How and with what to sterilize manicure instruments?

A beautiful manicure is an integral part of the image of a modern woman. The high speed of life and the presence of a huge number of cases are forcing women to increasingly turn not to specialists in beauty salons, but to masters who come directly to a client's home or perform procedures in private apartments. Many of the fairer sex prefer the second option for performing a manicure, which not only saves time, but also significantly reduces financial costs.

Most of the clients do not pay attention to the conditions under which this procedure is carried out, whether all the requirements for sterilization and disinfection of working instruments are observed. A negligent attitude towards this issue can negatively affect a woman's health. Untreated manicure instruments are carriers of dangerous diseases that are transmitted from a sick visitor to a healthy one.

Disinfection and sterilization of all working tools are mandatory manipulations that must be carried out after each manicure and pedicure procedure. It is necessary to disinfect not only scissors and nail files, but also the working surface of the table, baths for feet and hands, shaving razors, and ottomans for feet must be sprinkled with a special solution. Particular attention must be paid to the use of razor blades, which should only be disposable. Do not reuse the cutter.Specialists pay special attention to the sterilization process, which destroys all possible microorganisms. There are several methods of sterilization:

• thermal;
• chemical;
• quartz;
• ultrasonic.

Before starting the process of processing the instruments, it is necessary to find out what type of materials was used in the manufacture of the instruments. There are two types of materials:

• porous - nail files, buffs, napkins, sponges, cotton pads, orange sticks, paper towels (these products are not sterilized);
• non-porous - nail scissors, tweezers, cutters, brushes (disinfection and sterilization are carried out after each procedure).

Disinfection is a set of specific measures that allow you to remove dangerous viruses and bacteria not only from work tools, but also from the surface of the floor, table and other interior items, equipment and inventory. Devices can be disinfected only in special protective clothing, strictly observing all safety rules. Processed kits should be stored in closed sterile containers. It is strictly forbidden to use this procedure for treating the skin of the hands and nails.

The cold disinfection method using ultraviolet lamps is ineffective and is only used for hairdressing tools. Treatment of manicure sets with UV devices will not ensure the destruction of bacteria and germs, therefore it is used only to prevent re-contamination of containers with sterile instruments. Various gases are also used for cold disinfection.

To carry out all the necessary disinfecting measures, chemical manufacturers produce a wide range of products. Most disinfectants can be used immediately after purchase, but there are solutions that must be diluted before use. This procedure should be performed by a person who has the necessary set of knowledge, and the implementation of this manipulation should take place in accordance with all the recommendations indicated on the package.

Chemicals should be stored in containers with lids. The presence of marking is a mandatory requirement of the regulatory authorities. The container of each solution must contain complete information about the name of the drug, its concentration, purpose, date of manufacture. It is strictly forbidden to use chemicals that have already expired. The use of modern special solutions makes it possible not only to disinfect instruments, but also to carry out their minimal sterilization.

Sterilization is the final stage in the processing of manicure instruments, which makes it possible to eliminate all types of microorganisms. On the shelves of specialized stores, you can see several types of sterilization devices.

• Autoclave. Instruments are processed with steam at a temperature of 140 degrees for 25 minutes. Heating and cooling of the device lasts no more than 20 minutes.
• Ultrasonic. Used only for tools made of metal. The processing period lasts 35 minutes.
• Chemical. Contains special solutions in which manicure devices are immersed for one hour.

• UV. For the processing of non-metallic devices, it is necessary to use ultraviolet ionizing devices. Files, orange sticks and plastic devices can be sterilized in these devices.Only clean and disinfected devices should be placed in the sterilizer for a period not exceeding 120 seconds.
• Ball. Glasperlen sterilizers consist of small glass balls that are heated to a temperature of 300 degrees. The sterilization procedure consists in immersing the metal cutting parts of the instrument in heated balls. The whole process takes no more than 30 seconds. Disadvantages: the need for regular replacement of balls, sterilization of only the cutting surface.

Before starting sterilization, you need to perform several manipulations:

• filling the tank with quartz balls;
• heating the device to the desired temperature;
• placing tools after turning off the indicator.

Preliminary preparation of manicure devices:

• mechanical removal of skin residues, nails and other particles;
• irrigation with a disinfectant solution;
• drying tools at room temperature in the open air.

Special disinfectant treatment should be applied not only to working tools, but also to the air in the room. To prevent the spread of various viruses and bacteria, every beauty salon should have bactericidal ultraviolet irradiators and disinfectants. Opening hours must be recorded in a special journal. An antiseptic liquid should be on the desktop of every master, which allows you to remove dangerous bacteria from the surface of the skin and nail plate and does not allow them to multiply. The period of validity of this composition is two hours. With this tool, it is necessary to process not only the hands of the client, but also the master.

In the working cosmetic bag of each master there must be a first-aid kit, which consists of the following drugs:

• medical alcohol;
• iodine;
• medical plaster;
• sterile bandage;
• rubber gloves;
• potassium permanganate solution.

The process of processing manicure tools in specialized beauty salons consists of several stages:

• treatment with disinfectant solutions;
• cleaning;
• sterilization.

At the first stage, disinfection destroys all types of viruses, bacteria, various fungal spores and other pathogenic pathogens. All tools, equipment, inventory, as well as the hands of the master and the client undergo this processing. There are special chemicals for all surfaces. All solutions must be used in accordance with the instructions on the package.

The second stage of processing involves the mechanical removal of skin particles, nails, residues of gel and varnish from the surface of instruments under a stream of cold running water. In elite beauty salons, this process is carried out using special devices with ultrasound. Ultrasound removes dirt from all hard-to-reach places, and the rinsing process takes at least 5 minutes. After sterilization, all bacteria and microorganisms are removed. This stage of processing is carried out using special devices, the choice of which depends on the material of manufacture of the tools.

The high cost of sterilization devices does not allow women of fashion who take care of their nails on their own.To process instruments used by one person, it is necessary to wipe the items with medical alcohol after each procedure, and at least once a month to boil them in distilled or purified water. In the event that devices are used by several people, then it is necessary to boil after each use, and hands before manicure should be treated with antiseptic solutions or washed with antibacterial cosmetic soap.

The boiling process can be replaced by placing the appliances in a hot oven. This method is effective not only for sterilizing cans for conservation, but also for manicure sets. Dry and hot air effectively kills all dangerous microorganisms. Before carrying out the procedure, you must prepare the following inventory:

• dish detergent solution;
• iron tweezers;
• metal woodwind sheet;
• kitchen potholders.

In an oven heated to 200 degrees, washed and dried working tools should be placed. Metal appliances should not touch each other. The sterilization period is 20 minutes. The sheet with tools must be removed only with special kitchen gloves, which will prevent burns. This processing method can only be used for iron devices. Do not cool tools in cold water.

Comprehensive inspections of beauty salons revealed the presence of a large number of gross violations of sanitary standards: the lack of medical books for workers, the lack of disinfectants and devices for sterilization, the use of chemicals without permits and quality certificates, the lack of the necessary sets of sterilized tools, non-observance of the rules for processing manicure sets. Before starting the procedure, it is imperative to ask the administrator about the compliance of the level of services provided with all sanitary standards. Choosing the right salon is the key to maintaining your health and getting a high-quality manicure.

For information on how to properly sterilize manicure tools, see the next video.