sectors

Cleaning in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry

Tot-Net has the capacity and means required to cover requirements for cleaning and disinfecting communal areas, laboratories or clean rooms with strict hygiene requirements.

Our teams can also collect samples to perform the necessary bacteriological follow-up and control procedures. We also offer our resources and experience to create or improve our customers’ SOPs.

Tot-Net offers its professional cleaning services to companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in line with the corresponding protocols for:

Tot-Net’s teams can also collect samples to perform the necessary bacteriological follow-up and control procedures. Moreover, the company has the resources and experience needed to give its customers advice on drafting the appropriate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for their laboratories.

Tot-Net complies with the processes of GMP and GDP Certifications.

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Call us on 900 330 099 or write to us and tell us what you need.

We strive to provide each client with a unique and personalised service. You will get a tailor-made cleaning quote adapted to your needs.

questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know

What is chemical cleaning?

Chemical cleaning is carried out on equipment belonging to the chemical industry. This involves the removal of the dirt that is deposited or encrusted on the equipment and which, as a result, can alter the proper functioning of the equipment.

This is a totally specialised task that must always be carried out by professionals specialised in chemical cleaning, otherwise the use of unsuitable products can cause irreparable damage to the equipment’s operating systems.

Is there a cleaning and disinfection plan for the pharmaceutical industry?

It is possible to establish a cleaning and disinfection plan for the pharmaceutical industry; however, before drawing it up, everything related to safety must be clearly established. Once this is in place, there are several steps that should be included in such a plan:

– Pre-cleaning to remove the most obvious dirt.

– Apply soapy substances for better dirt removal.

– Rinse these substances with water at a medium-low pressure that does not generate any type of mist.

– Use disinfectant products that eliminate all micro-organisms present on surfaces.

– Rinse disinfectants to prevent them from contaminating subsequent products.

– Dry surfaces to prevent bacterial growth.

What is chemical cleaning?

All equipment belonging to the chemical industry can be treated by chemical cleaning. In order to proceed with it properly, it is necessary to remove the dirt that is deposited and encrusted in the equipment, as this could alter the operation of the equipment.

This type of cleaning must be carried out by specialised professionals who know how to handle the products in order to avoid irreparable damage to the treated equipment.

Is there a need to validate cleaning and sanitisation in the pharmaceutical industry?

Validation of cleaning and sanitisation in the pharmaceutical industry is an essential process as its objective is to demonstrate that the processes that have been carried out comply with the quality requirements previously established in the programme.

Validation thus becomes a part of the good practices applied in the processes and is essential for the manufacturing process and the quality of a product to be guaranteed.

What is the importance of cleaning and sanitisation in the pharmaceutical industry?

The importance of cleaning and sanitisation in the pharmaceutical industry lies in the fact that they are fundamental procedures for the reduction of any type of risk in the final products – especially when they pass through the packaging area.

Correct implementation guarantees product safety, reliability and security, as well as being able to maintain strict control of microbiological indices that may affect the quality of the final product.

What cleaning services are provided for the chemical industry?

The services provided for the cleaning of the chemical industry include the cleaning of test tubes, decanters, scales and other laboratory equipment, the cleaning and sterilisation of clean rooms, the use of HEPA and HUPA filters for suction equipment, the cleaning of air ducts and ventilation, the cleaning of tanks and vats, or the cleaning and disinfection of silos, among many others.

How are air handling rooms in the pharmaceutical sector cleaned?

The treated air rooms or clean rooms in the pharmaceutical sector must maintain pure conditions of cleanliness and specific disinfection. In addition, it is very important that all cleaning instruments used are exclusive to this area and must be previously sterilised before they can be introduced into this type of room. Access with food and drink or backpacks and bags should also be avoided.

It is also essential to follow very strict dress code rules and make sure to step on a specific carpet that collects dirt particles from outside.

As for the cleaning materials and products to be used, they must be special and suitable for the type of cleanroom to be cleaned. The most commonly used are special filter hoovers, microfibre cloths and microfibre mops. From this point on, the waste is removed from the room and placed in a double bag, walls and furniture are cleaned, mopped with a double bucket or microfibre mop and the sink (if there is one in the room) is cleaned.

Where and when to carry out a pharmaceutical cleaning?

Pharmaceutical cleaning, or rather: the cleaning of premises housing a pharmacy, must be subject to certain aspects that must be taken into account:

When to do it: the outside area may not be cleaned during business hours so as not to hinder customer service.

Which rooms should be cleaned: the outside area, the storage area and the public or private toilets of the establishment.

How often: The outdoor area will require daily cleaning, as will the toilets. The storeroom may be cleaned thoroughly when, for example, an inventory of medicines is taken.

For more information about the cleaning process of a pharmacy, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department.

How is the chemical cleaning of plate heat exchangers carried out?

The chemical cleaning of plate heat exchangers is carried out by immersing the plates in special hygienic chemicals. They are then rinsed and rinsed with pressurised water.

This type of cleaning ensures that the plates look as good as new and function as they did on the first day. The maintenance of plate heat exchangers is an essential and recommended process to ensure that they are in good working order.

Cleaning and sanitisation in the pharmaceutical industry

Cleaning and sanitising in the pharmaceutical industry should be detailed in a Standard Operating Procedure to ensure consistency of implementation. In addition, it is important that SOPs are sufficiently detailed, as detergents and disinfectants are only partially effective if they are not applied correctly. A Standard Operating Procedure should describe:

The type of detergents and disinfectants to be used (that are compatible).

The frequency of rotation of disinfectants.

A list of suitable cleaning materials.

Cleaning techniques.

Cleaning schedule and frequency.

The procedure for transfer of cleaning agents and disinfectants in and out of cleaned areas (including the procedure for sterilisation of disinfectants).

Dwell times for detergents and disinfectants.

The inclusion of these essential SOPs will ensure that the operative can be consistently applied in a cleaning and sanitising procedure.

What is chemical cleaning of plate heat exchangers?

The chemical cleaning of plate heat exchangers consists of immersing the plates that form part of the exchangers in chemical cleaning solutions and then rinsing and rinsing them using pressurised water.

This type of cleaning makes the plates look as good as new and gives them the desired ‘mirror effect’ which demonstrates the effectiveness of the cleaning process.

Is chemical cleaning of laboratory equipment possible?

Chemical cleaning of laboratory equipment is sometimes not advisable as the use of certain chemicals may have a negative influence on the analytical methods that can be carried out with this equipment. This would be the case, for example, in water analysis laboratories, where the use of chemicals for cleaning the material can only be limited to glass surfaces.

What is the cleaning and disinfection of laboratory equipment?

Cleaning and disinfection of laboratory equipment is carried out in ovens, autoclaves, incubators, refrigerators and laminar flow cabinets, among other equipment that may also be present.

For the cleaning of refrigerators, to be carried out once per semester, for example, it will be necessary to completely dislodge them, remove all racks, trays and drawers and wash them with mild soap using a sponge. Then dry all the parts and wash the inside of the refrigerator, also with a mild soap. Dry with an absorbent cloth.

Finally, use a cloth or gauze to apply 78 % alcohol to disinfect the parts.

How is the cleaning of laboratory glassware carried out?

For cleaning laboratory glassware, prepare a solution of liquid all-purpose soap in hot water. The glassware is then immersed in the solution for 2 hours. After this period of time, the material is scrubbed using brushes, squeegees or sponges. All parts are then rinsed with water to remove any remaining detergent residues.

The next step is to immerse the material in a disinfectant solution for 5 minutes; this is then rinsed with distilled water. Finally, the material shall be dried in an oven for 10 minutes at a temperature of 180 °C.

What cleaning and disinfection plan should be carried out in the pharmaceutical industry?

Before starting to develop a cleaning and disinfection plan in the pharmaceutical industry, all aspects of safety must be clearly established. From here, the cleaning and disinfection plan should include the following steps:

– Pre-rinse with hot or cold water in order to remove the most important part of the dirt and all visible organic matter.

– Application of detergent to remove the dirt much more easily.

– Rinse using potable water at medium or low pressure in order to avoid misting.

– Apply disinfectant to eliminate the micro-organisms present.

– Rinsing of the disinfectant to prevent it from contaminating the products to be manufactured afterwards.

– Drying, which is very important to prevent excess water from favouring bacterial growth.

Is there an established protocol for the validation of the cleanliness of a pharmaceutical industry?

Yes, there is a protocol for the validation of the cleaning of a pharmaceutical industry, which can also be applied to other types of industries. This protocol consists of a document indicating how the validation will be carried out, taking into account parameters such as the equipment to be cleaned, which cleaning levels are considered acceptable, the analysis methods to be used for monitoring and validation, and which factors will be taken into account to consider the cleanliness as acceptable.

This protocol must be approved prior to validation.

What products are used in chemical cleaning?

The main products used in chemical cleaning are those related to surface cleaning, odour removal, dry cleaning and descaling. These include different types of detergents, disinfectants and air fresheners.

These are very specific products, chemical based, and with an essential objective: to maintain total hygiene in the chemical industry environment in order to guarantee the quality cleaning that Neteges Tot Net provides to all its customers.

What is furnace cleaning in laboratories?

To effectively carry out the cleaning of ovens in laboratories, all the racks that form part of the laboratory ovens shall be removed and washed with washing-up liquid soap. The oven is then cleaned with a solution of 10 ml of liquid soap and one litre of water. Finally, the oven is dried with a clean, damp cloth.

This type of cleaning should be carried out at least once every six months.

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