Maintaining cleanliness plays an optimal role in keeping your health intact. It is a level of responsibility that one must indulge in to make yourself and everyone around you safe. Though the spread of germs is out of our hands, keeping everything clean can at least ward them away to stop them from spreading.
It is crucial to think about the items that are frequently used – for instance, a wheelchair. Not only will cleaning your wheelchair hinder it from germs and lurking bacteria, but it will also keep your wheelchair maintained for a longer life span. It is essential to know how to disinfect and clean a personal mobility aid (PMA), and here we will walk you through the process.
The fundamentals
Before you begin the cleaning process, if the maintenance instructions of your wheelchair guide are still available, it would be an easy process to read them first. This way, the manual will guide you on the suitable measures to take in the proper disinfecting and cleaning of the specific wheelchair.
Regularly used wheelchairs must be disinfected daily, especially if spillage can cause a terrible odour and promote bacteria growth. When cleaning an electric wheelchair, remember to unplug it from its power source first before proceeding.
A simple wipe down using a cloth and your preferred disinfectant will do the trick. Disinfect after its daily use; it is best to disinfect and clean at night to ensure that the wheelchair completely dries before the subsequent usage. A little tip while you’re on the go; always bring wipes in case of emergency spills and crumbs in your PMA.
The wheels
In any vehicle, the wheels collect dirt easily. It’s the same for wheelchairs – primarily when it is frequently used outside, always wipe down the wheels before going indoors; this way, there won’t be any dirty tyre prints on the floor.
When thoroughly cleaning your wheelchair tyres, any vehicle tyre cleaner will do. It is crucial that you also check the tyres for any damage and necessary repairs to avoid any accident or cause more damage to the wheels.
The cushion
The seat may take the longest to clean in a wheelchair because it absorbs spillage and sweat, leading to unpleasant odours, so you’re going to have to do more than wiping and simple disinfecting for it.
Take the seat out of the wheelchair itself and use any detergent – even baking soda helps – to scrub the stains and foul odour away. It is also best to dry it under direct sunlight to kill any remaining germs. Once dried and attached to the wheelchair, check the seat if it is comfortable and safe from any exposed bolts or screws.
The details
The brakes, locks, nuts and bolts shouldn’t be left out in the cleaning process as they are the wheelchair’s most critical and most delicate areas. Regular wiping is advised to avoid any stuck-ups.
Frequently check the wheelchair for any loose ends, from the smallest bolt and crack to the alignment of the wheels and metalwork, to ensure all the parts are in place and smoothly moving as they should. Lubricate the newly cleaned parts as well to avoid future damage.
Conclusion
With these tips, you will have a squeaky-clean mobility device with an undoubtedly longer lifespan. It is always better to be safe and hygienic all the time than have a nonworking unsafe wheelchair. But if you feel that your wheelchair does not work as smoothly as before, we can help you. At Falcon Mobility, we offer repair services for your dearest PMA device and mobility scooter.