ESD Mat Cleaning
With recent concerns regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 and questions on how to disinfect your ESD mats. Each ingredient of a mat cleaner would need to be evaluated and you would have to decide on the disinfectant properties of the product. Currently alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol have been used to disinfect surfaces however it is known that this will affect the useful life of the mats and should be used sparingly.
Some of our Suppliers have created posts regarding this very concern.
“You may be wondering if 7600 IPA Cleaning Wipes can be used to disinfect ESD mats? Although we know that IPA can work to weaken and break down the cell walls of viruses in a similar fashion as soap, ACL does not recommend either for cleaning ESD-safe mats. Prolonged and repeated use of alcohol as a disinfectant can lead to discoloration, swelling, hardening, and cracking of rubber and certain plastics.1 Soaps can leave a scum or residue… If customers choose to use alcohol to disinfect anti-static mats, please understand that the life of the mat will be shortened and the electrical properties could be compromised.”