Title: Cleaning Your Equipment & Environment
Course: COVID CURRICULUM (Export) > Section: Module1: Infection Prevention & Control

It is possible that COVID-19 may survive on some surfaces and objects from a few hours to a few days. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 both at home and in the clinical environment, it is important to clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that you regularly come into contact with.

Cleaning involves using soap and water to remove germs, dirt and other debris from surfaces. Disinfecting involves the use of chemicals to kill germs.

Both cleaning and disinfecting are essential to reducing the spread of disease, including COVID-19.

Health Canada (2020) suggests using only approved hard-surface disinfectants containing ingredients such as bleach, alcohol and chlorhexidine gluconate. Please click here for the full list of Health Canada approved disinfectants.

Remember that you should always follow local organizational policies and procedures.

Suggested Cleaning Procedure

- Wash your hands
- Don clean gloves
- Clean the area using soap/detergent and water
- Disinfect the area with an approved disinfectant, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you provide sufficient contact time to kill germs.
- Remove gloves
- Wash your hands

Cleaning Your Face Shield & Goggles

​Image source: Univet Optical Technology https://flic.kr/p/93ziYg https://flic.kr/p/93CpQu

- Please clean your face shield and goggles as per the directions provided by your organization.
- If no directions are provided, please follow the steps outlined below.

BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Ministry of Health (2020)

Other Types of Equipment That Should be Cleaned

Table adapted from Public Health Ontario (2018). This document was adapted with the permission of Public Health Ontario. Public Health Ontario assumes no responsibility for the content of any publication resulting from translation/changes/adaptation of PHO documents by third parties.

Other Hygiene Tips to Reduce Risk

- Leave unnecessary items at home when travelling to clinical.
- Store your scrubs/work clothes in a separate bag when transporting to and from clinical.
- Keep all your items together in one bag within the clinical area.
- If possible, remove your scrubs/work clothes prior to leaving clinical.
- Keep your work shoes and other accessories in a designated area at home.
- Ideally, use a separate hamper for your scrubs/work clothes. Wash them daily (if feasible) in detergent using the warmest water possible.
- Ensure that your cell phone has a case that can be cleaned.

Government of Canada (2020); Harvard Medical Student COVID-19 Curriculum Committee (2020); Public Health Ontario (2018)