[OPLINTECH] Cleaning touch screens

[Scott Harmon]

We are going to disable touch screens on the majority of our desktops for the initial phases of opening. With the screens disabled, it will help reduce the need for cleaning after each customer session.

Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a good option for cleaning and disinfecting screens. We are looking at the least bad option at this point.

Thanks,
Scott Harmon │Service Desk Supervisor
Columbus Metropolitan Library │ Main Library
96 S. Grant Ave. │ Columbus, OH 43215

614.479.3028 Office | 614.817.2004 Cell
SHarmon at Columbuslibrary.org<mailto:SHarmon at Columbuslibrary.org>
[http://www.columbuslibrary.org/sites/default/files/CML_Logo_Horizontal_Color.png]<http://www.columbuslibrary.org/>




From: Chad Neeper <cneeper at level9networks.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 2:13 PM
To: oplintech at lists.oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Cleaning touch screens

I think perhaps you might reconsider using a vinegar solution to clean your touchscreens. The acid, even more dilute than the typical 4-7% dilutions readily available, can apparently damage anti-glare coatings and make touch screens less sensitive.

Balancing the potential damage to screens versus the frequent disinfecting (or at least sanitizing) required to combat SARS-CoV-2 can be a little daunting. Personally, I've taken to simply washing my phone with soap and water. SARS-CoV-2 is covered with a fatty layer, which is destroyed by soap. So, as with hand washing, a simple scrubbing should be effective as a sanitizing method. (Now, my own phone is fully submersible, so I admittedly sometimes do wash it just for personal amusement at the strange looks I get from others that happen to be nearby.) I don't necessarily recommend taking a bucket of soapy water and pouring it over your self checks. (However, if you do, please take video.) But changing your solution to a simple soap-and-water solution might be a simple, effective, and cheap way to combat coronavirus. Use your microfiber cloths, saturate the cloth and ring it out a bit, then use it to clean the display. I'd suggest using a little (but reasonable!) amount of pressure when you clean. Your goal is to destroy/remove viruses, not etch the display.

The soap-and-water concept is the same as for hand washing. Soap breaks the protective fatty barrier around coronaviruses, killing the cells. If you're not comfortable solely doing that, then you can probably intersperse occasional use of chemical sanitizers/disinfectants designed specifically for screens, which might arguably be a more guaranteed/effective method, but comes with added cost and possible availability issues.

An alternate method I've discussed with one of my libraries is to use a flame thrower. They're apparently legal in Ohio, with the appropriate county license. However, while apparently effective at disinfecting screens, it appears that there are...side effects.

Lastly, a disclaimer:  I'm not a virologist and haven't personally tested and watched as a small percentage of SARS-CoV-2 struggle for their last heaves of life only to die alone in some isolated petri dish. I'm just regurgitating stuff I've learned on the internet just like nearly everyone else and applying some experience and common sense. So, reader, please take my opinion with the proper grain of salt and apply your own learning, research and experience when coming up with your preferred sanitizing method!



______________________________
OPLINTECH & OPLINLIST policy:
I am no longer responding off-list to topical replies sent only/directly to me.
Perhaps with the exception of public email forums, libraries have a wonderfully amazing reputation for openness and sharing, a concept I support and encourage. Your thoughts are useful and valuable. As always, I beg you to share them publicly so that other libraries can benefit from them and participate in a conversation.

Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer

Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in public libraries


On Tue, May 5, 2020 at 8:34 AM Amy Deuble via OPLINTECH <oplintech at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplintech at lists.oplin.org>> wrote:
Any sage advice on how to best clean touch screens? I have 3 fairly old selfchecks and need to keep them clean and working when we re-open to the public. A Google search suggested microfiber cloths and a distilled water/white vinegar mix. Sounds easy enough but I am concerned about frequent cleaning being hard on the screens.

Thanks!

Amy Deuble
Marion Public Library
Marion, Ohio
adeuble at marionlibrary.org<mailto:adeuble at marionlibrary.org>
740-383-9722


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