Articles

Best Practices: Feminine Sanitary Product Disposal Receptacles

Categories: Cleaning Applications, Cleaning for Health

Accessible by: anyone

Safety Reminders: Wear protective gloves.

Procedure
Empty sanitary product disposal receptacle contents by removing the liner bag, sealing it, and placing it in lined cleaning cart trash receptacle or lined trash pickup container.

Use extra caution when handling liner, which may contain sharp objects such as needles.

Visually inspect the inside of the receptacle and carefully remove debris remaining in the bottom and discard in trash.

Use paper towel or other disposable wipes only.

To properly clean, apply (via disposable wipes/spray bottle) a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant cleaner on interior and exterior of the receptacle including the lid, even when there is no visible soiling.

In order to be effective, always follow the recommended dwell time on the manufacturer’s product label.

To dry receptacle surfaces, use paper towels or other disposable wipes only and discard when saturated.

Line the clean receptacle with one bag that will completely cover the inside surface and totally enclose discarded sanitary products. This protects the janitorial staff from coming into direct contact with materials containing blood or body fluids.

Check the dimensions of the stall receptacle to choose the correct size bag.

The liner should reach all the way around the sides and to the bottom of the receptacle.

Use one liner bag only; do not place multiple waxed paper bags in the receptacle.

Handle the filled trash disposal container carefully; knowing that sharp objects and blood borne pathogens may be present.  Do not sort through or compress trash with hands, even if wearing gloves.

Inspect your work to ensure visible and hygienic cleaning standards have been met; ATP measurement can help to verify organic soil removal.

About the Author.

Allen Rathey, president of InstructionLink/JanTrain,  Inc. and The Housekeeping Channel, LLC, Professional Edition; Lynn Krafft, building service contractor and International Custodial Advisors Network, ICAN/ATEX Editor; Perry Shimanoff, MC2, management, maintenance and cleaning consultant; and Ann Germanow, founder and CEO of The Scensible Source Company, LLC.