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Question?
I work in a hospital. We are cleaning and disinfecting our toys/motivational equipment in bulk. After cleaning we are spraying/soaking our toys with a hospital approved disinfectant and allowing them to remain wet 5 minutes (according to product information). The toys are then rinsed under tap water and allowed to air dry. Is this an appropriate method of disinfecting?
Disinfecting involves cleaning first, followed by the use of a product that will kill germs. As long as you are following instructions based on the specific product you are using, you are fine. I will mention that motivational toys (those used specifically in the clinical environment to for testing and/or therapy) are different from waiting room toys. Motivational toys fall in the category of “clinical equipment” and MUST be cleaned and disinfected prior to reuse between patients since these items are considered touch surfaces. Waiting room is a different area….it is not practical to patrol that area to ensure that toys are cleaned and disinfected between use; furthermore, it is not an area where clinical procedures are performed. You have several choices; either remove toys completely to eliminate any doubt (I know, the no fun zone) or make a commitment to clean and disinfect toys at the end of each day. Hope this helps.