How to maintain a bacteria-free cleanliness index in a clean room?

Cleanliness is very important to maintain a maximum level of hygiene in a work area.

Cleanrooms, also known as sterile rooms, must undergo specific cleaning and disinfection in order to carry out their usual activities.

Danube has a large catalog of cleanroom washers, specially designed to maintain an adequate cleanliness index, avoiding cross-contamination between laundry and which meet the quality standards established by current legislation.

What is a cleanroom?

Cleanrooms are spaces in which environmental parameters, such as airborne particles, temperature, humidity, air flow, internal pressure, or lighting must be strictly controlled.

They are designed to achieve a very high level of hygiene, always guaranteeing an optimum level of safety for operators and users. They are an essential element in all types of companies belonging to the agri-food, nuclear, chemical or pharmaceutical sectors.

To have a bacteria-free cleanroom, certain measures must be taken:

• The air should be sterile and filtered to remove airborne particles and microorganisms. It is completely renewed several times an hour so as not to accumulate dust.

• The internal pressure is kept slightly higher than the external pressure.
• The walls are covered with vinyl and the corners are rounded to prevent the accumulation of dirt.
• There is only one sink in the airlock to prevent the entry of microorganisms into the production area.
• Operators should wear special coveralls to avoid carrying contaminants or generating dust particles. This outfit is made up, from top to bottom, of a cap, mask, surgical clothing, latex gloves and plastic leggings.
• Airlocks maintain the pressure difference between the rooms and isolate them from the outside.
• HEPA or ULPA filters are used to retain particles.

How to avoid contamination in a cleanroom?

Contamination in a cleanroom can result in loss of product quality for the end-user as well as costly production disruption and corresponding increase in costs.

Such contamination can occur for various reasons. The most common are improper opening of doors and the appearance of contaminated particles from shoes or on clothing.

To avoid this, it is important to limit entry and exit as much as possible and to ensure that the doors are properly closed to maintain the pressures at the correct levels.

It is also very important to wear appropriate clothing in the area provided for this purpose. It is necessary to cross on a carpet charged with collecting the particles of dirt and dust carried, both under the shoes and under the wheels of the trolleys, to control the contamination.

All cleaning tools will be for the exclusive use of this area, they must not be stored in the room or entered without being disinfected and sterilized.

It is also important to register entry and, of course, not to bring food or drink into the room or bags.

Changing rooms and appliances in cleanrooms

There are a few standards stated in the dressing protocol that must be strictly observed:

• Close the area properly

• Wear the appropriate PPE
• Wash hands according to protocol.
• Put on leggings and other pieces.
• Go into the clean area through the separation vestibule
• Walk on the carpet to capture the particles
• Put on a blouse.
• Put on gloves and a headdress.
• Make sure you close the door securely.

The most commonly used applicances, tools or maintenance products for cleaning premises are:

• Special vacuum cleaners with total filtration (HEPA)

• Antibacterial microfiber cloths
• Antibacterial microfiber cleaning mops
• Specific chemicals according to the classification of the room
• Special washers and dryers for this type of facility

Cleanroom cleaning protocol

You have to go from the cleanest area to the dirtiest one and, in the same room, from top to bottom. Here’s how the cleanroom protocol works:

• Dress according to the rules of protection.

• Always keep the door closed.
• Remove the waste from the room and place it in a double bag or a specific bag.
• Clean up with chemical.
• Clean the walls and all the furniture.
• Replace consumables.
• Rub with the chosen material.
• Clean the sink.
• Remove protective clothing and discard it.

In general, these are recommendations that we wanted to share with our customers regarding the operation and level of cleaning of a cleanroom. We invite you to consult our catalog of machines for this type of facility.

If you would like to receive technical advice, simply contact us by calling +33 2 54 88 05 76, sending an email to info@danube-international.com or filling out our contact form. As easy as that!