Sanitation Checklist

1. Nail technicians should always clean both their hands and their clients’ hands or feet before every service. Some states allow the use of waterless hand sanitizers, but if hands are dirty or contaminated, they should be washed with antibacterial liquid soap and running water first. Cleaning hands reduces the risk of spreading germs from client to client.

2. All implements (including individual implements that a client brings in or that are left in the salon), equipment, and materials that come in contact with a client must be properly cleaned (sanitized) and disinfected prior to servicing each client. Before any tool or file can be used on a client, it must be properly cleaned and disinfected.

3. If any metal tool or hard piece of equipment has come into contact with blood, body fluid, infection, or an unhealthy condition, it must immediately be cleaned and disinfected (rather than continuing to use it on the same client). If a nail file or other porous item [See sidebar on porous and non-porous items.] comes into contact with blood, it must be disposed of immediately. (There may be local, state, or federal regulations regarding items that come into contact with blood.)

4. Store clean and disinfected tools in a clean container (labeled “disinfected”) that is separate from soiled or used tools and files (so you never get confused and pick up a dirty implement).

5. There are very detailed guidelines related to the cleaning and upkeep of foot spas, “Best Practices for Cleaning and Disinfecting Pedicure Equipment.” In addition to the disinfection protocol, you should keep records of the cleaning and disinfecting of foot spas.

6. Sanitation is an often-misunderstood term. Sanitizing means “cleaning to remove all visible residue or debris.” Proper cleaning is the first step in safety, but it must be followed by disinfection, which involves describes the use of chemicals to destroy germs on non-living surfaces. Salon disinfectants include EPA-registered, hospital-level, liquid disinfectant products that are virucidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal; that are 10% bleach; or that are 70% or higher isopropyl or ethyl alcohol.

7. Use clean towels and/or manicure mats for each client.

8. Products such as creams, lotions, scrubs, paraffin wax, masks, and oils must always be used in a sanitary manner that prevents contamination. For example, paraffin and nail oils should not be applied with a brush (or spatula) that has touched the skin. To avoid product contamination: • dispose of used or remaining product between clients. • use single-use disposable implements to remove products from containers for application or remove product with a clean, disinfected spatula and put product into a disposable or disinfectable service cup. • use an applicator bottle or dropper to apply the product.

9. If blood or body fluid comes in contact with any salon surface, the nail professional should put on protective, disposable gloves and clean it with an EPA-registered, hospital liquid disinfectant or a 10% bleach solution. In case of an accidental cut, clean with an antiseptic and bandage the cut.