What To Look for When Choosing Healthcare Fabrics & Textile Products

You may be wondering how hard it could be to choose healthcare fabrics for the products in your facility. If chosen unwisely, you can be facing major headaches down the road. Fabric textile products used in hospital furniture and doctor offices have special requirements you would expect in a medical setting, such as their ability to resist germs. But there are other considerations to take into account when choosing fabrics that will live in a medical environment. We’ll explore the characteristics you should look for when choosing medical fabrics for your healthcare product. Read on to learn more!

What Are Some Of The Uses For Medical Fabrics?

Hospitals and other medical facilities present a wide array of opportunities for the use of healthcare fabrics. Some of the applications for these products include:

  • Mattress Ticking
  • Gurney Mattress Covers
  • Drapery and Clean Room Curtains
  • Shelving and Try Liners
  • Chair Underlays

What Special Properties Are Required For Fabric Textile Products?

There are four major properties required for healthcare fabrics. These medical fabrics should offer behind-the-scenes resistance to germs while being easy to care for, static-resistant and durable. Let’s explore each of these properties.

Resistance to Pathogens

First and foremost, healthcare fabrics should be resistant to anything that could adversely affect the health of anyone in the facility’s care. Look for medical fabrics that are antibacterial. Vinyl is ideal in hospital rooms, while non-woven fabrics are an excellent choice for surgical gowns.

Ease of Cleaning

Choosing fabric textile products that are easy to care for makes good sense in a busy hospital or other medical facilities. Spending time on patients should be the priority. Cleaning the upholstery should not. Medical fabrics should be resistant to moisture and mildew and be odor-resistant as well. Materials like vinyl or polyurethane are smart choices for these reasons. Upholstery fabrics with ridges or fancy piping or trim should be avoided because these add-ons are challenging to clean and may harbor pathogens.

Static Resistance

Medical fabrics that aren’t static-resistant can build up electrical charges that are a danger to patients and sensitive medical equipment. To prevent this accidental discharge, choose healthcare fabrics that have static dissipative properties.

Durability

Healthcare fabrics need to endure plenty of rough treatment, so durability is a crucial element in creating medical fabrics. Look for fabric textile products that are manufactured to last, dimensionally stable and flame-resistant.

Why is Dura-Tuff® A Smart Choice For Medical Fabrics?

With a black conductive front and colored back that dissipates static, Dura-Tuff Vinyl Fabric is engineered to perform during surgery and in patient rooms. Dura-Tuff has outstanding qualities, all of which are highly desirable in healthcare fabrics:

  • Dimensionally Stable
  • Flame-Resistant
  • Anti-Bacterial
  • Mildew/Fungal Resistant
  • Dirt/Stain-Resistant
  • Fluid-Proof
  • Non-Tacky
  • Anti-Static
  • Anti-Microbial
  • Color Stable

Shop Duracote Dura-Tuff® ESD Vinyl Healthcare Fabrics Today

Engineered for protective cover applications, Dura-Tuff flexible vinyl-covered medical fabrics provide all the features you’re looking for. Innovative healthcare fabrics from Duracote are optimal for either sewn or heat-sealed applications. Plus, they meet all the high-standard textile specifications for product manufacture and installation along with end-use performance. Shop Duracote Dura-Tuff healthcare fabrics today!
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