How to Clean, Sanitize, and Maintain Lead Vests
Lead vests used in radiology can accumulate dirt, germs, and contaminants that require proper cleaning and disinfection for health and safety. However, guidelines from governing bodies like AORN state that many medical facilities use inconsistent or inadequate cleaning processes that could put patient and staff safety at risk if left unaddressed.
We’re here to help at Radiological Care Services (RCS). Below, we break down the key steps for proper deep cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance of lead vests.
Understanding the Importance of Cleaning and Sanitizing Lead Vests
Proper cleaning and sanitization are crucial for personal protective equipment (PPE), such as lead aprons and vests. The two primary reasons why we stress cleaning and sanitization’s importance are:
PPE like lead vests, aprons, and thyroid shields can become contaminated with harmful microorganisms. Those contaminants can cause infections or adverse health effects for staff and patients, particularly when improper cleaning practices are used.
When vests become soiled with dirt, debris, blood, and odors, they’re unpleasant and uncomfortable to wear. It can lower staff satisfaction and discourage clinicians from wearing essential PPE.
Several studies show these effects in medical facilities.
Contaminants on Protective Garments
A study by Dr. Jaber from Wayne State cultured 25 lead aprons in a healthcare facility. The results showed that 84% were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Tinea species (ringworm), and 12% were contaminated with MRSA. Each of those microorganisms can cause serious health consequences if lead aprons and vests don’t receive proper deep cleaning services.
Staff Reported Soiled Garments
AORN surveyed 173 healthcare workers about protective garment cleaning. Notable results included:
78% reported wearing soiled protective gear
48% admitted to never spot-cleaning garments
30.1% mentioned thyroid shield odors
21.4% said garments never underwent standard department cleaning
Improper cleaning protocols for PPE impact the staff experience. Therefore, performing regular and routine deep cleaning is essential for a better and safer workplace.
The Risks of Biofilms
A biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms that grows on high-touch surfaces in medical settings, such as PPE worn daily during diagnostic imaging and interventional surgery.
Biofilms are a leading risk of hospital-acquired infections. The National Institutes of Health states that 80% of chronic infections and 65% of microbial infections are associated with biofilms.
Dr. Kathleen Jones explained that only using sanitizing wipes on surfaces won’t remove the biofilm entirely, leaving the bottom layer of debris to survive and regrow. Therefore, deep cleaning services and disinfection are necessary to remove it thoroughly and reduce the amount of remaining bacteria on the surface.
How to Sanitize a Lead Apron
The process for cleaning and sanitizing lead vests and aprons is the same, so we’ll cover the requirements for both simultaneously. Our process for lead apron cleaning and sanitization at RCS goes as follows:
1. Pre-Service Evaluation
We perform an initial inspection when lead vests, aprons, and other garments arrive at our facility.
Our team thoroughly evaluates garments for areas that require extra cleaning and any damage that needs repairs, such as torn straps, broken buckles, or worn velcro. We also assess the internal lead layer to ensure no damage has compromised protection.
2. Cleaning and Sanitization
We use a two-step process for cleaning and disinfection.
Our team begins by applying an EPA-registered product using friction to remove dirt, microorganisms, and bioburden. The CDC recommends applying friction during cleaning to remove tough biofilms.
After cleaning, we apply a sanitizing agent to remove 99.9% of microorganisms from the garment’s surface.
Both the cleaning and sanitizing products we use are garment-safe to avoid any damage.
3. Post-Service Evaluation
We conduct a final ATP test to ensure that no contaminants remain on the garment’s surface. After aprons and vests pass the test, we record the cleaning results in our RADCOMPLY™ software so you have the information ready in case of an audit.
How to Perform Daily Wipe-Downs for Lead Vests and Aprons
Using wipes and sprays doesn’t replace regular deep cleaning and disinfection, as they do not fully eliminate biofilms. However, performing these tasks daily between deep cleanings helps remove basic dirt and germs, slowing the buildup of contaminants.
We recommend using Ecolab Quaternary-Based Wipes or Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes for daily wipe-downs. They each use a disposable microfiber cloth that applies friction, which aligns with the CDC's recommendations.
To wipe down lead aprons and vests, you should:
Lay them flat, ensuring you don’t crease or bunch their material.
Wipe the entire garment’s surface, even areas that look clean. Harmful microorganisms may not be visible.
Find an undisturbed area to hang or lay the garments flat to dry.
How Often Should Lead Aprons Be Cleaned?
AORN recommends quarterly deep cleaning for high-touch objects in medical settings. At RCS, we consider lead vests, aprons, and thyroid shields to fall into this category due to their frequent use and contamination risk.
Additionally, AORN’s new guidelines for 2025 mention that all protective garments should be wiped down before each use.
AORN’s guidelines stress this cleaning frequency because of how quickly garments can become contaminated. Their 2025 guidelines state that lead vests, skirts, aprons, and thyroid shields have the highest contamination rates, between 62.5% and 100%. Therefore, anything medical teams can do to minimize dirt, germs, and contaminant buildup is essential for patient and staff safety.
How to Clean Thyroid Shields
When considering lead vest and apron cleaning protocols, facilities will also want to know how to clean lead apron accessories like thyroid shields.
The thyroid shield cleaning process is the same as the guidelines above for lead apron and vest daily wipe-downs and deep cleaning. When you send your thyroid shields to us at RCS for quarterly deep cleaning, they receive the same level of detailed care and attention as your other garments.
A couple of elements you may want to consider when cleaning thyroid shields are:
A smaller brush may work better when applying friction during deep cleaning. The smaller surface area of thyroid shields could make using a larger brush more difficult, especially when cleaning any narrow spaces.
Make sure you use a fresh wipe for each garment during daily cleanings. It can feel tempting to use the same wipe on your thyroid shield that you used for an apron or vest since it’s small. However, it’s best to start fresh for thorough cleaning and to avoid spreading contaminants from one garment to the next.
How Should Lead Aprons Be Stored to Maintain Their Effectiveness?
Storage is another crucial element of lead apron maintenance. The best way to store lead aprons, vests, and other protective garments is to hang them on a sturdy storage rack. You can also lay them flat or roll them like a beach towel during transport, ensuring there isn’t any bunching or creasing in the material.
A study from Radiography Open states that folding lead aprons, dropping them, coming into contact with sharp objects, or otherwise misusing them can cause damage like cracks, holes, or tears in the attenuation material. Such damage may reduce the garment’s effectiveness, so proper storage and handling are vital.
Some hanging tips for lead aprons and vests to ensure damage doesn’t occur are:
Hang the garments from both shoulder panels. It can feel tempting to hang aprons or vests from one shoulder panel when rushing between procedures. However, it can cause bunching and creasing and put too much stress on the material on that side.
Ensure that the garments are placed evenly in the middle of the hanger. Uneven weight distribution causes stress on the material and may lead to damage over time.
Smooth out the garments after placing them on hangers. Again, ensure there isn’t any bunching or creasing.
Additionally, we recommend annual inspections using X-ray scanning to identify any damage that could occur through regular use of protective garments like lead vests and aprons. A study in 2018 stressed the importance of regular radiographic scanning for protective garments since it’s the most accurate method to identify small pinholes that aren’t always visible.
Even small tears or pinholes can progress rapidly. A study from the Journal of Health Physics found that small tears in lead aprons increased by up to 270% in 10 months.
Conclusion: Best Practices for Lead Apron Maintenance
To sum up the best practices for lead apron maintenance covered throughout this article:
Quarterly deep cleaning and disinfection are essential to remove biofilms and contaminants from protective garments.
Hanging is the best storage method for lead vests and aprons. Avoid folding, bunching, or creasing the material since it can cause damage that reduces the garment’s effectiveness.
Annual radiographic inspections help identify small damage early.
When damage is detected, apply necessary repairs as soon as possible to avoid further escalation.
We can help with protective garment cleaning, maintenance, and repair at RCS.
How RCS Helps Clean and Maintain Lead Vests and Other PPE
At RCS, we know that keeping up with deep cleaning, inspection, and maintenance of PPE is time-consuming and costly for many medical facilities to perform in-house. We provide services that make the process more efficient while ensuring high-quality results.
Our services include:
Deep cleaning and disinfection
Annual inspections using X-ray scanning
Garment repairs
Garment disposal
Inventory management with our RADCOMPLY™ software
Our services follow recommendations from governing bodies like the CDC and AORN to ensure accurate and effective care of all protective garments that enter our facility.
Ready to keep your PPE clean, safe, and inspected? Contact us today to learn more about how RCS can help.