Hospital surfaces are primarily nonporous and easily cleaned prior to disinfection. Horse stalls are primarily made of wood or concrete block and might have some metal fittings and fixtures. Raw wood and unpainted concrete blocks are very porous and can trap and hide pathogens from disinfectants. This porous nature also makes the surfaces difficult to clean adequately. There is a solution to this problem.
Raw wood has to be cleaned of all debris.
Holes and knots are filled with caulking or plastic wood, then a marine-quality varnish or polyurethane is applied to make the wood as nonporous as possible. Concrete block also can be cleaned and covered with two coats of enamel paint to make the surfaces easy to clean and disinfect. Removable rubber mats can hide many microorganisms beneath them, causing an increasing stench if not routinely removed and cleaned. Certain rubber mats can be placed and sealed along all seams and glued to the solid floor beneath, making them an excellent surface for the horse and stall cleaner. Asphalt or concrete flooring easily can be cleaned and disinfected, but can be hard on the horse s legs.