Can cotton swab be used in a cleanroom?

Remove small bits of contamination in the cleanroom can be a problem, you would have to choose the right swab or even ask if it can be created for your problem. You would soon find that this little wiper on a stick would also prove invaluable in cleaning delicate mechanisms, in precision surface cleaning, and in removing residues in hard-to-reach places.

Texwipe swabs are useful for applying small amounts of lubricants as well as for cleaning validation in pharmaceutical environments. You can see our TOC Validation.

• Each application needs different sizes and shapes of swab heads and different lengths of swab handle to address the various tasks at hand.
• You should keep in mind that the materials of construction would have to be compatible with cleanroom requirements. So the swab heads would be constructed of knit polyester, and the swab handles would be made of polypropylene.
• You would resist the temptation to use less expensive cotton for swab heads and wood for swab handles, knowing that cotton is a highly particulating fabric with releasable particles and fibers too numerous to count compared to knit polyester.
• Cotton also has ten times the extractable residue compared to knit polyester.
• As a matter of protocol, wooden handles, composed of cellulosic material, are not allowed in cleanrooms. All of these factors argue strongly against the use of cotton swabs in the cleanroom.
• The conclusion is that you should avoid the use of cotton swabs in your cleanroom, and instead, you can feel comfortable using polyester-tipped swabs with polypropylene handles that won’t add any contamination to your environment.

View Texwipe swab selection online or download our swab catalog today.

• Wrapped Cotton Swabs
• Foam-Covered Cotton Swab
• Spun Cotton with Polystyrene Handle Swab

Need assistance in your selection process? Contact our contamination control specialists.