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Disinfecting Work Areas and Equipment

Do You Need Face Coverings, Hand Sanitizer, Gloves, or Sanitizing Spray?

Facilities Services manages requests for supplies such as face coverings, hand sanitizer, gloves, or sanitizing spray. Unit business managers can request supplies for their area.

Overview

  • Personal safety while cleaning
  • Surface disinfecting materials
  • Cleaning & disinfecting guidance for hard surfaces & electronics

Personal safety while cleaning

  • Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
  • Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning.
  • Clean hands immediately after you remove and discard your gloves.

Surface Cleaning Materials

Surface cleaning materials available to employees for daily cleaning/disinfection of their personal work areas may include disinfectant wipes and/or spray bottles containing either HDQ Neutral (a quaternary ammonium-based disinfectant) or Purell Surface Disinfectant (an alcohol-based disinfectant).

Note: HDQ Neutral and Purell Surface Disinfectant are for employees to use daily to clean their personal work areas. In addition, Facilities Services will be applying BIOPROTECT RTU, an EPA-registered water-based formula, to common touch surfaces in shared spaces. BIOPROTECT forms an antimicrobial shield that provides a persistent, continuous surface protection against a broad range of microbes even after the product has dried. All classrooms, instructional labs without sensitive equipment, libraries (Hodges, Law, and Pendergrass), and the Student Union have been treated with BIOPROTECT. A second treatment is scheduled for October. For more information, go to: https://www.utk.edu/coronavirus/guides/cleaning-and-disinfecting.

HDQ Neutral User Prepared Solution (1:128 dilution)

  • HDQ Neutral requires a 10 minute surface contact time to effectively kill viruses and bacteria.
  • Product has a one year shelf life.
  • HDQ Neutral contains quaternary ammonium compounds that can be both an irritant and mild corrosive. All active ingredients are at a concentration no greater than 0.1%. The active ingredients of this product are comparable to commonly used household products like Fantastik® All Purpose Cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Disinfectant, and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes.
  • Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. May be harmful if swallowed. Causes moderate eye irritation. May cause skin irritation. Inhalation of vapors or mist may cause respiratory irritation for sensitive individuals. Respiratory protection is not required with intended use. Keep out of reach of children.
  • End users of the dilute product should not need to wear safety glasses/goggles when using this product per the directions on the spray bottle label. No splashes or sprays to the eyes are expected with intended use.
  • Do not mix other cleaning products on surfaces when disinfecting with HDQ Neutral.
  • For further information about HDQ Neutral User Prepared Solution, refer to the Safety Summary provided by the manufacturer.

Purell Surface Disinfectant

  • Purell Surface Disinfectant requires a 1 minute contact time to effectively kill viruses and bacteria.
  • Product has unlimited shelf life.
  • Purell Surface Disinfectant contains ethanol and isopropyl alcohol.
  • Avoid contact with your eyes.
  • You do not need to wear safety glasses/goggles when using this product per the directions on the spray bottle label.
  • Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces.
  • Take precautionary measures against static discharge.
  • Product is designed for multi-surfaces and is safe for use on food contact surfaces.
  • For further information about Purell Surface Disinfectant, refer to the Purell Surface Disinfectant Safety Data Sheet.

Cleaning & disinfecting guidance for hard surfaces & electronics

  • Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs.
  • Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but instead kills germs on a surface after cleaning, and further lowers the risk of spreading infection.

Hard surfaces

  • Cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces (i.e. tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, should occur at least once a shift.
  • Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned in all personal work areas only.
  • Heavily soiled surfaces should be cleaned first using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • Wear gloves when using either of the disinfectant products.
  • Allow proper ventilation when using disinfectant products.
  • Ensure surface being disinfected remains wet for the required contact time
    • HDQ Neutral – 10 minutes contact time
    • Purell Surface Disinfectant – 1 minute contact time
  • Use your disinfectant sparingly. It is not necessary to saturate your work surface with the disinfectant. A light mist across the surface is sufficient.
  • After the required contact time is met, you may wipe off any excess disinfectant with a disposable paper towel and place towel in the regular trash.

Electronic Equipment

The following information provides guidance on how to clean computers, computer accessories, touchscreen devices and electronics that are considered high-touch items. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.

  • General cleaning tips
    • Unplug all external power sources and cables.
    • Never spray cleaner directly on an item.
    • Use a lint-free cloth, such as a screen wipe or a cloth made from microfiber.
    • To prevent damage, avoid excessive wiping and submerging item in cleanser.
    • Do not use aerosol sprays, bleach, abrasive cleaners to disinfect computers and electronics.
    • Ensure moisture does not get into any openings.
  • Approved COVID-19 disinfectants safe for computers, accessories and electronics
    • Spray a small amount of the disinfectant on a soft cloth and wipe surfaces.
    • Gently and carefully wipe the hard, nonporous surface of the electronic item. This includes the display, keyboard, mouse and the exterior surface of the item.
    • If you have concerns about the cleaning product being used, please refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations and warning label.
    • You may also consult with the electronic device manufacturer for a list of disinfectants that are safe to use on their products. A link to Apple’s and Samsung’s guidelines are provided in the references list below.
    • You may also use a Clorox disinfectant wipe or a wipe containing 70% alcohol, if available.
    • When using a disinfectant wipe, it is important to follow the contact time found on the label. It may be necessary to use more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for the recommended contact time.

Resources

General

Cleaning Product Information

Manufacturer Recommendations

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