We’ve been hearing reports from some of our customers about the increased involvement of local boards of health and state health agencies in requiring cleaning of ATM and credit card terminal keypads between sales, so we wanted to offer some thoughts about the most effective way to go about meeting these requirements. If you haven’t already done so, we suggest that you visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) for updated guidance for core disinfection/cleaning, disinfection of electronics, cleaning and disinfection of soft (porous) surfaces, and the timing of disinfection after a suspected/confirmed COVID-19 case.

Cleaning Best Practices

The recommended best practice to prevent COVID-19 and other viral illnesses in public areas and commonly used surfaces includes cleaning the area of any visible dirt followed by a thorough wipe down with a disinfectant.

But, remember that your ATM and credit card terminal don’t take well to moisture. CCG can steer you to products, such as keypad covers, and sanitizers that take easily to repeated cleanings without damaging the inner workings of your machine.

Recommended ATM Cleaning Procedures –

ATM Cleaning DO’s:

DO: wear protective gloves when cleaning ATMs.
DO: apply 70% isopropyl alcohol to a cotton or non-abrasive microfiber towel then wipe ATM screens. Follow up with a dry towel to remove streaks.
DO: clean the ATM fascia and keypad with disinfectant wipes or spray, or 70% isopropyl alcohol.
DO: apply disinfectant spray or 70% isopropyl alcohol on a microfiber towel or non-abrasive pad first, when using in place of disinfectant wipes, then wipe down the keypad and fascia.
DO: make sure cloth is damp with cleanser before cleaning.

ATM Cleaning DONT’S:

DON’T: apply 70% isopropyl alcohol directly onto the ATM screen – always apply to non-abrasive cloth or pad first.
DON’T: spray cleaners or 70% isopropyl alcohol directly onto any part of the ATM.
DON’T: power down ATMs first before cleaning, it is safe to leave them powered on during cleaning process.
DON’T: spray or apply 70% isopropyl alcohol directly on keypad – it will gradually weaken the plastic.
DON’T: soak cleaning cloths with cleanser before wiping down ATM.