FURNITURE BRANDS GROUP

TESTING AND CALIBRATION LAB

MATERIALS SECTION

Document Title: Cleaners Disinfectants Finish Tests Page 1 of 4

Document Number: RTM-62
Revision Date: 8/31/12
Revision Level: A CONTROLLED IF IN RED

PURPOSE:

To establish appropriate test methods to assess finish durability for use in healthcare and other markets
in which the furniture comes in contact with various cleaners, disinfectants, and other agents.

SCOPE:

In the Healthcare environment and more recently with the advent of increasing concern for antimicrobial
surfaces and use of germicides it is important to compare finishes for resistance to these agents.
These tests help define a finish which has the necessary resistance to cleaners and disinfectants used
in the healthcare environment. Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines furniture items as non-critical
environmental surfaces (see Note 1). Categories of disinfectants and contact times established for
these items by the CDC are considered in the development of these tests.

PROCEDURE:

Method A. Cleaners and Disinfectants:

1. Place a 1” to 2” diameter open spot of the agent on the finished surface (Photo 1). Apply the agent
directly if it is ready to use or mix according to label directions. Agents listed in the Appendix should be
used for healthcare applications; however, other agents may be used as deemed necessary. Mixing
directions are included with the list of agents.

2. After 10 minutes remove the agent with a paper towel and clean the spot with a moistened paper
towel. Immediately evaluate the area for any effect including: fingernail softening, gloss changes,
hazing, or color changes.

3. Report the agent and describe the results.

APPROVED BY: ___________________________________ DATE: ________________

Document Title: Cleaners Disinfectants Finish Test Page 2 of 4
Document Number: RTM-62
Revision Date: 8/31/12
Revision Level: A

PROCEDURE (con’t):

Method B. MEK Rubs

1. Fold several layers of a white paper towel over the fore finger and saturate with MEK.

2. Conduct twenty double rubs (back and forth) approximately 4” long using the fore finger (Photo 2).
The solvent should remain wet during rubbing. Immediately evaluate the finish for fingernail softening.
For wood coatings rub with the grain and for open pore finishes avoid porous areas, if possible.

3. If the coating hasn’t softened, without delay re-wet the paper towel and continue with another 20
double rubs in the same location. Continue this process in 20 double rub intervals until fingernail
softening.

3. Report the number of double rubs required to create fingernail softening.

Method C: Hand Lotion Covered Spot

1. Apply 1” to 2” diameter hand lotion to the wood finish; make a puddle of lotion and place a saturated
cotton ball into the hand lotion and cover (see Photo 3). This is covered spot exposure.

2. Evaluate the surface periodically be removing the hand lotion and checking the coating for fingernail
softening. If the coating hasn’t softened, reapply the hand lotion in the same spot. Continue this
process until the coating softens or for seven days. Longer exposure may be conducted if this is of
interest.

3. Report the days exposure until softening or the days exposure if the coating hasn’t softened. Also
report the inspection and reapplication regimen.

1. Method A, open spot test 2. Method B, MEK rubs with 3. Method C, covered spot
showing application of liquid folded paper towel wet with showing progression of
(top) and gel (bottom). MEK rubbed back and forth. hand lotion application.
Document Title: Cleaners Disinfectants Finish Test Page 3 of 4
Document Number: RTM-62
Revision Date: 8/31/12
Revision Level: A

EXPLANATORY NOTES:

1. CDC categorizes items as critical, semi-critical, or non-critical as to the degree of risk of infection
involved in using the items. Furniture articles are considered non-critical environmental surfaces and
as such may be disinfected with several categories of items including: ethyl or isopropyl alcohol,
sodium hypochlorite (bleach), phenolic germicidal detergents, and quaternary ammonium compounds.
Disinfectants from each category have been selected for exposure testing in addition to various
cleaners and other chemicals of interest. The CDC also lists iodophors (iodine compounds), but it is
thought that these are not used on furniture articles due to possible staining problems.

A relevant issue is the contact time requirement for the use of disinfectants which varies with the
disinfectant used, the microbe in question, and the surface being treated. Labels of some products
registered by the EPA specify a contact time of as long as 10 minutes. However, the CDC recognizes
that such a long contact time on environmental surfaces is not practical and most health care facilities
apply a disinfectant and allow it to dry (~1 minute). Many references indicate significant microbial
reduction with contact times of 30 to 60 seconds. In light of this information, and to have adequate
chemical resistance to a wide variety of cleaners and disinfectants an open spot test exposure time of
10 minutes is considered appropriate. The open spot application also calls for much heavier
application which stays wetter much longer than would be expected in a normal wiping application.

APPENDIX:

List of Agents:

1. Hillyard foaming hand sanitizer; 62% ethyl alcohol, ready to use.

2. Dispatch hospital cleaner disinfectant; 0.55% sodium hypochlorite (bleach), ready to use or mix 1:10
household bleach with water (household bleach 5.25% sodium hypochlorite.
3. Wex-cide 128 germicidal detergent; 3.40% ortho-phenylphenol, 3.03% ortho-benzyl-para-
chorophenol, 1oz/gal.
4. Clear Ammonia all-purpose cleaner, ready to use.
5. Vaseline hand lotion; water, glycerin, petrolatum, steric acid, etc., ready to use.
6. Diversey Virex II 256 disinfectant cleaner; 8.70% dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, 8.19% n-
alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, applied 1/2 oz/gal.
7. Hydrogen peroxide solution; 3% hydrogen peroxide, ready to use.
8. Ecolab Endure 320 hand sanitizer with moisturizers; 62% ethyl alcohol, ready to use.
9. Ecolab A-456 II disinfectant cleaner; 6.51% octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, 2.60% dioctyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride, 3.91% didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl
ammonium chloride, applied 2oz/gal.
10. Behold furniture polish, professional use from St. Anthony Hospital, propane, naphtha, etc., ready
to use.
11. Pine Sol all-purpose cleaner; 8-10% pine oil, 3-7% alkyl alcohol ethoxylates, 1-5% isopropyl
alcohol, 1-5% sodium petroleum sulfonates, applied 2 oz/gal.
Document Title: Cleaners Disinfectants Finish Test Page 4 of 4
Document Number: RTM-62
Revision Date: 8/31/12
Revision Level: A

List of Agents (con’t):

12. Lysol One Step floor cleaner, 3-4% isopropyl alcohol, .02% alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium
chloride, .08% alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, ready to use.
13. Jay Kem Super Shine II pH neutral cleaner; 3.85% didecydimethyl ammonium chloride, applied 2
oz/gal.
14. Simple Green cleaner degreaser; < 4% 2-butoxyethanol, applied cut 1:10.

MEK: Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Sherwin Williams MEK R6K10 (154-8734)

Hand Lotion: Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture hand lotion; water, glycerin, petrolatum,
steric acid, etc., applied straight.

REFERENCES:

CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008.

http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/disinfection_sterilization/3_4surfacedisinfection.html

http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/Disinfection_Sterilization/2_approach.html