EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Marker Pen Abuse!!!

You all know the scenario, Ward 5 report a faulty pump, you collect it, it has ward 9 scrawled all over it in black marker pen (the definative ownership tag) and in fact it belongs to ITU!!

When I first started in this game, we would use trichlorokillanythingalene, in a suitably ventillated room of course Mr H&S man - well window open and headache to follow.

Are there any substances that will remove this black abuse from in particular Graseby and Baxter pump cases? We've tried all the usual suspects and even platten cleaner and label remover but they are all too tame for the job.

What we sometimes use are 'DE-SOLV-IT' wipes available from RS stock no. 325-2030. BUT GREAT care has to be taken when using as this will melt the plastic cases too, latex gloves are essential and are dissolved quite easily as well. We usually charge the departments responsible for this vandalism for the replacement case part as this cleaner is so aggressive.

It looks good, I'll get some our next RS order

I have used the Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean on our hemodialysis machines and it has not caused any damage at all. I believe it is an ammonia based product. Definately will remove permanent marker. Made by Proctor and Gamble. Not sure if available in the UK.

It is available under various guises. I will have to ask our Infection Control team if its ok to use, well we can't have any poor old nurses getting irritation on their little fingers now can we ??

Yeah, let's hear it for the big bald-headed guy with white eyebrows!

And (what's more) the melamine foam in Magic Erasers can also be used as sound and heat insulation and cushioning for solar panels, audio studios, upholstery fillings and stuff like that!

But not (apparently) as a substitute for Shredded Wheat.

Weve used Isopropyl Alcohol on some kit.
Seemed to work ok and was in ready supply in the hospital.

I have used (and indeed continue to use) literally all sorts! Yes, including such exotic concoctions as lemon juice and vinegar, or WD-40 mixed with Mr.Sheen (my old favourite). Sometimes stuff like that works, sometimes it doesn't. It all seems to hinge upon the moods of the Gods of Biomed on the day.

At the moment, however, I can report having good results with Ambersil Amberklene FE-10.

We used to use Amberklene when I was at Macc, when it was that nasty 3.4.5.ddt formulae and yes, I melted a few Imed 960 cassette windows with that stuff. It did shift stuff and gunk (not the car cleaning product) but at a cost. Is the new generation as good but safer?

Did find that carb cleaner worked but not sure how happy IP&C would be

I've been using it sparingly these last couple of weeks ... it seems reasonably benign.

All the usual stuff ... plastic infusion pumps of various make, model and vintage.

Of course RS Anti-Static Foam Cleaner (or even the Maplin clone) really deserves an honourable mention. Just as long as you spread it about, and then let it sit for a while, before wiping away the sorry mess.