How to Sterilize a Hollow Needle

Keeping your piercing and tattoo equipment clean and sterile is extremely important. Sterilizing hollow needles is required by law in professional settings, and it's also a good idea to keep your own needles sterile to avoid giving yourself a nasty infection.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cast iron pressure cooking pot (4 quart)
• 1 pack of hollow piercing needles
• 1 bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• 1 zipper-lock baggy
• 1 gallon of distilled water

Instructions

1. Place the 4 quart pressure cooker on the counter, and fill it about half of the way with distilled water.

2. Add about a cup of isopropyl rubbing alcohol to the pressure cooker filled with distilled water.

3. Toss the hollowed needles into the pressure cooker, and tightly secure the lid of the cooker, by clicking it into place.

4. Turn the pressure cooker on it's highest setting, and twist the vent knob in a counter-clockwise direction. This knob is located at the top of the lid of the pressure cooker, and it should only be twisted about a quarter of an inch, to avoid accidental removal and loss of the knob.

5. Listen for the pressure cooker's timer to sound when the sterilization is complete, which usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the needles with a pair of sterile tongs and place them into a baggy.

Tips & Warnings

• Wearing protective clothing will help in preventing any steam burns.

• Do not remove the lid while the cooker is in process.