As contagious viruses, such as the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), continue to spread worldwide this winter, it’s more important now than ever to ensure the proper sanitation and cleaning is done to help prevent the spreading of these viruses.
According to a press release from Virox, makers of Rejuvenate disinfecting products, in cases of Emerging Pathogens such as 2019-nCoV, the EPA implements the Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance for Antimicrobial Products. This guidance utilizes an organism hierarchy to identify effective products for use with emerging pathogens and to permit registrants to make limited statements against such pathogens. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, which are among the easiest organisms for disinfectants to kill or inactivate. The following criteria is used to determine efficacy of a disinfectant upon activation of the Emerging Pathogen rule: The product must be a hospital or broad-spectrum disinfectant product registered with EPA; and for an emerging enveloped virus, the product must have acceptable efficacy data previously submitted to and reviewed by the Agency against one non-enveloped virus (Poliovirus).
The press release also indicates that the Rejuvenate line of disinfectants (concentrate, ready-to-use, and premoistened wipes) have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to 2019-nCoV on hard, nonporous surfaces, so Virox is recommending Rejuvenate products when used in accordance with the directions for use against Poliovirus type 1 on hard, non-porous surfaces, to help prevent against 2019-nCoV and other viruses. Refer to the CDC website for additional information.
Nicole Altavilla (February 14, 2020). Are You Protecting Your Spa From Winter Illness?
Retrieved from https://www.americanspa.com/wellness/are-you-protecting-your-spa-winter-illness.
Clients may hear horror stories about infections resulting from nail salon visits, making them reluctant to receive services. To ensure your clients’ loyalty, it’s important to give them a sense of confidence in the cleanliness of your salon. You can build that confidence by discussing your disinfection practices with them and assuring them that you have been educated and have their safety in mind. Make your expertise visible by displaying certifications and providing handouts.
Germs can be found in many areas of the salon, and it’s important to establish a disinfection routine to prevent bacteria from growing. Some products, such as Rejuvenate™ disinfectants, have a quick contact time and are available in both liquid and wipe formulations, making it fast and easy to keep up a thorough disinfection routine. Surfaces in the salon such as door handles, telephones, keyboards, nail tables, and faucet handles can harbor germs, so they should be wiped down with disinfecting wipes. Seating surfaces should be wiped down with a disinfectant. Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water between clients as well.
Proper disinfection of pedicure thrones and basins is particularly crucial. Nail techs should be aware of the correct procedures for the type of pedicure throne in their salon. To banish bacteria and fungi from the jetted, recirculating-style units, clean with soap and water before disinfecting. The screens must be removed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and interior portions cleaned before rinsing and refilling with a disinfecting solution. The disinfecting solution should be recirculated for the contact time specified by the disinfectant manufacturer. For non-circulating types, clean with soap and water, then use disinfectant liquid or wipes for the recommended contact time.
Reusable implements, such as nail clippers, metal nail files, and cuticle pushers should be pre-cleaned with soap and water, then disinfected according to state laws.
Marketing yourself as a safe, clean salon can boost your business and give your clients confidence. It’s a good idea to start a conversation with your clients about cleanliness. Clients who are already concerned about this topic will be reassured, and clients who are used to sub-standard conditions will learn why your salon is different and safer. Educating clients on the correct procedures will help.
Providing handouts and signage is a great way to make your salon’s investment in safety visible to clients. Online education is available to help you increase your knowledge about proper disinfection. Some programs offer a certificate of completion to certify that nail techs have finished the course. Prominently displaying such a certificate will remind your clients that you are qualified and care about their safety.
Get your certification today by taking the free 45-minute online educational module by Rejuvenate™ disinfectants and display it proudly in your salon.
Katherine Fleming (August 28, 2019). Keeping Clients Safe From Germs in the Salon [Health, Beauty].
Retrieved from https://nailsmag.com/613144/keeping-clients-safe-from-germs-in-the-salon.
in the spa and beauty industry today, mostly because of the trend in products that are ethically sourced and made without any toxic ingredients. But the word has always been associated with spas and their overall environment and condition. A spa must not only look clean and tidy but equipment, work- spaces, and tools used in the spa should also be properly sanitized every day. When it comes to the health and safety of spa-goers, there’s no such thing as cutting corners on proper sanitation to save time, money, or effort. Cleanliness is not only essential to keeping clients and staff safe while at the spa but it’s also important to the reputation of the business. The Ulti- mate Guide to Spa Sanitation presented by Virox ProBeauty, creators of Reju- venate Disinfectants, outlines what needs to be disinfected, how to do it, and provides tips to ensure spas offer the cleanest and healthiest environment for their clients and staff—and passes any state inspections to continue to run a successful business. Virox ProBeauty is the creator of patented Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide®-based disinfectant cleaner products specifically designed for the professional beauty market. With a successful background and experi- ence in the healthcare market, Virox ProBeauty now offers Rejuvenate Dis- infectant Cleaner products formulated specifically for spa surfaces, foot baths, and tools. Rejuvenate disinfectants are EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfec- tants, which are tough on germs but safer for users and the planet.
It’s important for any business to maintain a clean and healthy environment, but especially spas, as they offer services in which equipment and tools can easily transmit bacteria and viruses to clients and employees. From viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, herpes, and flu to fungi like athlete’s foot and nail fungus, and bacteria that can cause skin infections, there are so many reasons why sanitation at the spa is of the utmost importance. Pathogens can spread through direct person-to-person contact, mucous membranes in the eyes and mouth, and breaks in the skin. What’s more, cross-contamination quickly spreads these germs to other items and surfaces at the spa. In addition to the negative health consequences for clients and staff, spas risk health inspector fines, a loss of reputation and social media backlash (poor ratings), and even business interruption or closure.
By using high-quality cleaning and disinfection products, you can take a step towards improving your spa and salons business. Here’s how:
It’s crucial to follow safe practices in your salon, both for clients and staff. For clients, that means ensuring you clean and disinfect your surfaces, tools and foot baths between each service to prevent infections. For staff, it means making sure your team members remain healthy and don’t suffer ill-effects from any chemicals used in the salon. Many disinfectants are made with harsh, potentially irritating chemicals, but harsh chemicals don’t necessarily provide better disinfection. RejuvenateTM disinfectants are non-irritating to the eyes and skin, non-toxic, and scent-free. This gentle, environmentally friendly product provides effective cleaning and disinfection while protecting you and your staff.
To comply with state guidelines, it’s important to use EPA-registered disinfectants appropriately. These disinfectants have been evaluated to confirm they effectively eliminate germs listed on the product label and also to validate the safety rating of the product. Professional-grade disinfectant products like RejuvenateTM, are EPA-registered, while being safer for you and designed specifically for the spa and salon setting. Therefore, RejuvenateTM will do more than just help you avoid costly fines from your state board; it’s also a great way to set you apart as a safe, healthy salon. Remember to review your specific state board guidelines for cleaning and disinfection!
Depending on the product, it can be time-consuming to properly clean and disinfect surfaces, tools, and foot baths in your spa or salon. Many products require a surface to remain wet for 10-minutes to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Since cleaning and disinfection must happen between each client, the time adds up. With RejuvenateTM products, they have a shorter contact time, and effectively kill pathogens in as little as one minute. The time saved using fast products will lessen wait times, leading to more happy customers and a booming business.
NAILS Staff (April 27, 2019). 3 Ways Effective Cleaning and Disinfection Products Can Improve Your Business [Health, Beauty].
Retrieved from https://www.nailsmag.com/378738/3-ways-effective-cleaning-and-disinfection-products-can-improve-your-business.
Disinfection is more than just cleaning: Cleaning is the first step which removes visible debris, however disinfection is then required to kill germs on your salon surfaces and tools. That’s why it’s crucial to keep your clients and employees safe by using good disinfection practices. Proper disinfection will be easy once you make sure everyone on your team is on the same page. The best way to do this is by creating a checklist they can refer to.
All points of contact require disinfection after each service. This includes tools like cuticle nippers, pushers, nail clippers, drill bits, and any other implement that comes in contact with the client’s skin. It also includes surfaces such as manicure tables. Pedicure basins and foot spas also require thorough disinfection after each client, and floors should be disinfected daily. It’s important to remember that not all items are disinfected the same way. While surfaces and non-circulating pedicure basins can be cleaned using disinfectant wipes or sprays, circulating pedicure spas require that a concentrated solution be circulated through the system, and tools must be soaked in disinfectant solution for the time recommended by the manufacturer.
When creating a checklist, you’ll want to customize it to fit your salon. Make a list of what salon equipment needs to be disinfected, and how to properly disinfect each item according to the product label. Note frequency as well. For example:
Once you’ve developed your list, train your techs in the proper procedures and have them track their disinfection routine using a written checklist — and don’t forget to check the checklist to make sure nothing is being forgotten.
Disinfection doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming! Many disinfectants, like Rejuvenate, come in a variety of forms, such as wipes or sprays, and many have a contact time of as little as one minute — giving you more time to spend with clients. Another handy way to speed up disinfection is to have a wash basin prepped for your tools. Rejuvenate’s solution is reusable for up to 21 days in a soaking tray, so you won’t have to re-prep every day. Just be sure to test with the solution test strips to make certain the solution is not contaminated. Using high-quality disinfection products and keeping a set routine will make your salon safer and save you time.
Learn more at Rejuvenate™ Nail Salon Disinfectants | Surfaces, Tools, Foot Baths
Katherine Fleming (April 25, 2019). How To Create A Salon Disinfection Checklist [Health, Beauty].
Retrieved from https://www.nailsmag.com/604256/how-to-create-a-salon-disinfection-checklist.
Disinfection is crucial for salon safety, but with so many products available, how can you choose the best one? Ask these questions when selecting a disinfectant product for your salon.
Household disinfectants don’t work at the high level necessary to keep people safe at the salon. It’s crucial to select a disinfectant that will eliminate all pathogens found in spas and salons. Formulas originally created for use in hospital and health care settings will have a very high kill rate and are suitable for salons.
Cleaning means removing visible debris with soap and water. Sanitizing reduces the number of bacteria on a surface but does not kill viruses and fungus. Disinfection kills bacteria, viruses and fungi, and is required for salon surfaces and equipment. Some products are able to clean and sanitize as well as disinfect.
Many disinfectants are formulated with harsh chemicals, like phenols, bleach and alcohol disinfectants that can be harmful to the user and the planet. However, there are gentler, more environmentally friendly disinfectants available such as hydrogen peroxide.
The amount of time the product must remain wet on the surface before disinfection is achieved is called contact time. Contact time, will vary depending on the product. Some products may evaporate before the full contact time is achieved, requiring reapplication. Be sure to read the directions thoroughly and choose a product that’s effective in a rapid and realistic contact time. For example 10 minutes might be an unrealistic amount of time to keep a surface wet in one application.
To comply with state board regulations, it’s important to use products that have been registered with the correct authority. EPA and FDA-registered disinfectants are evaluated to confirm they eliminate the germs listed on the product label. Disinfectants for surfaces should be EPA-registered. Since the FDA approves disinfectants used for tools in a medical setting, some tool disinfectants are FDA-registered instead. Check with your individual state board to confirm requirements in your state.
Rejuvenate™ Disinfectants meet US State board requirements. It’s a product that can be relied on to protect both you and your customers. Look to Rejuvenate™ when you want effective but safe products.
NAILS Staff (March 5, 2019). 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing the Right Disinfectant for Your Salon [Health, Beauty].
Retrieved from https://www.nailsmag.com/393235/5-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-the-right-disinfectant-for-your-salon.
Your job is to care for your clients’ wellness through first-class services. But it’s equally important to care for their health and safety by keeping your spa clean. After all, an outbreak or negative review can harm your business and livelihood. Follow these guidlines for keeping your spa in tip-top shape.
