We repeat: rules for disinfecting and cleaning manicure instruments

For any professional, work begins with tool processing. It doesn’t matter whether we use it for ourselves, a client, or at a championship. I hope this material will remind you how to properly disinfect and clean manicure tools and help you correct mistakes.

Tatyana Yurganova , founder and director of the Space Nails training center, co-owner of the Tibo beauty company, judge on the field of the ABC Ukrainian Championship, coach of the Space Team, author of articles in specialized publications in Russia and Ukraine, trained more than 2,300 students, creator of a unique course on the chemistry of materials Nail Lab

Proper processing always includes four stages: disinfection, cleaning (DSC), sterilization and storage of clean instruments. In this article we will dwell in detail on the first two points.

Disinfection of manicure instruments

Primary treatment is carried out with the aim of destroying pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) by chemical means.

Cutters, brushes, files and other tools are placed in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. The solution is prepared according to methodological recommendations (manuals and quality certificates are provided by the seller). We also look for the duration of exposure of the instrument in the solution (exposure time) in the manual.

A few recommendations:

• To prepare the working solution, use water at room temperature. Cold water inactivates some active ingredients.
• We pour the concentrate into water, and not vice versa (remember the example from chemistry lessons, when during experiments we poured acid into water, and not water into acid), otherwise the solution will be neutralized.
• We prepare the concentration as accurately as possible, not by eye, otherwise the result of such processing is not predictable.
• We use the “full immersion rule”. The instrument is completely immersed in the solution, and there should be approximately 2 cm of solution above it in the tray.
• The disinfection solution is used once. It must be replaced immediately after use. This is due to the fact that in any case, a precipitate from skin particles, dust and fatty contaminants will form in the solution, from which the properties of the solution are lost.
• It is prohibited to rinse instruments in water before chemical disinfection, since if there is an infectious agent on the instrument, when rinsed with drops of water, it can get on mucous membranes, wounds, etc.
• Concentrate brands need to be changed approximately every 6 months. This is necessary to prevent the development of resistance of microorganisms to the active substance of the disinfectant.
• The disinfectant should be selected carefully and carefully, paying attention to the manufacturer, active ingredient and spectrum of action. The product must work against parenteral hepatitis B and C. The composition may also include auxiliary substances for cleaning instruments, for example, enzymes for cleaning protein contaminants, anti-corrosion additives, etc.

Disinfection is the most important stage of tool processing; all products, tools and surfaces are subject to it.

After soaking in the solution, you can proceed to cleaning the instrument.

PSO (pre-sterilization cleaning)

It is carried out to remove protein, fat and mechanical contaminants from the instrument. If you skip this stage, the tool will deteriorate very quickly, the cutters will become clogged and will not last long.

There are two ways to clean cutters and tools:

Manual method

In this case, the formula “running water + hard brush + degreasing detergent + 30 seconds of time for each unit of instrument” works.

It is very important to thoroughly clean the cutting part of the tool, locks, connections and handles, and also thoroughly rinse off the disinfectant solution.

Mechanized method

An ultrasonic cleaner (US) is used, which generates a lot of air bubbles in the liquid, which, when they hit the instrument, knock dirt out of its pores.

The cleaning liquid can be a disinfectant solution or lightly soapy water. Water without additives will be ineffective.

• The operating frequency of ultrasonic cleaning must be at least 40 kHz.
• It is not recommended to clean solid metal tools (nippers, scissors and pushers) in a sink, because the ultrasonic wave destroys the cutting edge at the molecular level, thereby spoiling the sharpening of the tool. The sink is intended mainly for cleaning cutters.
• To test the effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning, place a piece of foil in a bath of soapy water and turn it on for one full cycle. If afterwards you see that the foil has become thinner, a raised edge and holes have appeared, then the sink will effectively clean the cutters.
• Cleaning of cutters can be combined with disinfection. To do this, a disinfectant solution in normal concentration is poured into the sink.
• After cleaning in the sink, the cutters are washed with clean running water.
• After disinfection and cleaning, the instrument should be sterilized.

Why is disinfection alone not enough?

Disinfection kills infectious agents (bacteria, viruses and fungi), but not their spore forms, which after a while, when exposed to favorable conditions, are capable of infection. Sterilization destroys the spores and makes the instrument completely free of any life forms.

Tatyana Yurganova will tell you in the following material how to properly sterilize instruments and where to store clean cutters, nippers, files and brushes.