What is Absorbent Powder?
Absorbent powder is a versatile product used to clean up liquids safely. Sometimes called vomit powder, absorbent powder soaks up water and other fluids within seconds and turns it into a gel-like substance that can be scraped up and disposed of more safely. This includes biohazard spills such as blood, urine, and vomit on hard surfaces like a countertop, floor, or pavement. It is also safe to use on carpets (and even on grass!) to make cleaning up spills safer and easier. You’ll find absorbent powder in all quality biohazard kits.
What is Absorbent Powder?
Absorbent powder is classed as a type of disinfectant granule. These granules are scientifically formulated to absorb and contain any liquid they come into contact with. Just 10g of the powder can rapidly absorb up to 1 litre of water.
It contains a disinfectant agent that will assist in cleaning the spillage area, while the liquid covered with absorbent powder will quickly turn into a much more containable solid that can be scraped up. This process helps reduce the risk of leaving a residue on the surface and prevents accidental splashes and drips of the liquid being cleaned up.
What is Absorbent Powder used for?
Hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, and schools keep absorbent powder on hand due to its speed and effectiveness at cleaning up bodily fluids. Absorbent powder is highly versatile and can quickly absorb a wide range of liquids, including biohazards and other liquids:
Biohazards:
- Blood
- Vomit
- Urine
- Saliva or mucus
- Semen
- Faeces
- Animal waste
Other liquids:
- Oil
- Chemicals
- Petrol and diesel
- Paints (including oil and water-based)
- Hot and cold beverages
- Vegetable oils
- Butter
Steroplast stocks 100g tubs of absorbent powder on our website. Order on this page to ensure you’re ready to clean up a wide range of liquid spills safely. We also offer Haz Tab Granules in larger 500g tubs which contain even stronger disinfectant agents. Haz Tab granules are ideal for cleaning up blood and other hazardous fluids quickly and thoroughly.
Using Absorbent Powder to Clean up Biohazards
Bodily liquids such as blood, urine, saliva and faeces are classed as a liquid biohazard and should be disposed of safely following government guidelines. Well-stocked biohazard kits will contain absorbent powder to use in the initial stages of a biohazard clean-up.
Simply sprinkle the absorbent powder over a spillage area, starting at the edges and moving in. Once the liquid has been absorbed and turned into a gel, use the scrapers in your biohazard kit to carefully scrape up and contain the biohazard. Make sure to carefully transfer all the waste into a biohazard waste bag for safe disposal.
For more information on using absorbent powder to clean up bodily fluids in various settings, check out our blog:
- What is a Biohazard Kit Used For?
- How to Use a Biohazard Kit
- Biohazard Bags Colour Coding: A UK Guide
- How to Dispose of Biohazard Waste Bags
- Veterinary Hazards: Staff Safety in Clinics and Practices
- Health and Safety in a Veterinary Practice: UK Guidance
- Back to school: Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare & Education Settings
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