Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 with Metabo’s Tips on Cleaning Power Tools

When was the last time you thought about deep cleaning your power tools? With the exception of cleaning off excess dirt and grime, it’s probably not something you consider regularly. But with the recent spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), it may be time to rethink your tool maintenance plan.

You’re familiar with the reasons why regular maintenance is important for the life and effectiveness of your tools. You know that consistent tool maintenance helps you prevent:

• Rust build up
• Dust that can clog moving parts
• Loose or missing bolts, knobs or gauges
• Dull cutting edges
• Poor alignment

But did you know that good tool hygiene can prevent the spread of coronavirus in your workplace?

What We Know About How COVID-19 Spreads in the Workplace

We’re learning something new about the novel coronavirus every day, but current research shows that the virus spreads via respiratory droplets through person-to-person transmission. That’s why it’s recommended that workers remain at least 6 feet away from one another, wear masks when they cannot socially distance and try not to share tools, equipment or other materials that could have COVID-19 on the surface.

Workers can minimize the risk of contracting and spreading coronavirus to one another through frequent handwashing and sanitizing of work stations and equipment. To learn more about preparing your facility against the virus, read COVID-19 Preparedness Tips: Does your facility pass the test?

Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 with Metabo’s Tips on Power Tool Cleaning

Sometimes it’s not feasible for every employee to have their own set of power tools. In this case, it’s important that power tools are appropriately cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of the virus in the workplace.

If your tool, battery or charger needs to be cleaned, there’s a right way and wrong way to get the job done without causing damage to the tool or injury to the operator. Our partners at Metabo created a handy guide on the best way to clean power tools. View the entire guide here.

Both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Metabo recommend tools be cleaned according to the operator’s manual and left to rest for 72 hours. This is because the virus is thought to live on plastic surfaces for as long as 72 hours. If you are unable to let it sit for that long, you can consider cleaning with a sponge or cloth dampened with a diluted bleach solution and allowing to air dry. Just remember you can only use the solution to clean a power tool or charger, but never a battery.

Metabo recommends mixing 5 tablespoons of bleach per one gallon of water or 4 teaspoons of bleach per one quart. When cleaning the tool, be careful to not allow liquids to flow into the tool. Avoid contact with any electrical terminals or power cords.

Important Things to Remember When Cleaning Your Power Tools

• Always unplug and remove batteries before cleaning
• Check manufacturer’s instructions for proper care and maintenance
• Treat your battery maintenance differently than power tools and chargers
• Don’t use bleach to clean batteries
• Don’t use tool or charger if you spot any form of degradation
• Never mix bleach solution with ammonia

At M&M Sales & Equipment, it’s our mission to help our customers work safer and more productively, especially during these difficult times. If you have questions on how you can protect your workers and your shop while improving operations, please call one of our four Texas locations.