Hospitals use a variety of cleaning agents to ensure their environments are free from harmful pathogens and to maintain high levels of hygiene.

Here are some of the most common hospital cleaning agents…

Chlorine-based Disinfectants (e.g., Bleach)

• Purpose – Used for disinfecting surfaces and removing bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Common Uses – High-risk areas like bathrooms, operating rooms, and rooms with infectious patients.
• Example – Sodium hypochlorite (bleach).

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)

• Purpose – Broad-spectrum disinfectants that are effective against a variety of pathogens.
• Common Uses – General cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, furniture, and floors.
• Example – Benzalkonium chloride, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

Hydrogen Peroxide

• Purpose – A disinfectant and antiseptic used to break down organic matter and kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Common Uses – Surface cleaning, medical equipment, and high-touch surfaces.
• Example – 3% hydrogen peroxide solutions.

Alcohol-based Disinfectants

• Purpose – Primarily used for sanitizing hands (hand sanitizers) and cleaning small equipment.
• Common Uses – Hand hygiene stations, cleaning non-critical equipment.
• Example – Isopropyl alcohol (70% solution), Ethanol.

Phenolic Compounds

• Purpose – Powerful disinfectants effective against a broad range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Common Uses – Floors, walls, and general hospital areas, especially in places where strong disinfectants are needed.
• Example – Lysol, Pine-sol.

Glutaraldehyde

• Purpose – A high-level disinfectant used for cleaning and sterilizing medical equipment and instruments that can’t be autoclaved.
• Common Uses – Cleaning surgical instruments, endoscopes, and other heat-sensitive equipment.
• Example – Cidex.

Peracetic Acid

• Purpose – A powerful disinfectant used for sterilizing medical devices and surfaces.
• Common Uses – Sterilization of medical instruments, especially in high-risk areas like operating rooms.
• Example – Used in systems for high-level disinfection of endoscopes.

Enzyme-based Cleaners

• Purpose – These break down organic material like blood, bodily fluids, and other organic contaminants.
• Common Uses – Cleaning surfaces, medical devices, and floors contaminated with organic matter.
• Example – Protease-based cleaners, lipase cleaners.

Detergents (Neutral and Alkaline)

• Purpose – Used for general cleaning to remove dirt, oils, and other contaminants without leaving harmful residues.
• Common Uses – General surface cleaning in lower-risk areas like staff offices, break rooms, and non-patient areas.
• Example – Neutral pH detergents.

Iodine-based Disinfectants

• Purpose – Often used for skin disinfection before surgeries or procedures.
• Common Uses – Skin antiseptic before surgical procedures or for wound cleaning.
• Example – Betadine (povidone-iodine).

Hospitals choose cleaning agents based on their specific needs, the type of contamination, and the level of disinfection required. For high-risk areas, stronger agents like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or glutaraldehyde are used, while milder detergents or alcohol-based products may be used for routine cleaning.