Stainless Steel Chain Mail Scour Pads
Green scrubby pads have always haunted me. They get caught on every little imperfection, screw, or corner of the equipment. Each day during pre-op, we inevitably find a green fiber caught on something.
I am curious if anyone has tried using those stainless steel chain mail scrubbing cloths?
I have purchased a couple for the plant to try, but would like feedback regarding any potential downfalls I have not previously considered.
Thanks!
I love them for home use, they work great on my cast iron and my stainless-steel pans if I really screw up and can't boil off a stuck bit of burnt whatever. I find that the chain mail itself can be a little difficult to clean if I use them on super oily messes, takes a bit of work with Dawn to get sticky residue feeling to release from the chains.
Take a little piece of one and try it through your metal detector. If it's the kind I'm thinking of, small pieces can be sharp. While green pads aren't great, they are disposable and cheap so by changing them often it shouldn't be a concern. I'd be worried with the pads you propose on pieces coming off or scratching plastics etc creating a great surface for microbiological harbourage.
What about higher pressure hot water sprayers to help with removing debris? Maybe these can replace the green scrubbers for some tasks. I find the green scrubbers are a problem when you're using them on abrasive surfaces like edges, nuts/bolts, or moving parts. The pad catches on them and deteriorates. Maybe for these surfaces a high powered jet of hot water would work better, with fewer headaches.
Take a little piece of one and try it through your metal detector. If it's the kind I'm thinking of, small pieces can be sharp. While green pads aren't great, they are disposable and cheap so by changing them often it shouldn't be a concern. I'd be worried with the pads you propose on pieces coming off or scratching plastics etc creating a great surface for microbiological harbourage.
Generally speaking I wouldn't use an abrasive scrubber or cleanser harder than the surface material being scrubbed. That's kind of a cleaning 101 concept.
Beyond that the metal rings should be easy enough to detect if you manage to lose one. Welded rings should prevent that. The ones small enough to be difficult to detect are probably too easily deformed by aggressive cleaning anyway.
What about higher pressure hot water sprayers to help with removing debris? Maybe these can replace the green scrubbers for some tasks. I find the green scrubbers are a problem when you're using them on abrasive surfaces like edges, nuts/bolts, or moving parts. The pad catches on them and deteriorates. Maybe for these surfaces a high powered jet of hot water would work better, with fewer headaches.
Depends on the plant but in the UK at least high pressure water is seen as a no-no. In high care / high risk manufacturing it will spread aerosols which, if the jet has been directed to the floor could lead to Listeria spread. Secondly they are more likely to cause water ingress on equipment and thirdly even if it's low risk it tends to spray around the debris (potentially including allergens).
Generally speaking I wouldn't use an abrasive scrubber or cleanser harder than the surface material being scrubbed. That's kind of a cleaning 101 concept.
Beyond that the metal rings should be easy enough to detect if you manage to lose one. Welded rings should prevent that. The ones small enough to be difficult to detect are probably too easily deformed by aggressive cleaning anyway.
Ah it is cleaning 101 but it doesn't mean it's followed. Not sure about US plant based equipment but in the UK there are often plastic components and while you ask people to not use a tool which could result in damage, if that tool is available I'm going to tell you now... it will be used.
I still wouldn't risk it. No Metal Detector nor x-ray is 100% effective. There is an argument they are actually monitoring for your metal controls rather than a CCP (if you search on here no doubt you'll find long threads about it.)
Just from my point of view with UK culture, I really wouldn't.
This is not just gut feel but based around using brass brushes for heat seals. There is literally no other tool which works. Of course you could do as we did and check for damage, replace immediately as they become worn, only use in restricted places. But did I find worn brushes with pieces missing? Yes. Did we ever get a complaint? Also yes. Did we ever find them being used for things they shouldn't? Ding, ding, ding. 3 for 3. I'd put up with green pads you throw away every shift in preference. Honestly. But each to their own.
Thank you to all for the responses.
In place of green pads, is there something anyone uses that is comparable for ease of use, yet more sturdy and less likely to shed pieces?
Thank you to all for the responses.
In place of green pads, is there something anyone uses that is comparable for ease of use, yet more sturdy and less likely to shed pieces?
Depends what you're using it for. It would be worth having a look at decent brushes for example. You can get them in all different levels of "firmness". In the UK I'd look at Vikan and Klipspringer both of which have a great range. Of course any brush treated badly can be a hazard too but combined with shadow boards so they're visible when not in use, it's probably the best option I've found. Also blue "J cloth" style cloths. Not much good for scrubbing but good for wiping depending on your need.
Ah it is cleaning 101 but it doesn't mean it's followed. ... if that tool is available I'm going to tell you now... it will be used.
...
Another one of those personnel safety standards that doesn't always get applied to food safety, but probably should. If you don't want people to do something, take away the ability to do it (often by removing the equipment that is being misused, or physically blocking the action).