Can Sani-Cloth® AF Wipes Be Used on Skin?
Sani-Cloth® AF wipes (formally known as PDI Sani-Cloth Universal Wipes) are general-use infection control wipes made for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and non-invasive medical devices. Each wipe's solution typically contains alcohol or quaternary ammonium to kill potentially infectious agents like bacteria and viruses.
Sani-Cloth® AF wipes are designed to be used on a wide range of different surfaces without damaging them. So, can Sani-Cloth® AF wipes be used on skin?
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Wipes for Surfaces and Non-Invasive Medical Devices
Sani-Cloth® AF disinfecting wipes are made specifically for use on surfaces and medical tools and equipment that don’t enter the body or break the skin. But their gentle, broad-spectrum cleaning formula makes people wonder if they can be used on the skin.
Technically, there’s no harm in using Sani-Cloth® AF wipes to disinfect your hands every so often. But, it’s not what manufacturers like PDI recommend. PDI is one of the most prominent brands in infection control wipes, and PDI Sani-Cloth AF Wipes are one of their flagship products.
PDI Sani-Cloth® AF wipes aren’t harmful to skin, but the Sani-Cloth Wipes data sheet does advise that repeated use with bare hands may cause redness or irritation. It’s important to remember that this is the case for repeated use of virtually any cleaning agents on the skin, not just PDI Sani-Cloth® AF wipes. If you regularly carry out cleaning procedures with Sani-Cloth® AF wipes it may help to wear disposable gloves.
For those using the 200-pack of Sani-Cloth AF Wipes, this size has been updated to Sani-Cloth AF³ Wipes, certified as an MD Class IIA Biocide and approved for over 450 medical devices. The rest of the Sani-Cloth AF range is unaffected.
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Infection Control Wipes for Skin
Good quality wipes for use on the skin contain gentle detergents, disinfectants, and emollients to protect the skin barrier. This is different to most formulas used for Sani-Cloth® AF wipes which may contain stronger levels of disinfectant in order to ensure good levels of decontamination on surfaces.
Despite this, many retailers market Sani-Cloth® AF wipes as being designed for use on skin as well. Be wary and always read the product safety data sheet to get a clear understanding of its use beforehand.
Here are some of the reasons skin-specific wipes should be used rather than Sani-Cloth® AF wipes:
- Skin wipes are often made to be hypoallergenic
- Skin wipes are dermatologically tested-for-purpose
- Skin wipes are made with softer material to be gentle on the skin
- Skin wipes are made with moisturising agents to prevent the skin from drying out
PDI recommends the following alternatives for specific use on skin, each of which has been designed for that purpose under the Hygea body wipe brand.
PDI’s Sani-Cloth® AF cleaning wipes are used throughout UK healthcare facilities, care homes, labs, salons, and many other public and private businesses as part of infection control protocols. The wipes are impregnated with a quaternary ammonium solution that is capable of killing a broad spectrum of potentially infectious agents, including bacteria, fungi, enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, and TB.
Using pre-dosed disinfectant wipes speeds up cleaning procedures, removes the risk of human error in mixing cleaning solutions, and helps staff carry out thorough cleaning.
So, where are Sani-Cloth® AF wipes best used? We cover it all in our blog.
Update: The 200-pack of Sani-Cloth AF Wipes has transitioned to Sani-Cloth AF³ Wipes. These new wipes are MD Class IIA Biocide certified and approved for use on over 450 medical devices. The other pack sizes in the Sani-Cloth AF range remain the same.
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