We love going to nail salons to get our nails and toenails done, but the aftermath could be appalling if the nail technician used filthy or contaminated clippers on our hands and feet! Toenail fungus is a common occurrence for those of us who enjoy manicure-pedicures every now and then, but commercial nail tools have been used on multiple customers!
Ensure your nail salon is at the peak of its sanitation practices by disinfecting all your nail tools, and you can expect to reduce the chances of developing toenail fungus. Disinfection plays an important role in maintaining healthy nails for all your clients so you can keep your business operations clean and sanitary.
Here's how you can disinfect your nail clippers using common household cleaning solutions and tools:
How to Disinfect Your Nail Clippers
Step 1: Prepare Your Materials
Gather your materials before you start. Preparing beforehand would prevent you from having to scramble to look for a brush or a cleaning solution as you go, and you'll have a smoother cleaning process when you have all your materials ready. Here's what you'll need:
- Washing bowl or container
- Baking soda
- Liquid dish soap or antibacterial soap
- Rubbing alcohol (at least 70% concentration) or Hydrogen peroxide
- Soft bristle brush
- Hair dryer
- Towels
Step 2: Clean Your Clippers
First thing's first: clean your nail clippers! An easy way to do this is to mix a few drops of liquid dish soap or antibacterial soap into a bowl with some warm water. Add a teaspoon of baking soda, and let the clippers sit in the solution for 5-10 minutes. Take your soft scrub brush, and start scrubbing at the clippers, making sure to go through the nooks and crannies.
Alternatively, you can also soak clippers in the cleaning solution using a watertight container. Shake the container around, and the baking soda will act as an abrasive scrubber to remove the grime and dirt hidden in between the hinges, in the grooves of the clippers, and anywhere else that your brush could not reach. Rinse the clippers afterwards.
Step 3: Soak Your Clippers
Rinse out the clippers as well as your container, and fill the latter with your disinfectant of choice: either 70% rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or a hospital grade disinfectant - but never two or three at once! Let your clippers soak in the solution for at least 30 minutes to completely clean them.
Make sure your clippers are fully submerged in the disinfectant liquid. The spot where the disinfectant doesn't get through could be the starter breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms that can cause toenail fungus.
Also read: How to Disinfect a Quartz Countertop
Step 4: Dry Your Clippers
Clippers are still made of metal that can rust under prolonged exposure to moisture. After you disinfect your tools, take a cloth or paper towel, and dry your tools until all the moisture is gone. It may be difficult to dry the nooks and hinges with a paper towel, so it is best to use a hair dryer in the heat setting to evaporate any remaining liquid.
Step 5: Don't Forget to Sanitize the Container
Lastly, don't forget to sanitize the container you store your clippers in! Even if the tool is completely sanitary, if the storage container is unsanitary, then you risk the chances of a fungal nail infection just as well. Make sure you wipe the container clean with a disinfecting solution before you store your tools.
Tips to Store Nail Clippers
When storing your nail clippers, it is imperative that you store them dry. Not only can these metal nail slippers rust in moisture, it can also be the cause for bacterial and fungal infection, as well as mold. These contaminants can cause nail infection, including staph infections.
As a preventive measure, make sure you store your clippers, even your stainless steel nail clippers, in a sealed, sanitary container that is dry and dust-free. Here are a couple of tips for you to store your tools properly:
- Store your clippers with some silica gel bags. The silica bags, like those found in shoes, bags, and other dry goods, absorb excess moisture and prevent mold and bacteria from forming. Place a couple of these bags along with your clippers for dry storage, and replace them with new bags every month or so.
- Store your clippers with dry tea bags. Similarly, dry tea bags will also keep moisture out of your clippers. However, this is not our favorite hack as the tea bags themselves may be susceptible to mold. If you decide to go for this hack, be sure to change the tea bags every week or so.
- Spray a disinfectant on your clippers before storing. This will ensure your clippers are clean before and after using them on a customer. Making this a habit will prevent any infections, and keep a generally clean business for you!
- Store tools separately. We often see tools all clumped together in one container, but this actually gives fungus the opportunity to grow around the nooks and crannies. It is best to store tools in individual pouches, containers, or sections to prevent cross-contamination.
Nailed It!
Looking for a quick and easy way to maintain the cleanliness in your shop? Luce Office is here for all your cleaning needs! We offer both cleaning and disinfection services for all types of commercial spaces across Singapore.
Check out a full list of our services through our website today, and let's schedule a cleaning service that works for your office!
