We are all interested in the extra measures we can take to keep our bodies and our belongings free from dirt, grime and germs. But have you considered disinfecting your two-way radios? Because of their daily uses, they are surely in need of a good decontamination. We wanted to share with you some recommended general maintenance and cleaning guides for your two-way radios to ensure you remain healthy and your devices remain clean. Per global health authorities, removing germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces lowers the risk of spreading infection. Using chemical disinfectants may kill germs that remain on surfaces after cleaning, which further lowers the risk of spreading infection.
Downloadable Resource: Motorola Solutions’ Recommended Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidelines.
When to Clean Your Radio
Although daily usage of your radios in general is a great cause for cleaning, you may also want to consider cleaning your radios when they have been exposed to environments with high debris. Exposure to these types of environments significantly increases the build-up of dirt and debris in two-way radios and can hinder the functionality of the radios. Excessive debris may cause poor audio quality, resulting in communication errors or downtime. If your radio has been exposed to fluids or corrosive liquids, such as salt water, you may want to consider giving your radio a good cleaning.
The external surfaces of your radio, including the housing assembly, the control top surface, antenna mounting area, the speaker grille, the battery case and the battery interface area, all require proper cleaning to ensure peak performance.
Follow these simple steps to clean your radio efficiently and effectively:
• Prior to cleaning your radio, be sure to remove any accessory such as battery, antenna, remote speaker microphone and/or the accessory side connector cover.
• Mix one tablespoon of mild dishwashing detergent to one gallon of water (0.5% solution) to clean the external surface. Do not use bleach, solvents or sprays to clean your radio because these chemicals and their vapors can have harmful effects on the radio’s plastic and metal platings.
• Apply the combined solution with a stiff, non-metallic, short-bristled brush. Make sure excess detergent does not get trapped near the connectors, controls or crevices.
• After cleaning, rinse the radio under a faucet.
• Dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• Once all parts are dried, replace accessories. If the battery contact area has been exposed to water, be sure to dry and clean the radio battery contacts before re-attaching to the radio.
For situations that demand instant external sanitation or when you don’t have time to work through the entire cleaning process, remember that you can disinfect your device by wiping it down with over-the-counter isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) with at least 70% alcohol concentration. When cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, the alcohol should never be applied directly to the device. Always use a cloth to wipe down the device.
Wearing latex gloves while handling your device is another great way to protect your body from the transfer of germs.
General Care
In addition to sanitizing your two-way radios, there are other measures you can take to be sure you are protecting and handling your device carefully. Follow these simple guidelines to increase the lifetime of the product:
• Do not pound, drop or throw the radio unnecessarily.
• Never carry the radio by the antenna.
• Avoid subjecting the radio to corrosives, solvents or chemicals.
• If the radio has been submerged in water as part of normal operations, shake the radio repeatedly to allow for any trapped water inside the speaker grill and microphone port to exit.
• Do a routine check to be sure all external surfaces of the device are clean and that all external controls are properly functioning.
• Do not submerge the radio in water, unless your design module specifies differently.
MCA wants to help you get the most out of your two-way radios so that your organizations continue to receive communication that enhances your workflow. By keeping your devices sanitary and up to par, you will continue receiving optimal communication that produces productivity.