Programs that have a manual component or require a haptic sense of touch can be difficult to virtualize or teach solely online.

In classrooms, workshops, and labs, students regularly interact with anatomy models for learning, hand placement techniques, and demonstration purposes. This is a fine way to spread germs and bacteria, making disinfecting each model after use a necessary step—but where does that leave your models?

The difficulty is that most commercially available disinfectants are fairly harsh not only on bacteria and viruses but also on hands, plastics, and paint. What works on surfaces like doors, desks, and other hard porous surfaces can destroy your anatomical models.

The good news is that there are products out there that will stop the spread of bacteria and viruses, be safe on your products, and preserve your warranty. Let's see what you need:

• Pick a water-based product – try to find something aldehyde-free and pH neutral
• Sodium Hypochlorite is your friend – harsh on viruses and easy on materials
• Be gentle on silicone and rubberized surfaces – models with functional or rubberized components can deteriorate when cleaned too vigorously, and we still recommend soap and water for these
• Disinfect with a gentle wiping motion – vigorous rubbing shouldn't be needed

To make sure we know what we're talking about, we went about researching and testing a disinfectant ourselves on different models, materials, and finishes for hours. The result was no damage, no discoloration, no major residue, and only minor odor (proper ventilation and a mask are always recommended).

We put a liberal amount onto a lint-free cloth and wiped the surface of the models. The amount required is minimal, so a bottle should last for many applications.