Considerations for Wiping Surfaces in a Cleanroom

In cleanrooms and other critical environments, it’s important to understand the role that proper wiping technique plays in reliable and consistent contamination control. When cleaning contamination you cannot see, technique is a sure way to know you’ve covered the surface area in question.
Here are three considerations for wiping surfaces in a cleanroom.

Steps for Quarter-folding a Wipe:

1.    Remove the wipe from the package
2.    Fold the wipe in half, then in half again, so it is one-quarter its original size. 
3.    Once quarterfolded, hold the open (unfolded) edges away from the surface being cleaned. 
4.    When wiping, only the folded edges and the face of the wipe should touch the surface as the folded edges are less likely to have loose particles or fibers, and the face of the wipe captures maximum contaminants.

Proper Wiping Technique

• Use parallel, slightly overlapping passes lifting at the end of each pass in a somewhat rolling motion, otherwise referred to as the pull-and-lift technique.
• After the first wiping pass with a quarterfolded wipe, turn the wipe over using the opposite side for the second pass.
• After the second pass, the wipe is re-folded to expose a fresh surface for the third wiping pass, then flipped again for the fourth pass.
• The pull-and-lift technique should be used at the end of each pass.
• After four passes, discard the wipe and get a new wipe. Follow the same process and techniques.

Wiping Irregular Surfaces

Irregular surfaces in a cleanroom include door handles and pulls, automatic closers, light switches, piping, fittings and valves. The key is to make good surface contact. Remember to clean a few inches around each irregular surface.