Construction has been designated as essential business in most areas of the country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean construction workers don’t have any risk of contracting or spreading the disease. Chances are, you’ve probably never washed your power tools before, because, well, tools are supposed to get dirty. But, in the time of an unprecedented pandemic, now might just be the time to start, as it might allow you to do your part in slowing the spread.
If you’re like me, you’re running out of cleaning wipes – and quickly. So while that might be what you have been using to clean your tools, it will be hard to stock up again and you may also want to double check the ingredient list on those wipes to make sure you’re not going to cause damage on your tools.
To help, Milwaukee Tool has releases a helpful cleaning guide for power tools to aid in the prevention COVID-19.
First, Milwaukee doesn’t recommend certain cleaners that contain conductive or corrosive materials, like paint thinner, ammonia, household cleaners that contain ammonia, and several others.
Their best suggestion is to use mild soap and rest the tool for 3 days, as the CDC believes that the virus can last on plastic for up to 72 hours. This method is advisable for use on batteries, as well. To further decontaminate, users can also use a diluted bleach solution, but that is not recommended for batteries.
Of course, if blood was found on the tool, you’ll need to follow all regulations for proper handling of Bloodborne Pathogens.
For the full process and procedure of cleaning your tools, check out Milwaukee’s page by clicking or tapping here.
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.