Feet can harbor many contagious conditions, from diseases to fungi, and they may not always show visible signs of infection. Making sure that you properly disinfect your pedicure equipment is critical to running a successful salon. Knowing how to properly disinfect pedicure chairs will keep you and your clients safe from any contagious foot conditions and will assist with your general after-appointment chores.
Before Appointments
Before you even begin the pedicure, check to see if the client has any concerning damage to their feet. Open sores or scabs can put the client at risk for bacterial skin infections during the wash. Even if you do a good job of disinfecting your pedicure basin, the risk is not worth taking, even if your client fusses about it. Be adamant about their health. Any client’s infection can make your reputation plummet.
You should also look for nail fungus and warts that your client may not know about. Nail fungus will require heavy disinfecting if you carry through with the pedicure, and clients should take care of warts before getting a pedicure, as they can be highly contagious.
Perform a foot wash before any wax or pedicure treatment to avoid open sores or cuts in the washbasin.
After Clients
After every client, make sure to drain the water in the chair’s washbasin properly. Take out any debris that you can see. Then, wash the basin with clean, hot water and soap and drain it again. Once you finish washing it with soap and water, use a disinfectant that meets EPA hospital standards and let it sit for ten minutes. The label will tell you if it is EPA approved or not, and it may list a different amount of time, along with the types of bacteria that the product kills. If the time on the label is shorter, that’s fine, so long as it is still EPA approved. Once the correct time has passed, drain the disinfectant and rinse the basin with water. If you are using a whirlpool or jet foot basin, you may need to run the jets to allow the disinfectant to circulate through the system.
Disinfect the chair and footrest with a disinfectant wipe or soap and water. If your chair is leather, make sure to follow proper leather cleaning instructions.
End of Day
Before you go home for the day, make sure to clean the basin one last time. If you have a simple basin, you need only follow the same instructions for disinfecting after each client. For more complex basins, clean all the removable parts separately and scrub them with soap and water. After you’ve scrubbed them, follow the “after client” procedures for jet washbasins.
Some states may require a weekly bleach wash for jet washbasins. Pay attention to these state regulations. The equipment may include instructions that detail how to properly disinfect pedicure chairs.
If you have any questions about the maintenance of your high-quality salon pedicure chair from Salon Equipment Center, contact us!
