I was talking by phone today to a clinical nurse in the occupational therapy dept. of a nearby hospital, hoping to get some info on turning some of my scrap hardwood into games, puzzles, & therapy devices that could be used for rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury patients. She advised me that the hospital had ben using wooden devices for this purpose for many years, but was having to do away with them and replace them with plastic devices. Reason: the wood was thought to be unsanitary because it was not able to be wiped clean with disinfectant like a smooth-surfaced plastic surface would be.
She seemed interested in continuing to use wood items, instead of switching to plastic, if possible. She asked if I could find out which type of finish could be applied to the surface of future wood items to make them most readily able to stand up to hospital disinfectant and retain their finished surface for a reasonablt long time.
So my question, to all you knowledgable wood finishers: What shop-applied finish would be most compatible to daily wiping with hospital disinfectant and stand up to daily use by multiple patients in this type of setting?
Also, what species of wood would you suggest these items be made from? (Maple and birch are close grain woods that come to mind, but any others? ) Thanks for any advice, as always. Gary
Replies
An epoxy finish would do it, I would think. I think even polyurethane would if applied in a very thick coat--maybe even dipped, if the item is small. I don't think disinfectant would be that "corrosive".
It is doubtful that any disinfectant used for wiping down furniture would adversely affect most finishes. Just about any waterproof finish will be safe here.
The main thing to look for is an absolutely flat surface. Think glass or glossy laminate. Most disinfectants have a surfactant to help them penetrate crevices but you should consider this as insurance rather than an exploitable characteristic.
In a microbiological lab one uses glossy laminate for worktops and gloss paint on vertical surfaces. In process areas, which are often (usually) wet, polished stainless steel (with polished welds - very important) is the best solution. It works.
So in your case I would feel pretty safe with an epoxy glossy finish. If possible aim for rounded internal corners. You will need to pay special attention to things like the edges of a jigsaw puzzle and, in fact, any endgrain.
Something you might consider is using straight epoxy resin. Dries to a finish I would have no compunction in approving for use in a hygienic process area. Epoxy resins are used to line fermenting vats and water tanks. Be aware that it is expensive - about $25 a litre seems to be the norm. However it is clear and could therefore be applied over, say, the picture for a jigsaw or some other puzzle.
Hope this helps.
Gary,
Somewhere I read a long scientific article that concerned the relative safety of surfaces in the kitchen viz-a-viz their propensity for retaining harmful bacteria. The conclusion was that plastic, formica and even glass all gave more harbour to bacteria than did the end grain of wood! Even after treatment with disinfectants. Presumably this is why end-grain butcher chopping blocks have always been used - some natural disinfectant properties.
This seemed counter-intuitive but the article described some of the mechanisms that caused end grain (they used sycamore, beech and maple) to reject or neutralise bacteria. Unfortunately I can't now find the article or rememember how it explained those anti-bacterial properties. I thought it was maybe in New Scientist magazine but no joy in searching the web.
Lataxe
Ii think you are talking about something entirely different--the safety of cutting boards and bacteria. This would be very different from a hospital environment and people handling objects.Gretchen
Gretchen , Yes but none the less Lataxe is correct as I read the same reports .
Sure this is a different use but the laminate was a more welcome home for many forms of bacterium . My guess with a thick filmed finish such as epoxy or Emeron (sp) the surface would have no open pores perhaps much like laminate not sure .
regards dusty
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