Sanitation, Disinfection, and Implement Care
The order never changes
Clean first, then disinfect. Disinfectants are inactivated by organic matter - hair, skin cells, oil, polish dust, blood - so a tool wiped with a towel and dropped into disinfectant is not disinfected. Scrub with soap and water, dry, then fully submerge in an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant that carries a tuberculocidal claim, for the full contact time printed on the label. Mix fresh solution daily (or per label), never top off an old jar with new concentrate, and never add water to stretch a product.
Sorting your implements
- Reusable, non-porous: metal nippers, cuticle pushers, metal files, tweezers, shears. Clean, disinfect, store in a closed clean container.
- Porous or difficult to clean: emery boards, buffers, wooden pushers, cotton, neck strips, nail polish bottles used on more than one client's skin. These are single-use or client-retained.
- Electrical equipment: wipe housings with an approved disinfectant; never immerse.
Foot spas and basins
Drain the basin, scrub all surfaces including the impeller screen and any removable parts with soap and water, then disinfect with the labeled product for the labeled contact time, and let it dry before the next client. A quick rinse is a common wrong answer.
Ultrasonic cleaners and autoclaves
An ultrasonic unit cleans; it does not disinfect or sterilize. An autoclave sterilizes - typically around 250°F at 15 psi for 20 to 30 minutes - and requires spore testing to verify it is working.
Rule of thumb
“Clean, then kill.” If a step in a question skips the wash, the answer is wrong no matter how strong the disinfectant is.