How to Clean an Autoclave & When Should Maintenance Be Done

Autoclaves are essential in industries that need their equipment cleaned and sterilized after every use. In medical applications, these machines play a significant role in keeping tools cleaned and sterilized, making an operation successful and free from dangerous microorganisms.

An autoclave uses high temperature and high pressure in its process. Also, autoclaves are used in chemical industries in curing coatings, vulcanizing rubber for hydrothermal synthesis.?

Although its main job is to clean other materials or tools and help in coatings and vulcanizing rubber, an autoclave also needs to be cleaned and maintained. Maintenance and cleaning are essential for the equipment, as its components can wear off over time and affect the equipment’s performance.?

To clean and maintain an autoclave is not an easy task. Its maintenance is not a single universal process. The critical thing to remember in maintaining an autoclave is how much usage the equipment is getting. This will determine how often you should clean and perform maintenance on the equipment.?

Cleaning?

In cleaning an autoclave, one should perform this daily, weekly, and every second month. Also, an important reminder that before cleaning the equipment, make sure to disconnect the electric cord, and there is no pressure inside unless instructed.?

Daily

For daily cleaning of an autoclave, simply clean the door gasket using a mild detergent, water, and a cloth (you may also use a sponge).?

Weekly

For weekly, there are four steps to perform when cleaning an autoclave. The first step is to clean the air trap jet located inside the water reservoir using a cleanout wire in and out motion ten times. Some autoclave units suggest performing this while the equipment runs at 20-30psi, although this is not mandatory.?

The second step is for automatic models. The water sensor located in the rear of the chamber should be cleaned using a damp cloth or sponge. It is essential to clean the sides of the sensor.?

Source: Zealway

The next step is to use cleaning tablets or powder, Chamber Brite, for example. Sprinkle the powder along the bottom of a cold autoclave chamber. It should be noted that if the unit is hot, it should be filled with water first. Then run a normal sterilization process without drying it.

The last two steps in weekly cleaning are to drain and flush the solution from the unit and discard it. Wipe the inside with water and a damp cloth, then fill the reservoir with distilled water. Then lastly, fill the at the back of the chamber. There is a knob for semi-automatic models and a button for automatic ones.

Source: Zealway

Every Two Months?

To prevent a blocked safety valve, it is essential to clean and check the safety valve every two months. This will ensure that steam pressure can easily escape through the valve. These are the steps to perform this correctly.

The first step is to perform a normal sterilization cycle. Then allow the pressure to build around 20 - 30 psi inside the chamber. After which, the unit needs to be turned off. The next step is to remove the reservoir cover, and it is cautionary that this step will expose you to steam, do not face over the safety valve to avoid being burned.

The next step is to pull the safety valve ring using a screwdriver or other tool and open the safety valve for 2 seconds before releasing it. To finish the process, look into the manual of the unit as it depends if the unit is a semi-automatic or an automatic one.?

These three cleaning schedules are essential in keeping your autoclave clean.

Maintenance

For autoclaves, this equipment needs to be maintained to preserve its full functionality and purpose. The most important thing to know is how much the unit is used. Manufacturers provide detailed information on when to perform maintenance on their units. Aside from usage, the size of the equipment is also a determinant. For small to medium-sized autoclaves, like ones used in dental practice, complete preventive maintenance should be performed once a year.?

In maintaining an autoclave, there are a few things you can perform for yourself. This can be done on a weekly or monthly basis.?

Source: Zealway

Weekly Maintenance

For weekly maintenance of an autoclave, the important part that should be checked is the door gasket. This part should be cleaned weekly as rubber gaskets can get brittle and shrink over time. This will result in steam leakage, which can be dangerous if damaged or faulty the gasket should then be changed.?

Another part that needs to be checked is the door switch. To perform this, simply leave the door slightly open and attempt a cycle. If the door alarm does not appear and the unit continues to, then the door switch is defective and needs to be repaired or replaced. Lastly, inspect the door latch mechanism for any signs of wearing.?

Part of the maintenance process is performing weekly tests such as biological spore test indicator, water changes using distilled water, and following manufacturer recommendations.?

If you are not confident in performing maintenance procedures, it is better to call a technician with proper knowledge of maintaining autoclaves.

Final Thoughts

Although cleaning and maintenance should be done in every autoclave machine, it is also a critical factor to choose the best kind. Indeed, it is overwhelming how there are several autoclave machines available in the market. Thus, we recommend Zealway, a manufacturer that offers top-quality autoclaves. If you are interested, check out https://www.zealway.us/.