How to Clean Pedicure Stations

If not properly sanitized, the pedicure station in a salon is a haven for nasty bacteria. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a dirty pedicure station can affect all salon patrons negatively by spreading Mycobacterium fortuitum through a foot bath. To prepare the safest pedicure possible for your clients---and prevent microorganisms from entering the skin---a manicurist must clean and disinfect her pedicure station thoroughly after each customer. Without a careful cleansing and daily disinfection procedure, pedicure basins become the breeding grounds for the spread of athlete's foot, nail fungus and bacterial infections.

Things You'll Need

• EPA-registered liquid disinfectant
• Chelating agent
• Paper towels
• Small disinfected scrub brush
• Barbicide

Instructions

1. Drain the water from the foot tub after each pedicure service. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDC, "a foot spa should be disinfected between each customer, and nightly."

2. Scrub the pedicure tub completely. Combine liquid soap and warm water in the foot basin. Allow the sudsy water to remain in the tub for five to seven minutes. Using a brush disinfected with barbicide, scrub the inside of the basin vigorously to remove any remaining dirt or nail clippings.

3. Drain the water from the tub. Rinse several times with water to remove any soap residue. Wipe the tub clean with a paper towel.

4. Begin sterilization. Combine the EPA-registered liquid disinfectant with warm water in the foot basin. Allow the mixture to soak for 10 minutes. Drain the tub completely. Rinse the tub several times with warm water. Use a clean paper towel to dry the pedicure station.

5. At the end of each day, clean and sterilize all removable parts of the pedicure station. Remove the screen at the back of the whirlpool basin or air jet foot bath. Clean the screen and the removable parts using a disinfected brush and warm, soapy water. Dry and replace the cleaned parts and screen.

6. Combine a chelating agent with warm water in the foot basin for five to 10 minutes. Turn on the tub. Allow the solution to circulate through the jets to clean the pedicure station. Repeat Step 4 to sterilize the tub using the EPA-registered disinfectant.

Tips & Warnings

• According to the International Nail Technicians Association (INTA), a registered EPA disinfectant's product label will contain the words bactericide, fungicide and virucide. The label will also disclose that the product is a hospital and medical disinfectant. Chelating detergents are surfactants that are effective in breaking down residue from pedicure products in hard water. The INTA recommends that spa owners keep a log of the daily cleanings of the pedicure stations. Pipeless foot spas require a different cleaning cycle than air jet basins and whirlpool foot baths. Review the INTA cleaning guide (see Resources) for cleaning procedures.

References

• CDC.gov: Mycobacteria in Nail Salon Whirlpool Footbaths
• EPA.gov: Preventing Pedicure Foot Spa Infections
• INTA: Pedicure Cleaning Procedures

Resources

• INTA: Cleaning Procedures for Pipeless Foot Spas