How to Care for Reusable Stainless Steel Instruments

Reusable stainless steel instruments can give long service when they are cleaned, sterilized and inspected the same way every time. This guide covers widely accepted general practice for surgical, orthopedic, electrosurgical and piercing instruments, from point of use through to storage.

Important: this is general guidance, not a validated procedure. Always follow the instrument's instructions for use (IFU), your sterilizer and detergent manufacturers' instructions, and your facility's or studio's own protocols. These take priority over anything in this article.

What is the correct order for reprocessing an instrument?

If soil is left in a hinge or lumen, steam may not reach the surface beneath it, so cleaning matters as much as the cycle.

What should you do right after use?

• Wipe gross soil from the instruments during or right after the procedure.
• Keep instruments moist until cleaning, for example with a pre-cleaning spray or a damp towel, as your protocol allows. Dried soil is much harder to remove.
• Avoid long soaks in saline. Chlorides can cause pitting and corrosion on stainless steel.
• Open hinged instruments and separate any parts that are designed to come apart.
• Keep sharp and delicate tips protected, and don't pile heavy instruments on top of fine ones.

How should stainless steel instruments be cleaned?

• Manual cleaning: brush under the surface of the water so you don't create splashes or aerosols. Use soft nylon brushes, not steel wool or wire brushes, which scratch the surface and remove the protective layer.
• Hinges, box locks, serrations and ratchets: clean them in the open position. On rongeurs and double-action instruments, take extra care with the joints and the cupped jaws.
• Lumens and channels: irrigation forceps and receiving tubes need a brush or flush sized to the channel.
• Ultrasonic cleaning: open the instruments, don't overload the basket, and follow the unit's instructions. Check the IFU first for coated or insulated instruments.
• Rinsing: rinse thoroughly to remove detergent. Many facilities use treated (deionized or distilled) water for the final rinse to avoid mineral spotting.

Why are drying and inspection so important?

Dry instruments completely, including joints and channels. Then inspect each one, ideally under lighted magnification:

• Cleanliness: look for residue in serrations, box locks, jaw cups and around tube openings.
• Surface: check for rust-colored spots, pitting, cracks or worn plating.
• Function: jaws should meet evenly, ratchets should hold and release cleanly, and spring handles should return. Cutting edges, such as rongeur jaws, should be sharp and free of nicks.
• Coatings and insulation: on nylon- or plastisol-coated jaws and on electrosurgical forceps, look for cracks, lifting or bare spots. Take damaged instruments out of service.

Lubricate hinged instruments with a water-soluble instrument lubricant suitable for steam sterilization, if your protocol calls for it. Don't use oils that block steam contact.

How should instruments be steam sterilized?

• Load instruments open or unlocked, in a single layer where possible, so steam can reach every surface.
• Use the cycle type, temperature, exposure time and drying time set by the sterilizer manufacturer, the IFU and your facility protocol. Many US facilities follow AAMI ST79 for steam sterilization practice.
• Use the chemical and biological indicators your protocol requires, and keep records.
• Don't handle packs until they are cool and dry. Treat wet packs as non-sterile.

Our surgical and electrosurgical instruments are designed for repeated clinical use and are compatible with standard hospital sterilization protocols, including steam, when proper cleaning and maintenance procedures are followed. Our stainless steel piercing instruments are reusable. Listings such as our nostril piercing forceps are specified as autoclavable. For coated instruments, check the listing and supplied care instructions, and contact us before autoclaving if you are unsure.

How should sterile instruments be stored?

Store packs in a clean, dry, controlled area off the floor, away from sinks and moisture. Rotate stock so older packs are used first, and follow your facility's event-related shelf-life policy.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Letting blood or tissue dry on instruments before cleaning.
• Long soaks in saline or chlorine-based products.
• Mixing different metals in one ultrasonic or soak cycle.
• Sterilizing with box locks or ratchets closed.

Featured in this guide

• BEYER Rongeur (Double Action)MP-20138 / MP-20139
• Cushing Irrigation ForcepsMP-670
• Nostril Piercing Forceps – 6 in (15.5 cm)MP-6042
• Sponge Forceps Slotted Head – Nylon or Plastisol CoatedMP-6029

FAQ

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