This short guide provides general guidelines for the cleaning and care of your VPixx hardware, with an emphasis on disinfection and preventative measures.
As research groups prepare to return to their labs and workplaces after the COVID-19 lockdown, hospitals and universities may be imposing stricter rules for sanitizing equipment. Even if this is not the case, we encourage researchers to regularly clean and disinfect their VPixx hardware for safety and performance.
This guide applies to all VPixx hardware. It divides tips into sections based on specific devices or families of devices. You can use the table of contents on the left to jump to the section relevant to you, or click on the image of your device below.
The single best method for keeping your workspace infection-free is to follow the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for prevention. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, cough and sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, and avoid touching your face.
If have any questions or concerns related to cleaning your particular experiment setup, please contact [email protected].
Video I/O Hubs
The DATAPixx I/O hubs and PROPixx controller have a metal chassis. They can be cleaned with regular cleaning products or disinfectants.
If you are using a spray, spray the product into a soft cloth and wipe down the device—do not directly spray product on the device, especially near the ports.
Cables, power bars and plugs can be wiped down in the same manner. Avoid bending or folding fragile cables, particularly fibre optic cables, during cleaning.
To clean the interior of the ports, spray compressed air into the sockets to remove dust and debris.
PROPixx Projector
The metal and plastic frame of the PROPixx DLP projector can be cleaned with regular cleaning or disinfecting products.
The PROPixx lens can be gently wiped with a damp cloth and a gentle soap, such as hand soap. Excess soap can be removed with a second, clean damp cloth. Alternatively, you can use a commercial LCD screen cleaner like this brand. Do not apply pressure to the lens or remove the lens from its housing during cleaning.
Video, USB and power cables, as well as the aluminum PROPixx projector stand, may be cleaned with commercial cleaning products. Ports and plugs can be cleaned with compressed air.
If you are using a video signal booster, we advise marking your dial setting prior to any cleaning in case the dial is accidentally adjusted.
CRT Replacement Monitors
The stand and frame of our three VIEWPixx CRT replacement monitors can be safely cleaned with commercial cleaning products or disinfectants. Do not spray product directly on the monitor; instead, spray product onto a soft cloth and wipe down the hardware. Cables can be wiped down in a similar fashion. Ports may be cleaned using compressed air.
Do not use cleaning products on the LCD panel. Commercial cleaners and sanitizing products contain harsh solvents which can damage the coating on the panel.
To clean the LCD panel, we recommend a commercial LCD screen cleaner like this brand. Alternatively, you can use a damp microfiber cloth and a gentle soap, such as hand soap. Excess soap can be removed with a second, clean microfiber cloth. Do not apply firm pressure or rub at the panel, as this can damage the display.
In the case of high risk environments, a sheet of plexiglass or plastic film can be used to protect your display. This second surface may be cleaned and disinfected as needed.
Projection Screens and Mirrors
The plastic/aluminum frame of the stand can be wiped down with disinfectant wipes, or with a soft cloth that has been sprayed with cleaning solution. Mirrors can be wiped with microfiber cloth and a streak-free glass cleaner.
Flexible projection screens should not be treated with any commercial disinfectant, as harsh solvents can damage the material. For cleaning, we recommend wiping with a soft cloth and gentle soap, like hand soap. Grease spots can be spot-cleaned with a water-based detergent and warm water.
For high-risk environments, we recommend protecting your screen with a sheet of plexiglass or plastic film whenever possible. This second surface can be disinfected as needed.
Eye Trackers
The TRACKPixx /Mini can be wiped down with any commercial cleaner or disinfectant. Spray the cleaner into a microfiber cloth and gently wipe down the unit, taking care to avoid creating streaks on the front glass panel.
The TRACKPixx 3 metal bracket, camera body and LED lamp body can all be wiped down with commercial cleaner. Cables may also be wiped down. Avoid bending the fibre optic cables as these cables are fragile. Sockets can be cleaned out with compressed air.
The glass LED lamp cover and camera lens can be cleaned with a soft, microfiber cloth and a commercial LCD screen cleaner (like this one). You can also use warm water and a small amount of gentle soap, such as hand soap. Excess soap and water can then be removed with a second clean cloth.
The chinrest for our eye tracking equipment should be thoroughly disinfected between uses, as this device comes in direct contact with your participant’s face. Spray liberally with disinfectant solution and wipe down with a cloth. Rubbing alcohol can also be used as a disinfectant.
SOUNDPixx Audio System
The SOUNDPixx amplifier, pneumatic transducer, cabling and plastic tubing can be wiped down with a soft cloth that has been sprayed with cleaning/disinfecting solution. Do not spray solution directly on any of your devices. Sockets and air tube interiors can be cleaned using compressed air.
Headphones should be thoroughly disinfected between uses as they come in direct contact with your participant’s face. Commercial disinfectant or rubbing alcohol can be used to wipe down all tubing and plastic surfaces. In-ear headphones come with disposable, single-use foam plugs that should be discarded after use.
Accessories
All RESPONSEPixx button boxes (including MRI units) should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between uses, as they come in direct contact with your participant. Boxes can be wiped down with disinfectant wipes, or a cloth dampened with cleaning solution, disinfectant spray or rubbing alcohol.
Cables can be wiped down as well, and sockets and plugs can be cleaned with compressed air. RESPONSEPixx MRI fibre optic cables should be cleaned carefully. Avoid bending or folding the cables. The fibre optic converter can also be cleaned with a commercial cleaning solution.
The 3D Polarizer frame can be wiped down with standard cleaning solutions. The polarizing filter can be gently wiped with a soft cloth and warm water, and a small amount of gentle soap (like hand soap). Passive filter glasses should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between uses as they come in contact with the participant’s face. These plastic glasses can be wiped down or even submerged in soapy water for thorough cleaning.
The 3DPixx polarizing system consists of an IR emitter and active 3D shutter glasses. The emitter can be cleaned with a soft cloth dipped in warm, soapy water. The shutter glasses must be cleaned and disinfected between uses as they come in direct contact with the participant’s face. We recommend wiping down the plastic frame with disinfectant wipes, or a cloth dampened with disinfectant. The lenses can be cleaned with a damp microfiber cloth and a small amount of gentle soap.
The X-Rite coloromiter and spectrophotometer consist of a metal and plastic frame and a lens. The frame can be wiped down with a soft cloth sprayed with cleaner or disinfectant. The lenses can be wiped with a clean microfiber cloth that has been dipped in warm water with a bit of gentle soap (like hand soap). Excess water can be wiped with a clean microfiber cloth.
The SHIELDPixx MRI solution is largely metal and can be wiped down, inside and out, with a commercial cleaner or disinfectant. The glass window on the front of the box may be cleaned with standard non-streaking glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
Cite this guide
Fraser, L. (2020, May 6). Cleaning and Disinfecting VPixx Hardware. Retrieved [Month, Day, Year], from https://vpixx.com/vocal/cleaning-and-disinfecting
