Careful consideration of all factors, ranging from laundry to staffing to infection risk, can help a facility choose the optimal microfiber product, or combination of products, to meet their needs and achieve the desired outcome—stopping infection in its tracks.
Laundry: Launderable microfiber can be safely cleaned and rid of microbial contamination between uses when time and resources are plausible according to CDC parameters.28-29 However, disposable microfiber is an excellent option for facilities with limited or no laundry capacity, or who lack confidence in their available laundry facility’s ability to comply with CDC specifications.
Staffing Concerns: Effective cleaning requires proper staff training on various processes, including the use of new cloths, frequent changing of clean cloths, and keeping soiled cloths separated. However, proper training, not to mention staff compliance with the protocols and procedures taught in that training, is often challenging. Facility managers and staff are increasingly being asked to do more in less time which puts the quality of cleaning and disinfection in jeopardy.6,30 Not only are facility staff having to rush through their cleaning procedures, but they are also dealing with high turnover. This can lead to a high demand for new staff training, but as time is limited, organizations struggle to properly train and certify facility staff are brought up to speed on correct procedures, maintenance plans and when to use one cleaning tool over another. Disposable microfiber adds an added layer of safety and assurance against the risk of cross-contamination that can occur from rushed cleaning or inadequate training.
High-Risk Scenarios: Microfiber products can be tailored to contamination and infection risks. When the stakes are higher, disposable microfiber's single-use is a perfect fit. In an office or school setting, disposable microfiber products are suitable options for areas like restrooms or kitchens where contamination is likely to be higher. Disposable microfiber can help mitigate the risk by encouraging one wipe and one application per surface.
Frequent Use Areas: Some surfaces pose a greater risk than others simply by how often and how likely they are to be touched.38-39 High-touch surfaces can range from the elevator button or computer keyboard in an office, to shared supplies and desks in a classroom. Disposable microfiber is a convenient and easy-to-use solution that can effectively clean each surface through the single-use application. In addition, facilities with high volumes of staff, customers or students may not have the budget in place to handle the supply of launderable microfiber that need to be properly stored and sanitized.
