Texwipe STX7118 Sterile AlphaMop Cleanroom Replacement Mop Covers (Refills)

Purpose & Scope

The STX7118 are sterile replacement mop covers for the AlphaMop® platform, commonly used for floor and larger-surface wet cleaning in aseptic and controlled environments. In sterile housekeeping, mop covers must be governed by sterile entry/handling, controlled wetting, unidirectional technique, and objective change-out triggers to prevent re-deposition and cross-zone transfer.

Visual Aids (Technique, Zoning, Lifecycle)

Use this graphic to reinforce unidirectional lane control, zone boundaries, and mop cover lifecycle discipline—the fundamentals of repeatable sterile floor cleaning.

Implementation note: Sterile covers are only “protective” if opening, seating, use pattern, and disposal are controlled.

Sterile Handling (Most Problems Start Here)

The most common sterile housekeeping deviation is not poor mopping—it’s setup contamination. Sterile covers are often handled with gloves that already touched non-sterile surfaces such as cart rails, bucket exteriors, door hardware, or gown sleeves. A defensible SOP defines exactly how covers are opened and seated.

• Open at point-of-use: avoid staging opened sterile packs.
• Protect the cover face: never set sterile covers on benches, bucket rims, or carts.
• Glove transfer control: define what happens if gloves touch non-sterile surfaces during setup.
• Defined removal/disposal: remove used covers without contacting clean equipment or packaging.

Controlled Wetting (Uniform Coverage Beats Over-Saturation)

Sterile floor cleaning is most repeatable when covers are uniformly wetted and used in a defined lane pattern. Over-wetting increases drip/splash transfer and can drive streaking or residue. Under-wetting increases friction and encourages scrubbing.

• Even wetting: avoid “wet spots” that print into lanes.
• Drip control: if the cover drips, it is usually too wet for controlled lane work.
• First-pass planning: initial contact can be wetter—define where that first pass occurs per SOP.

Technique: Unidirectional Lanes for Sterile Floors

For aseptic zones, unidirectional strokes (lane-by-lane) are a common technique because they reduce re-contact and make coverage easier to audit. The goal is controlled contact and planned overlap—not scrubbing.

• Start clean-to-less-clean: align lane direction with your zone map and SOP logic.
• Consistent overlap: use a defined overlap (e.g., partial head width) and keep it consistent.
• No backtracking: do not drag a loaded cover back over cleaned areas to “touch up.”
• Edge discipline: control perimeter passes separately to avoid pulling residue inward.

Objective Change-Out Triggers (Sterile AlphaMop Covers)

Sterile covers should be changed based on objective triggers. A cover that “still looks okay” can be loaded with residues that redeposit contamination across a larger area.

• Change by zone boundary: do not carry used covers into cleaner zones.
• Change by task stage: entry/perimeter cleaning should not share media with critical interiors.
• Change by performance: streaking/haze onset, visible loading, increased drag, or reduced pickup response.
• Change by handling event: dropped cover, torn package, uncontrolled staging, or touch contamination.

Details Most Websites Skip (But They Explain Real Deviations)

• “Stop-and-change” training: when drag increases, operators backtrack—train a cover change instead.
• Rest-point control: define where the mop may be staged during pauses (no wall leaning / no set-down events).
• Troubleshooting order: new cover + fresh solution + cleaned tool surfaces before changing disinfectant chemistry.
• Documentation clarity: tie cover changes to room/shift/solution-batch events for audit readiness.

SOP & Audit Readiness Checklist (Sterile Floor Mop Covers)

• Define sterile staging and opening-at-point-of-use rules.
• Define glove management for handling/seating sterile covers (transfer prevention).
• Define wetting/loading targets (uniform wetting; drip control).
• Define lane technique (direction, overlap, edge control, no backtracking).
• Define objective change-out triggers (zone boundaries, stages, performance, handling events).

Disclaimer: This Technical Vault content is provided for educational purposes only. Manufacturer instructions, facility SOPs, disinfectant label directions, and site-specific risk assessments must always take precedence. Sterile housekeeping programs must follow validated procedures for entry, handling, contact times, and documentation per your quality system.

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