How to Disinfect and Clean Your Credit Card Terminal?

During the recent COVID-19 coronavirus crisis it’s essential to do everything you can to prevent the transmission of this killer disease. One way for merchants to protect their customers and employees is to promote contact-free payment via Apple Pay, Google Pay, and the like. Many customers still required to pay by physical credit and debit cards, however, which makes a point of contact that can harbour the virus and other germs.

It’s crucial, then, for retail locations to regularly disinfect and clean their POS Machine and POS systems to decline the chance of spreading the coronavirus. Explore more to find out the best ways to accomplish this.

Disinfecting Your Terminal - Everything You Need To Know

Some vendors disinfect terminals after each customer; others do it every two or three transactions. In general, the more oftentimes you disinfect the better – and there’s no harm in disinfecting more frequently.

The most suitable approach for disinfecting a terminal is to utilise a disposable disinfectant wipe specially designed for electronic devices. You can also utilise a disposable cloth sprayed with a disinfectant cleaning spray. Any cleaning sprays or liquids used should be used straight to the cloth, not to the terminal. You don’t have to employ a lot of the cleaning spray or fluid; a little goes a long way.

For added protection, consider using a UV light sanitizer. This device will kill 99.9% of bacteria on frequently touched surfaces.

It’s worth it to seek out disinfectant wipes or sprays created specifically for electronic devices. They have lower levels of alcohol that can harm the protecting coating on the screens of smart terminals. You should also avoid any cleaners that could damage the rubber or plastic parts of your terminal, such as bleach, paint thinner, trichloroethylene, or ketone-based solvents.

Cleansing Your Terminal

Cleaning is different from disinfecting. You can disinfect a terminal without turning it off, but to simply clean a terminal of all dust and dirt, you need to turn it off first.

The foremost thing to do, then, is to turn off the terminal or POS devices. Next, get a sterile disposable cloth and a cup of warm water. If you like, you can add a drop or two or liquid dish detergent to the water. Do not use any vicious solvents or harsh cleaners, as they can harm sensitive parts of the terminal.

Soak the cloth and use it to wipe down all observable surfaces on the terminal. You can supplement this with some canned air for clearing dirt between the terminal’s keys. You can also use certain cleaning cards to cleanse the terminal’s internal mechanism.

When you’re accomplished cleaning give the machine a few minutes to dry then you can turn it back on.

What Not to Do!

As noted, avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning materials. Whatever materials you utilise, never spray or spray any liquid straight on the terminal. You also should bypass shaking the terminal, which could trigger a tamper alert and shut down the terminal.

If in doubt about how to proceed, contact the Credit Card Machine Vendor for advice. Just remember to keep your terminal hygienic and free of those germs that can spread the coronavirus. And keep hand sanitizer handy for both your customers and workers!