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!

 

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

 

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)