUSION |
Autoclave (hot) | High temp. 120 °C+, pressure 200 kPa+ | PETG material limit => shield deformation |
Autoclave (cold) | 60 °C, 60 mins | shield deformation (by SYNLAB1) |
Ethylene oxide | ethylene oxide steam, elevated temp. | time-consuming, several hours |
Steam sterilizer | 80 °C, 60 mins | shield deformation (by UCT2, NIPH4) |
Ethanol | 81-100% | significantly decreased sterilizing effectivity |
Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma | 58%, temp. max 55 °C | not recommended for porous materials, small chamber (e.g. Sterrad NX) |