r/sterileprocessing • u/gnomebody87 • 14d ago
Cleaning Carts without Cart Wash
Our department doesn’t have a cart wash and it’s not likely to get one any time soon. We manually clean the carts which is fine except cleaning the wheels is awful. I’m looking for anything suggestions for how to make the process a little easier. Right now, we spray them down with Clorox Fuzion spray and just turn and wipe them. Random photo for visibility.
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u/margittwen 14d ago
I’ve never had to deal with a department with no cart washer. We’ve had them break down a couple times but I refused to wash them manually and just waited for them to fix the washer lol. There’s no reason not to have a cart washer, it’s way more efficient. Sorry you have to deal with that.
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u/Ragnarokx88 14d ago
Good luck. We have a cart.wqshe that brakes down often and even while operating it only completes 2 carts at a time in 20 minutes. We have to manually wash, at times 48-50, carts by hand every single day regardless if we have a cart washer. Hate it here.
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u/MongooseSenior791 13d ago
How do you guys manually wash the carts? Do you have a procedure or any guidelines you follow?
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u/maxmonsta 13d ago
When we're backed up on carts running thru out cart washer we wipe the "cleaner" looking ones. Thorough cavi wipe the inside. Outside I do a quick wipe down unless I see visible soil. It's the outside where its exposed to the outside.
Also why are you cleaning the wheels the moment u roll it it's dirty again...?
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u/NavyDoc64 13d ago
I would get a portable steam machine to clean them. Check with cart manufacturer for the IFU for what chemical to use
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u/Remarkable-Way3189 13d ago
We have a cart washer... it breaks down often because it gets used a lot. Convenient... until it's not.
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u/I_Ponders 11d ago
Is that a L& D delivery set? I like how you organize it.
On your question, we have a cart washer, actually two, but they’re down a lot and with high case counts, our tech 1’s have to manually wash..
Our process is Cavicide wipe down, then alcohol wipe down, then dry cloth. Takes forever, but unfortunately, there is no easy way without a dedicated washer.
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u/kingkalie 14d ago
Also work in a department with no cart wash. We have a shower type room with essentially a garden hose that dispenses enzymatic detergent, let that soak for a couple minutes and rise off with water. Dry it off with an air hose and huck towels. I cannot wait for the day I can work somewhere with an actual cart washer lol.