Why proper sanitisation is critical for your business
In the modern retail and food & beverage (F&B) landscape, the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal (also referred to as payment terminal or credit card terminal) is the most frequently touched piece of shared equipment, often handled multiple times by staff and customers during a transaction. While speed and uptime are important, maintaining hygiene standards is a crucial operational step that protects three key areas:
- Staff and Customer Health: Reduces the spread of germs and viruses, building customer confidence and ensuring employee well-being.
- Hardware Longevity: Prevents damage to sensitive electronic components, touchscreens, and card readers, ensuring maximum operational uptime.
- Compliance: Proper cleaning is often necessary to meet certain health and safety regulations, particularly in the food industry.
Knowing the correct procedures and approved cleaning agents is essential to avoid destroying your hardware, voiding your warranty, or compromising functionality.
The golden rules of payment terminal cleaning
Before starting any cleaning process, adhere strictly to these rules for any electronic POS terminal, whether it’s a dedicated smart terminal, a card reader, or a full POS system:
1. Power down completely
Always turn off the device and, if applicable, unplug it from the power source and remove any battery. This is a fundamental safety measure to prevent electrical shock or permanent damage to the circuit board.
2. Never spray directly
Do not spray any liquid directly onto the screen, keyboard, card reader slot, or printer. Excess moisture can seep into sensitive ports and internal components, leading to corrosion and terminal failure.
3. Avoid harsh chemicals
Never use abrasive, highly concentrated, or solvent-based chemicals. These include:
- Acetone or paint thinner
- Strong ammonia or bleach (chlorine-based)
- Abrasive powders or steel wool
These can strip the protective coating off the touchscreen, fog the plastic, and deteriorate the rubber keys or seals.
Recommended cleaning agents and tools
The correct approach is to use a mild solution applied to a soft cloth.
| Component |
Recommended solution |
Cleaning tool |
| Touchscreen/display |
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) solution (70% or less) OR Mild soapy water |
Soft, microfiber cloth or lens wipe |
| Plastic casing/body |
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) solution (70% or less) OR Water-based, non-bleach sanitizing wipe |
Soft cloth or cotton swab for crevices |
| Keypad |
Compressed air (to dislodge debris) and IPA wipe |
Soft cloth or cotton swab |
| Card reader slot (magnetic/chip) |
Dedicated magnetic card cleaning kit or cleaning card |
Never use liquid or sharp objects |
Note on Alcohol: Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) in concentrations of 70% or less is widely recommended as it is effective against pathogens but evaporates quickly, minimising moisture risk.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Procedure
Follow this process to clean and sanitise your terminal:
- Preparation: Power off and unplug the terminal.
- Clean the Body and Screen: Lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with your approved cleaning solution. Gently wipe the touchscreen and the exterior plastic casing. Do not use excessive pressure.
- Clean Crevices: Use a dry, lint-free cotton swab or a burst of compressed air to dislodge any debris caught around the keys, buttons, or seams.
- Sanitise the Keypad: Using a pre-moistened sanitizing wipe (non-bleach/non-abrasive) or a cotton swab dampened with IPA, carefully wipe the surfaces of all keys, focusing on the most frequently touched buttons (like Enter and Cancel).
- Clean the Card Reader: For the magnetic stripe or chip slot, insert a dedicated cleaning card, which is available from your payment provider. Never attempt to insert a sharp or damp object, as this risks damaging the internal reading head.
- Allow to Dry: Ensure all surfaces are completely dry before plugging the terminal back in or powering it on. This usually takes just a few moments due to the quick evaporation of IPA.
By adhering to these strict guidelines, your business ensures a safe environment, preserves its essential payment hardware, and maintains maximum operational efficiency.
