How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 16 May 2023 09:32:16 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241513#241513"]I have noticed those so called biodegradeable plastic type bags and wrappers, and poo bags, hardly biodegrade at all, or at least not within a short time frame[/quote]

I think a lot of "compostable" waste is referring to industrial composting, rather than home composting - I know things like the "vegware" compostable cups etc wouldn't break down very fast in a home compost heap, I imagine a lot of the bags etc are the same. I do notice that the compostable liners for food caddys do deteriorate quickly if there's a lot of moisture present though!

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Rob Loxley — Tue, 16 May 2023 07:11:17 GMT

[quote userid="4108" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients"]We get through huge amounts and I do wonder if there's anything else we can do instead[/quote]

It was noticeable when one vet left, how much our paper towel consumption reduced. So an easy start is maybe just to Reduce how much you are using?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 15 May 2023 13:17:15 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241512#241512"]Or what about a solvent based solution that vapourises quickly so no physical drying is needed? some paints I believe have water soluble non toxic solvents. [/quote]

I imagine that might strip/damage the rubber covers most consult tables have?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Wed, 10 May 2023 06:31:29 GMT

Lots of plastic free wet wipes, and they should never reach the sewer

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Clive Ansell — Tue, 09 May 2023 18:04:55 GMT

[quote userid="9515" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241519#241519"]

Clive Ansell said:
I have noticed those so called biodegradeable plastic type bags and wrappers, and poo bags, hardly biodegrade at all, or at least not within a short time frame

Biodegradeable is not the same as compostable.

[/quote]

Regardless of the terminology, I wonder over what timeframe and under what conditions they breakdown, biodegrade, decompose, rot. The ones in my compost bins were noticeably pretty much unchanged after 18 months, even some of the print, whilst everything else turned in to great compost.

I guess if it takes 4000 years to breakdown, we could still say they are "Biodegradeable"

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Sarah Keir — Tue, 09 May 2023 16:56:42 GMT

Biodegradeable is not the same as compostable.

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Clive Ansell — Tue, 09 May 2023 16:36:48 GMT

Yep, and I read recently that young faster growing trees absorb more CO2 than mature ones and are thus better for the environment.

Rotting, decomposition, or biodegradation releases CO2 back in to the atmosphere, and I read somewhere else that some now consider compost heaps bad for the environment !

With my 3 compost bins and plans to install a wood burner I will be an environmental disaster !

I would guess most throw away paper in practice would be clinical waste and be incinerated anyway?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 09 May 2023 15:49:04 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241512#241512"]Seriously, I think the question in the OP was comparing the environmental impact of disposable vs reusable methods of cleaning the table, so I guess trees are felled to produce paper which is then shipped around the world, as well as the issue of disposal. [/quote]

Trees are a crop. Fell that lot, plant some more. As for disposal, it will rot ("biodegrade").

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Clive Ansell — Tue, 09 May 2023 14:56:25 GMT

[quote userid="10320" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241499#241499"]I would have thought the overall quantity/ concentration should be too low to have much of an impact on compost microbes, but I don't know for sure. I imagine you'd want a reasonable amount of other organic material going in to balance![/quote]

Going off at a tangent a little, but I use garden and household waste to produced a lot of compost. I have noticed those so called biodegradeable plastic type bags and wrappers, and poo bags, hardly biodegrade at all, or at least not within a short time frame. Some that were placed into a compost bin 12 -18 months ago are almost unchanged, while all the other waste as broken down nicely. We now put them all in the throw away refuge bins.

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Clive Ansell — Tue, 09 May 2023 14:51:18 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241502#241502"]Slightly more seriously, what is the big worry about using paper?[/quote]

Tree Huggers.

Seriously, I think the question in the OP was comparing the environmental impact of disposable vs reusable methods of cleaning the table, so I guess trees are felled to produce paper which is then shipped around the world, as well as the issue of disposal.

Or what about a solvent based solution that vapourises quickly so no physical drying is needed? some paints I believe have water soluble non toxic solvents.

Would still need a cloth or paper to remove larger debris, like hair, blood, pus, anal gland juice, though

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Clive Ansell — Tue, 09 May 2023 14:43:43 GMT

[quote userid="10320" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241503#241503"]Strangely, I've had some clients who come in and don't want to put their pet on the table because it's still wet...I can only presume they think I've cleaned it with neat bleach. It's usually a certain type of client, and I do work in Glastonbury...[/quote]

A collleague recently had a client who insisted the table had not been cleaned (It had) because it was dry, and demaned it be cleaned again. Said client demaned that the table be (re)cleaned in front of her. Collegaue refused saying it has already been done. Client stormed out. Sometimes we're damned either way.

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 09 May 2023 09:45:50 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241502#241502"]One lesson I learned very early is that the table must be wet when the next client comes in, so that they know it's been wiped. The ritual cleansing of the table.[/quote]

Strangely, I've had some clients who come in and don't want to put their pet on the table because it's still wet...I can only presume they think I've cleaned it with neat bleach. It's usually a certain type of client, and I do work in Glastonbury...

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 08 May 2023 20:34:31 GMT

Nurses do seem to use too many paper towels at a time – two or three Blitz when one would do fine. You have to tell 'em.

I suppose you could spray and then use a hair dryer?

One lesson I learned very early is that the table must be wet when the next client comes in, so that they know it's been wiped. The ritual cleansing of the table.

Slightly more seriously, what is the big worry about using paper?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Lucy Fleming — Sun, 07 May 2023 11:10:18 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241492#241492"]

Lucy Fleming said:
We use spray/ paper as well - it can be composted if that's a practical option for you, for somewhat more environmentally friendly disposal? Could look at getting a paper towel with a high recycled content?

What would the effect of cleaners like Trigene or G9 have on compost? do these things biodegrade, and over what timeframe?

[/quote]

I do wonder about that - I would have thought the overall quantity/ concentration should be too low to have much of an impact on compost microbes, but I don't know for sure. I imagine you'd want a reasonable amount of other organic material going in to balance! I know the last time I revalidated my TB testing training the recommendation for disposing of used FAM30 on farm was to pour onto organic material to allow it to slowly break down and ensure it wouldn't be discharged into a water course.

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Richard Carter — Sun, 07 May 2023 06:16:42 GMT

Paper towel better than wet wipes which are a type of plastic- which I now know due to a tenant blocking the sewer

At least paper will decompose or burn.

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Clive Ansell — Sat, 06 May 2023 10:46:47 GMT

[quote userid="10320" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients/241486#241486"]We use spray/ paper as well - it can be composted if that's a practical option for you, for somewhat more environmentally friendly disposal? Could look at getting a paper towel with a high recycled content?[/quote]

What would the effect of cleaners like Trigene or G9 have on compost? do these things biodegrade, and over what timeframe?

[quote userid="4108" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients"]I have thought about washable cloths but not sure how effective they would be for disease control etc.[/quote]

Also, what would be the environmental impact of rewashing and sterilising cloths vs disposable paper be?

[quote userid="4108" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-case-discussions/30645/how-do-people-clean-their-consult-tables-between-clients"]What are other people doing?[/quote]

All pracices I work for use disposable blue roll paper and a cleaner. I don't clean the table after every patient, and as Beats points out we don't routinely clean the floors after every patient.

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Lucy Fleming — Fri, 05 May 2023 15:40:46 GMT

We use spray/ paper as well - it can be composted if that's a practical option for you, for somewhat more environmentally friendly disposal? Could look at getting a paper towel with a high recycled content?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Lindsey Edwards — Thu, 04 May 2023 23:26:10 GMT

Have to weigh up risk of cross contamination of multiuse cloths and impact of laundering cloth against recycled paper towel? I treat consult table similar to floor and keep clean but not necessarily sterile. From basic research, hypochlorous or virkon sem to have least long term environmental impact but would love to see any additional evidence on comparisons if anyone has it?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Beats — Thu, 04 May 2023 20:36:47 GMT

I think it depends what has happened on the consulting room table.

Do you clean the floor in a similar fashion also between large dogs?

What about the pavement outside the front door?

RE: How do people clean their consult tables between clients?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Thu, 04 May 2023 15:47:38 GMT

I'd give your VNs as much input on this as possible. Personally, wet wipes are quite a nice solution when there is minimal soiling and I'm sure are getting more environmentally friendly all the time