CLEANING & HYGIENE GET IT RIGHT
Lorenzo Vaira, Category Leader at Magnera Corporation (parent company to Chicopee and Sontara), explains how selecting the right wipe for the job will optimise cleaning and hygiene in care settings.
Maintaining high standards of cleanliness in care environments is essential for protecting the health and wellbeing of residents and staff. Effective hygiene helps prevent the spread of infection and ensures a safe, comfortable space for vulnerable individuals. Among the essential tools in this process are cleaning wipes – but not all are created equally. Selecting the right wipe for the task at hand, while balancing hygiene, cost-efficiency, and sustainability, is key to optimising cleaning routines.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT WIPE FOR THE APPLICATION
Care environments are varied – spanning bedrooms, bathrooms, communal dining areas, and clinical zones – each presenting different cleaning needs. The most effective cleaning strategies match the right wipe to each task.
Dry wipes are a versatile option for general surface cleaning, dusting, and spill management. When combined with a suitable disinfectant, they allow controlled application and are often more cost-effective than pre-wetted alternatives. In contrast, wet wipes offer convenience for quick disinfection in high-touch areas but are generally best reserved for specific, high-risk tasks due to cost and environmental impact.
Material choice also matters. Microfibre wipes are highly effective for removing bacteria due to fine fibre contact points, oſten without needing chemicals. Their use across care settings – from bed rails and high-touch areas to bathroom fixtures – for sanitising supports both hygiene and operational efficiency. In higher-risk areas, low-lint spunlace wipes, such as those used on shared medical equipment, offer strength and absorbency, even when wet.
Finally, all of these solutions work best within a zone-based approach to cleaning. Colour coding not only ensures safe segregation but also makes cleaning protocols easier to follow for all staff – which Chicopee wipes offer.
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Ultimately, wipe selection in care environments is not just a procurement decision – it’s a frontline infection control measure. By aligning cleaning tasks with the most suitable wiping solutions, care teams can boost hygiene outcomes, manage operational costs, and meet rising expectations around sustainability and compliance.
HYGIENE FIRST – TARGETING BACTERIA
Preventing bacterial spread is a top priority in care environments. Materials like cotton cloths can move bacteria from one surface to another if not properly laundered, posing risks to resident safety. In contrast, microfibre wipes, such as Chicopee’s recycled rMicrofibre, physically trap and hold bacteria, removing up to 99.97% bacteria with water alone, if reducing chemical use is desired. For more sensitive areas, they can be paired with disinfectants to support deeper sanitation.
“Materials like cotton cloths can
move bacteria from one surface to another if not properly laundered, posing risks to resident safety.”
For general cleaning of high-touch areas with disinfectants and for patient care, disposable wipes like MediClean by Sontara offer a hygienic alternative to reusable cloths. Made from pure
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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