At Applied Ergonomics, healthcare is one of our top verticals, and recently, we’ve had an eye-opening lesson about cleaning practices in healthcare environments. As a furniture dealer, we’ve historically left hygiene protocols to the experts at these facilities. However, we’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—that the cleaning products used can significantly impact the longevity of furniture materials, even for seating fabric built to be durable and easy to clean. We hope that sharing our experience helps you avoid a similar situation.
For healthcare clinics, one of the go-to cleaning products is CaviCide, a spray commonly used to disinfect surfaces. It’s a solid choice for maintaining hygienic conditions; however, CaviCide’s instructions do not require wiping off after application, a detail that can conflict with the warranty requirements of many seating fabrics. When left to dry on the surface, it can cause unexpected wear or discoloration—an issue we faced head-on with one of our long-standing clients.
A Costly Experience with Silicone Seating Fabrics
Silicone, often layered with polyurethane, is highly durable, inherently antimicrobial, and even resistant to ink stains if they’re treated quickly. For a recent project, we specified a bright white silicone fabric for waiting area seating backs across 13 clinics. While the material met our client’s needs on paper, over time, the seating backs began to develop a hazy brown discoloration, especially in high-traffic areas. The culprit? A combination of CaviCide’s residue and the fabric’s sensitive protective coating, which requires specific handling.
After consulting with the fabric manufacturer and doing our own research, we identified the root cause. The cleaning instructions for the silicone fabric advised rinsing with water after the solution’s dwell time, while CaviCide’s instructions did not. Over time, the chemical residue degraded the protective coating on the fabric, resulting in that unattractive discoloration. Correcting this problem involves replacing the fabric—a costly project we’re currently navigating with our client and the fabric manufacturer.
Choosing the Right Cleaner: Quaternary Ammonium vs. Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide
If your facility is evaluating disinfectants, it helps to understand the main categories available. Most disinfectants used in healthcare facilities fall under two types: quaternary ammonium compounds (like CaviCide) and accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP).
- Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: Quats, like CaviCide, are EPA-approved and effective for routine cleaning of “noncritical” surfaces such as floors and bed rails. However, they need a long dwell time to be fully effective and are not always ideal for high-touch areas since frequent wiping can compromise surfaces. Quats work well against bacteria, enveloped viruses (including COVID-19), and fungi but are less effective against spore-based contaminants and certain viruses.
- Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP): Recently introduced as EPA-approved surface disinfectants, AHP products are often ideal for high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and counters because of their shorter dwell times (as low as 30 seconds to 1 minute). This allows for more frequent cleaning without risking surface degradation and offers a reliable option for high-traffic environments.
For our client’s fabric, it turned out that dwell time and pH levels were critical. Since CaviCide’s pH ranges between 8.5 and 12.5, it was found to be harsher on sensitive materials, especially those with a top coating.
Finding a Solution
To prevent issues like discoloration or fabric degradation, fabric manufacturers often recommend either switching to an AHP product or using a neutral-pH quaternary cleaner. Specific suggestions from Momentum Textiles included:
- Neutral-pH Quaternary Cleaners: Enviro Solutions ES364 Neutral Disinfectant (pH 7-8) or Ecolab Neutral Disinfectant (pH 7.2-8.2) are viable alternatives if a quaternary cleaner is preferred.
- AHP Cleaners: Products like Ecolab Peroxide Multi-Surface Cleaner, Ecolab Oxycide, or Avmor EP64 Neutral Cleaner come highly recommended for fabrics that require gentle treatment.
In the end, maintaining furniture in healthcare facilities goes beyond material selection; it also depends on how that furniture is cleaned. By selecting the right cleaning products and understanding each material’s unique requirements, you can keep healthcare environments both clean and welcoming while protecting your investment. For more insights into healthcare seating options or product-specific recommendations, our team at Applied Ergonomics is here to help you make informed, cost-effective choices for your facility.
