To ensure the continued health and safety of medical staff and patients, Techno-Aide provides the following cleaning & care recommendations for all protective apparel items. The recommendations provided within are meant to be a guideline based on manufacturing specifications and best practices. All recommendations are intended to increase safety by decreasing the risk of cross-contamination and extending the life of all applicable radiation protection aprons. 

Cleaning & Care of X-Ray Lead Aprons

Protective garments, including both x-ray lead aprons and lead-free aprons, require regular preventative maintenance and care to fully extend the life of the product. Techno-Aide recommends cleaning aprons for radiation protection between uses and anytime there is direct contact with patients and/or medical staff. The following cleaning recommendations should be followed as best as possible within facility guidelines and/or governing requirements. 

How to Clean Protective Apparel 

You should clean and disinfect protective garments regularly. It is recommended that facilities establish and strictly adhere to a cleaning and care schedule for all protective garments. To clean x-ray aprons:

Step 1: Dampen a non-abrasive clean cotton cloth, microfiber cloth, disposable cleaning towel, soft-bristled brush, or otherwise preapproved porous sheet with cold or room temperature water and mild soap, detergent, or other approved cleaning substances such as Clorox hydrogen peroxide disinfectant, 409 with Anti-Bacterial properties, Revolution Scrubbles Apron Cleaner, Sani-Cloth AF3 Wipes, Rescue cleaning agents, and Sentinel II Disinfectant. 

Step 2: Wipe the entire garment surface clean despite the lack of any visible contamination or uncleanness as harmful micro-bacteria may not be apparent. 

Step 3: Rinse disinfected areas thoroughly with a separate dampened cotton cloth, microfiber cloth, disposable cleaning towel, or otherwise preapproved porous sheet. Be sure to remove all cleaning solutions entirely from the garment. 

Step 4: Hang or lay the garment flat in an undisturbed environment without creases to allow proper drying. 

What to Avoid When Cleaning Radiation Protection Apparel 

• Do not allow garments to go without regular cleaning and preventative maintenance. 
• Do not machine launder, autoclave, or dry-clean protective garments. 
• Do not use abrasive and caustic chemicals and/or cleaners such as bleach, bleach alternative, petroleum-based cleaners, chlorinated solvents, ether, and aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons. 
• Do not allow cleaning solutions to pool or sit longer than recommended by the original manufacturer. 
• Do not soak or submerge any protective apparel item in either water or chemical solutions for any length of time. 
• Do not store garments folded and/or creased or allow them to sit folded and/or creased while they are drying. 

Storage 

Properly storing protective garments is a critical way to maintain the integrity of any garment and helps ensure the continued safety of patients and medical staff. The following storage recommendations should be followed as best as possible within facility guidelines and/or governing requirements. 

How to Store X-Ray Aprons

Techno-Aide recommends all protective garments be safely hung on a specially designed apron storage rack, hanger, or equivalent storage unit. (Learn more about the best lead apron storage and lead apron hangers options). Store garments in a cool and dry location and always close and secure any closures a protective garment may have when storing between uses. If garments are unable to be hung, ensure all garments are stored flat and un-creased in a low-traffic and undisturbed area. 

What to Avoid When Storing Protective Garments 

• Do not store any protective garments in direct sunlight. 
• Do not allow garments to be creased or sit folded for an extended period of time. 
• Do not store with closures hanging or resting loosely and unsecured. 
• If garments are unable to be hung, do not stack more than three garments of equal size when storing flat. 

Inspections 

Techno-Aide recommends regularly inspecting protective garments, at minimum once a year, via radiographs and/or x-ray images to ensure long-term performance and maintain medical staff and patient safety against radiation exposure. Frequent inspections can identify any issues quicker and help maintain compliance and safety standards in the practice of shielding any amount of radiation. Techno-Aide recommends considering replacements of protective garments every 18-24 months based on the historical industry use and the average levels of wear and tear. 

Disposal 

Any product that contains lead must be disposed of properly and adhere to local and federal safety guidelines. Please consult directly with the proper authorities regarding local regulations and requirements governing your facility. Non-lead (lead equivalent) materials, such as Techno-Aide's Super-Lite Lead-Free media are safe to dispose of via your regular trash disposal service. For any questions regarding Techno-Aide's lead or equivalent lead-free media, please contact us toll-free at 1-800-251-2629 during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM CST) or email customerservice@Techno-Aide.com anytime.

Initial Testing 

To be eligible for Techno-Aide's manufacturer warranty, the above guidelines must be adhered to. All fabric-based protective apparel containing lead, or lead equivalent material, must be inspected upon receipt by the customer before being put into service or used in any non-testing imaging environment. Techno-Aide requires radiographs and/or x-ray images of all applicable fabric-based apparel containing lead, or lead equivalent material, be taken and documented within 10 business days upon receipt of the initial delivery. These images must be documented and notated with accurate and qualifying dates and must include the appropriate Techno-Aide part numbers with each applicable image in the event of a manufacturing anomaly or defect.