A patient transfer device for transferring a patient placed on a movable sheet from a first surface to a receiving surface, said patient transfer device including first and second laterally spaced apart retractable pulling members, at least one motor operatively connected to the pulling members so as to allow retraction of the pulling members by means of the motor, where the pulling members comprise a bobbin and a wire, where the patient transfer device comprises an absorbent member removably arranged around the wire. Accordingly, the wire may be cleaned in a reliable manner.