Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety Practices
Three levels, one direction
Cleaning removes visible debris with soap and water. Sanitation lowers the number of microorganisms. Disinfection destroys most bacteria, fungi and viruses on nonporous surfaces, and sterilization destroys everything including spores. A disinfectant must be EPA-registered as hospital-grade with a tuberculocidal claim, mixed to the label dilution, and used for the full label contact time (commonly ten minutes). UV cabinets and "sanitizing" sprays are not disinfection.
The implement cycle
Every multiuse item goes through: clean and scrub (disinfectant cannot penetrate debris), fully immerse in disinfectant, then store in a clean covered container. Single-use or porous items - emery boards, orange sticks, foam buffers, cotton - are discarded after each client and never reused.
Hands, blood, and the floor
Wash hands before and after every service and between clients; wear gloves when contact with blood or body fluids is possible. For a blood spill: stop the service, glove, clean the area, apply an antiseptic to the client (and to yourself if exposed), cover the wound, then clean and disinfect all surfaces and discard contaminated porous items.
Chemicals and the work area
Keep SDS (formerly MSDS) sheets on hand, label secondary containers, store chemicals away from heat, ventilate the room, never smoke or eat in the service area, and keep electrical cords and equipment away from water.
Rule of thumb: ask "would this product kill a tubercle bacillus within its stated contact time?" If not, it is not the disinfection step the Board expects.