As schools reopen and we return to our makerspaces and labs, we have been concerned with the proper handling and care of equipment and especially shared devices, tools and equipment. We’ve been working to build our own protocol for cleaning and disinfection based on recommendations by trusted sources and many in our community have been working on local procedures as well. We have compiled a list of guidelines, procedures, cleaning products and tips for how to handle specific equipment. If you find other sources, please share them with us.
Safety guidelines and procedures
General safety measures and procedures from governmental bodies in Quebec, Canada, and in the US.
- Quebec.ca – Safety measures for workers and children in elementary schools during COVID-19
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec
- COVID-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace – Schools and Teaching Environments
- This information sheet is intended for employers and workers of different educational settings (preschools, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities) as well as those in settings offering vocational or general training to adults. PDF
- COVID-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace – Schools and Teaching Environments
- CNESST
- Trousse d’outils pour le réseau scolaire (in French)
- Guide de normes sanitaires en milieu de travail pour le réseau scolaire (préscolaire, primaire, secondaire, formation générale des adultes et formation professionnelle) – COVID-19 – PDF
- Public Health Canada
- Centre for Disease Control (US)
- Considerations for Schools – Operating Schools During COVID-19
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Cleaning, Disinfection, and Hand Hygiene in Schools – A Toolkit for School Administrators
Cleaning and disinfection products
- Canadian Union of Public Employees – COVID 19 – Cleaning vs Disinfecting
Products approved for cleaning and disinfection in Canada and Quebec:
- Health Canada – Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID-19): List of disinfectants with evidence for use against COVID-19
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec – COVID-19 – Nettoyage et désinfection de surfaces
Cleaning and disinfection guidelines for specific locations:
Here are some examples of guidelines developed in a higher education context
- Yale University COVID-19: Cleaning Computers and Electronics for All Users
- MIT – Guidance for the Disinfection of Electronics
- MIT – Guidance for Shops & Makerspaces Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning and disinfecting specific equipment
Note: As a general rule, it seems Isopropol alcohol (IPA) is recommended in wipe form for disinfection of most devices and tech equipment. Chlorine bleach, ammonia, abrasive powders, ethyl alcohol (ethanol), aerosol sprays and peroxides are not generally recommended for use on electronic devices. Consult device manufacturer’s recommendations for specific instructions. A few links are listed below:
- Apple – How to clean your Apple products
- Microsoft – Clean and Care for Your Surface
- Sphero Robots and littleBits circuit kits – A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Sphero and littleBits Products
- Makey Makey – Cleaning and Loaning Out Kits
- Lenovo PC – Sanitizing your ThinkPad
- Acer Computers – Safety Instructions for Cleaning and Servicing your Acer Product
Other materials
Lego bricks
https://www.lego.com/en-us/service/help/online-help/contact-us/our-updates-on-covid-19-408100000019375
Here is the recommendation from Lego.com:
“What about my LEGO bricks? How can I keep them sanitized?
We don’t recommend cleaning LEGO bricks with anything more than soapy warm water because any other ingredients could degrade the quality of the bricks over time. If you’re using a large quantity of bricks in your school, camp or organization, you can rotate different batches of bricks for 72 hours before using them again.”