Now more than ever, cleanliness is a top priority. Especially in a medical setting,cleanliness isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about safety. In a hospital where messes happen multiple times per day, all of the surfaces need to be easy to clean.

When thinking about construction, design, or renovation for a hospital facility, materials that are fabric or porous in general should not be used. This is because porous surfaces and materials harbor bacteria. Of course, fabric like curtains can be cleaned; however, it is much more difficult than anyone has time for in a hospital. Despite this, there are several surfaces and materials that are perfect for a hospital setting and can be quickly and easily cleaned. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Quartz Countertops

When we think of quartz, we typically think of quartz countertops in luxury home kitchens; however, it is actually a great material for the hospital as well. It is elegant looking for the patients and easy to clean for the staff. Quartz also is stain-resistant and scratch-resistant which makes it perfect for many of the surfaces in a bustling hospital.

Quartz can be used at the nurse’s station as countertops or in patient rooms by the sink. Anywhere that needs a durable counter-like surface can be a viable place for quartz as it is versatile and can be customized to any size. However, quartz does have special cleaning instructions just like any other material so let’s go over how to clean quartz countertops.

How to Clean Quartz Countertops

Generally, quartz countertops are cleaned with mild soap and water. However, they are durable so cleaning products can be used as long as they are not too acidic. Acid-based cleaners might not look like they do anything to the quartz at first except clean, but over time, it eats away at the finish and eventually the stone itself. Most typical surface cleaners and disinfectants are perfectly fine on quartz, you’ll just want to check the pH before you implement it regularly.

Antibacterial Materials

There are antibacterial materials that are great for use in hospital settings like copper. Copper has natural antibacterial properties, but the downside is that it requires special cleaning products. You can’t just use any product to clean it, otherwise, it will oxidize and damage the metal. Fortunately, they make copper-specific cleaners that can make the process much easier. Copper could be a good implementation for IV poles since they are often in bacteria-laden environments.

Glass

lass is more than just for windows. Glass can be used in multiple different ways in a hospital setting since it is non-porous and easy to clean. For instance, glass partition walls can be used instead of curtains so that they can just be wiped down instead of put in the washing machine. Glass partition walls also help with noise reduction which allows medical information to stay more private. Additionally, glass can be used for counter surfaces, though you’ll want to ensure it is thick enough for it to be durable enough for a hospital setting.

Flooring

Flooring in a hospital setting has to handle a lot and still be easy to clean. After all, it handles a lot of messes and traffic. A polished concrete floor is a good option as it is one of the most durable materials and is mostly non-porous when polished. Cleaning concrete floors is easy as most disinfectants and cleaners can be used on them.Other good options include tile with minimal grout lines. You’ll want to avoid grout lines and natural stone tiles because they are porous and harbor bacteria. The floors will never be truly clean with grout lines or natural stone tiles.

Ceilings

Ceilings aren’t thought about much in a hospital setting, but even the ceilings occasionally need to be cleaned since they collect dust and grime. Though we are used to seeing white ceiling tiles in commercial spaces, it isn’t always the best option as they aren’t really able to be cleaned. Many people just replace them when they get dirty, but choosing an option that can be cleaned can save money in the long run. Instead of white ceiling tiles opt for drywall, glass, metal, plastic, or acrylic, all of which can be easily cleaned.

Medical Supplies & Organization

Everything that sits on the surfaces and things that are used in the hospital must be easy to clean as well to be fit for use. From using glove holders to keep contamination to a minimum to IV poles, stands, and stations. Everything will need to be cleaned regularly to keep infection rates down. It is important to consider the small things when in a hospital setting since everything is at risk of contamination.

Get Easy to Clean Materials For Your Hospital

There are many supply stores out there to provide you with easy-to-clean surfaces and materials, but Omnimed has been in the business for more than 45 years and is state of the art. Get all of your medical supplies with Omnimed. Contact them today!

Todd Gillman is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.