Knowledge base

Cleaning of devices 

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) and NHS guidance for cleaning medical devices such as a communication aid is to first clean and then disinfect.

All devices handled by Smartbox will be treated according to these guidelines before being sent to any of our customers or team members. 

Cleaning – this is where we use a cloth and small tools, such as brushes, to physically clean the device to dislodge debris and provide the first level of bacteria and particle removal. 

If you are cleaning the device at home please be careful not to clean inside ports or vents. Submerge a cloth in warm water and squeeze very well so it is only slightly damp, then gently wipe the device all over.  

Tough grime can be dislodged with an old toothbrush or similar. To clean the ports, you can use a dry toothbrush in combination with a vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt. Be careful using a vacuum cleaner around any vents on your device, this can damage the internals. It’s really important that the ports and vents do not become wet. 

Disinfection – this is where we use an antibacterial chemical to treat any remaining bacteria or viruses.

At Smartbox we use Clinell Universal wipes, as recommended by NHS Supply Chain. Clinell wipes kill at least 99.999% of pathogens and are effective from 10 seconds. 

In addition to our usual infection control measures, we are also putting into place strict processes to combat any risk of Coronavirus being present on a hard surface.