How to Load a Medical Automatic Washer

Cleaning is dependent upon thorough coverage of the device and the force of the water spray. Therefore, all sections of the device must be accessible for ease of cleaning and penetration of cleaning agents.

When cleaning instrument sets, the case and instruments are treated as separate items. For automatic washing, devices that have challenging design features (see “Cleaning Categories in instructions”) must be cleaned separately from the instrument case.

Automatic washing: Dried-on soil is difficult and sometimes impossible to remove with automatic washing, especially at challenging design features on devices like cannulas, interfaces, crevices, joint, hinged/mating surfaces, etc. The removal of gross soil from these areas prior to washing in the automatic washer is critical for achieving adequate cleaning.

Load the instruments in the washer such that all design features of the device are accessible to cleaning and such that design features that might retain liquid can drain (for example, hinges should be open and cannulations and holes positioned to drain).

Run the automatic wash cycle — minimum cycle parameters:

5-minute cold prewash

5-minute enzyme wash at 43 degrees Celsius minimum temperature

5-minute detergent wash at 55 degrees Celsius minimum temperature

1-minute rinse at 45 degrees Celsius minimum temperature

Check instruments for visible soil (see “Verifying Cleaning in instructions”). Repeat cleaning if soil is visible.