As more and more nail salons continue to open their doors across the country, it’s more important now than ever for them to ensure the safety and health of workers and clients by following sanitation guidelines. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed a booklet that goes into great detail about this topic, which can be a useful resource for nail salon owners and professionals. Among the guidelines listed in the booklet is a list of things nail salons should do to prevent the spreading of biological hazards, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This includes cleaning and disinfecting tools after each client, according to the policies of the nail salon’s state’s cosmetology board. According to OSHA, some common steps for cleaning and disinfecting tools are:
- Always wear the right gloves for the product you are using while cleaning and handling disinfectants or tools soaked in disinfectant.
- Wash tools with soap and water. Use a scrub if needed.
- Soak tools in an EPA-registered disinfectant for 10 to 30 minutes, according to manufacturer directions. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing the product ratios.
- Rinse tools in clean water.
- Dry tools with a clean cloth.
- Store all disinfected tools in a clean, covered area. Only use ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing boxes to store clean and disinfected reusable metal tools. The UV boxes do not disinfect tools.
- Disinfect foot basins and spas after each client and at the end of the day. Nail salons should follow their state cosmetology board’s rules on how to clean and disinfect foot basins and spas.
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