A cleaning product is not a complete device-cleaning procedure. Before putting a shared handheld or tablet into a working rotation, match the exact device configuration to the proposed product, concentration, application method and return-to-use conditions. A wipe that is suitable for a housing may not be suitable for its display coating, connector or removable accessory.
Consider a dispatch team returning handhelds with dusty scan windows, marked screens and damp hand straps. The next shift wants a device ready to use, not simply a device that looks cleaner. This is an editorial example, not an AIDC GO customer case or a tested cleaning process. It illustrates why procurement should agree on a repeatable procedure before choosing cleaning consumables for a fleet.
Decide whether the task is cleaning or disinfection
Cleaning removes soil and impurities; disinfection addresses microorganisms using a suitable process. The CDC explanation of cleaning and disinfecting distinguishes these purposes and explains why dirt should be removed before disinfection. That general distinction does not identify a safe chemical for a particular electronic device.
In the dispatch example, dust on an optical window creates a different immediate task from a workplace requirement to disinfect shared touch surfaces. The site hygiene or safety owner should define the required outcome. A procurement team should not invent a disinfection claim from an alcohol ingredient, a clean-looking surface or a successful scan after wiping.
If disinfection is required, bring the intended product label into the discussion. For US EPA-registered products, the EPA guidance on label instructions and contact time makes the intended use and full wet contact period relevant. Other countries may have different applicable requirements. A disinfectant's authorised use and a device manufacturer's material-compatibility instructions answer different questions; both must be satisfied.
Do not shorten the required contact time just because a surface dries quickly, or keep adding liquid to a device contrary to its instructions. If the proposed method cannot meet both sets of conditions, stop and select a compatible procedure with the responsible suppliers. “Wiped once” is not an adequate description of what was done.
Match a named product and procedure to the exact configuration
Start with the handheld or tablet model, hardware revision where relevant, and the accessories that will actually be fitted. Include a protective boot, screen protector, hand strap, trigger handle, cradle and cables in the discussion. A bare-device cleaning instruction is not automatically approval for the complete working set.
Identify the cleaning product by its commercial name and formulation, not just “alcohol” or “disinfectant.” Record whether it is ready to use or diluted, the stated concentration, and the version of the supplier's instruction. Do not confuse the proportion of an active ingredient with permission to apply that ingredient undiluted.
For a model-specific example, Zebra's TC22/TC27 Product Reference Guide, MN-004747-02EN Rev A separates approved cleaners, harmful ingredients and component-cleaning instructions. Its cleaning materials include 70% isopropyl alcohol; the guide also cautions against liquid pooling and describes separate accessory and connector handling. These are instructions for the identified Zebra products, not an AIDC GO cleaning-agent approval or a universal recipe.
For an AIDC GO configuration, request the corresponding model and accessory instructions through the normal project discussion. The useful answer is a documented combination: which surface, which product, which method and which restrictions. If a supplier can only confirm the bare housing, leave the strap, screen film and dock questions open rather than treating the whole kit as covered.
Read the whole cleaning cycle, not only the chemical name
The following comparison is a proposed procurement discussion for the dispatch example. It is not a cleaning instruction and does not prescribe a chemical or exposure time. The actual procedure must come from the relevant device, accessory and cleaning-product documentation.
| Part of the working set | Conditions to resolve before use | What the observation cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Handheld housing and display | Confirm product, concentration, wiping method, surface or coating restrictions, liquid control and return-to-use conditions. | A clean-looking surface does not establish disinfection or compatibility over repeated cleaning cycles. |
| Scan window, buttons and openings | Identify the approved optical-surface method and any separate instructions for openings, covers and connectors. | A successful scan after wiping does not establish that every opening or material tolerates the same treatment. |
| Strap, protective cover and powered cradle | Identify removable parts, separate materials, power-isolation requirements and drying or inspection steps. | Approval for the terminal does not establish approval for an attached accessory or for cleaning while powered. |
A timed handover exercise can reveal a practical mismatch: the team has planned immediate reuse, while the documented process requires additional preparation or drying. Record the actual work steps and elapsed time during a proposed evaluation; do not turn an unmeasured estimate into a fleet turnaround guarantee.
Keep contact time and drying time separate. One concerns the specified disinfectant process; the other may concern safe handling, connectors or return to power. Neither should be replaced by an arbitrary “wait a minute” rule. Where instructions are unclear or conflict, obtain clarification before trying the procedure on operational equipment.
Treat IP protection and chemical compatibility as different evidence
The IEC 60529 publication classifies degrees of enclosure protection. An IP designation is not a list of approved cleaning chemicals, concentrations or repeated-wiping conditions. Do not infer that an ingress-rated handheld can be soaked in the site's disinfectant or cleaned with its port covers open.
Keep the cleaning method separate from the environmental test report. Our guide to IP ratings and drop-test reports explains how to examine the tested model and conditions; this article addresses what happens during routine care of the working configuration.
For a proposed evaluation, record the starting condition of the housing, labels, display, scan window and accessory surfaces. After following a confirmed method, inspect for visible residue, clouding, damaged markings or other changes and repeat the relevant normal input checks. Escalate an observed change; do not continue an unapproved exposure experiment to see when the device fails.
A short observation is useful evidence about that sample and procedure, but it does not establish long-term chemical resistance or microbiological effectiveness. If repeated exposure is important to the purchase, ask what documented assessment covers the proposed materials, frequency and service conditions. Do not assign a cycle count or a lifespan claim without supporting evidence.
Put the agreed method into the shared-device rotation
Define where a returned device is placed, who performs the agreed care procedure, and how it becomes ready for the next user. In the dispatch example, a visibly wet strap, damaged cover or unclear connector condition should not be hidden by placing the unit immediately into the ready pool. The site's procedure should identify who decides the next action.
When evaluating handheld terminals or rugged tablets, send the candidate model, accessory list, photographs of the working arrangement and the intended cleaning-product documentation. State the reason for cleaning or disinfection and the expected rotation pattern. This allows the discussion to focus on a configuration and method instead of a general “chemical-resistant” claim.
Use Integration Support for model, configuration and document-version questions, and contact AIDC GO with the proposed working set. Device suitability, the site's hygiene procedure and staff instruction need to agree before rollout; this guide does not claim that any named cleaning agent has been approved for an AIDC GO model.