How to clean your Cammax kiosk effectively to help limit the spread of germs

The UK government and various health organisations have outlined many recommendations for helping to limit the spread of COVID-19, including practicing social distancing, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and cleaning frequently touched surfaces on a regular basis.

While frequently touched surfaces can encompass anything from door handles and light switches to taps and tables, self-service kiosks are certainly no exception — especially those that encourage interactivity either through a touchscreen monitor, keyboard or chip & pin peripheral.

Depending on the location of your Cammax kiosk- and its intended purpose- a single kiosk screen could be touched hundreds or even thousands of times in a single day, making it pertinent that the entire kiosk machine, from the monitor through to the chassis, is properly cleaned and sanitised regularly to help prevent the spread of germs.

However, it’s important to consider the type of products you choose to work with and the methods you use to clean your kiosk. Abrasive substances and over-zealous cleaning methods can cause significant damage to your kiosk so it’s best to keep in mind the following tips.

Cleaning the Monitor

Touchscreen monitors are high-tech pieces of equipment, but they are relatively simple to clean and you don’t need to turn to specialist or complex cleaning solutions in order to carry out the task. In fact, the monitor screen can be cleaned with a mild soapy solution, applied with a damp cloth and then dried with a microfibre cloth.

Certain substances and cleaning methods can cause damage, so always ensure that:

• If disinfecting you use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
• Avoid using strong solvents (ammonia for example) because this can damage the screen
• Avoid use a paper-based cloths (paper towels for example) to avoid scratching the screen
• Avoid using a very wet or saturated cloth to limit the chance of liquid seeping into the internal monitor component
• Avoid applying water directly to the monitor to reduce the risk of liquid seeping into the internal monitor components
• Remove any dust or debris and clean the perimeter of monitor first and work towards the middle
• Apply gentle pressure against the monitor surface to avoid cracking the screen or breaking internal components

Cleaning peripherals

Cammax self-service kiosk machines can be fitted with a range of peripherals, from coin and note dispensers through to keyboards and chip & pin devices. Given that these peripherals, just like the touchscreen monitor, invite regular touching and usage, it’s important to ensure that they are thoroughly cleansed to help limit the spread of harmful virus droplets.

• The keyboard/pin pads can be wiped down with a mild soapy solution applied with a damp cloth and dried with microfibre cloth, anti-bacterial wipes can also be used
• If disinfecting, use a product that contains at least 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
• Hot water with soap can be used to remove sticky substances when necessary
• Avoid using strong solvents (such as ammonia) to avoid damaging printed surfaces
• Avoid use a very wet or saturated cloth to avoid liquid seeping into electronic components

Cleaning the Kiosk Chassis

Research suggests that the COVID-19 virus can live on certain surfaces for days so it’s also important that you regularly clean and disinfect the physical kiosk chassis/cabinet too.

The kiosk cabinet can be wiped down with a mild soapy solution applied with a damp cloth or anti-bacterial wipes can also be used. However:

• Avoid using strong solvents (ammonia for example) to limit the risk of damaging printed surfaces
• Avoid using a paper-based cloths (paper towels for example) to avoid scratching printed surfaces
• Avoid using a very wet or saturated cloth to avoid liquid seeping into the electronic components

Maintain user confidence

With many customers experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, it’s important to take steps where necessary/appropriate to try and instil confidence that your self-service kiosk is safe to use.

In indoor environments, consider placing anti-bacterial wipes close to the kiosk so that customers can wipe the screen/peripherals themselves if they wish to do so. Also consider making hand sanitiser available to use before and after kiosk usage to help mitigate the transfer of microbes from person to person.

It may also be worth asking staff to come and periodically clean the kiosk during peak times in order to instil further confidence.

If you require specific cleaning advice related to a specific Cammax kiosk model, please contact a member of the Cammax team today.

Anti-Bacterial Protection Film

To help combat the spread of harmful pathogens, Cammax now offer a scientifically-tested Anti-Bacterial protection film that can be easily applied to a range of different touchscreens.

Anti-Bacterial protection film sold by Cammax has a proprietary hard coating that kills bacteria and the film incorporates Nano-Silver technology which prevents bio-film colonisation on the touchscreen surface.

The surface treatment has been proven to kill pathogens and other virulent bacteria, which helps keep staff and the general public safe from harmful on-screen germs, particularly when used in conjunction with a hygienic and thorough cleaning routine.

Features & Benefits

• Easy to apply and remove; leaves no residue on the screen after prolonged periods of time
• Withstands the most rigorous cleaning regimes without damage to the anti-bacterial treatment
• Works with all modern touchscreen technology
• Ideal for use on high usage touchscreens
• High grade optically clear silicone adhesive has high UV. Resistance
• Available in optically clear and anti-glare 

Applications

Anti-Bacterial protection film can serve as an excellent form of added infection control, particularly in busy healthcare environments and settings.

In healthcare environments, such as hospitals and medical practices, it’s essential that preventative measures are put in place to limit the risk of germs breeding on touchscreens and then being passed from one patient to the other; the Anti-Bacterial Nano-Silver Hard-Coat properties found in the touchscreen film help to mitigate that risk, protecting the general public from the spread of viruses and bacteria.

Sectors that can benefit the most from the installation of Anti-Bacterial protection film include:

Transport– At busy public transport hubs where touchscreen kiosk usage is high, anti-microbial touchscreen film can help reduce the risk of cross-contamination. The film can be used on Airport Self-Service Check-in Kiosks, Ticket Dispensing Machines and Parking Payment Machines

Education– Machines such as check-in kiosks, internet kiosks, as well as large interactive touchscreens, are widespread in educational environment like schools. Children are notorious for poor hand hygiene and germs are easily spread throughout the playground/school. Anti-Bacterial film along with hand washing for he recommended 20 seconds help to greatly reduce contamination and infection.

Retail- Touchscreen kiosks are now frequently seen in department stores and shopping centres, including wayfinding/information kiosks and store online catalogue browsing systems. They are an ideal solution for use on EPOS systems, tills and self-service check outs in supermarkets too.

Industrial– Touchscreens and touchscreen kiosks are now commonly found in a variety of different industrial/factory settings. Touchscreen hygiene is particularly important when used within the food manufacturing industry as high standards of hygiene and cleanliness must be observed at all times. By applying an Anti-Bacterial protection film to a touchscreen used in these settings you are reducing the risk of contamination.

For more information about Anti-Bacterial protection film, including information about costs and installation, please get in touch with Cammax today.