Autoclave or dry heat?

[Ariadne]

What is best to clean metal nails tools: Autoclave or Dry Heat? I also saw some UV light boxes. What is more effective and take less energy (less time)? Where is a good supplier?

Thank you very much and Happy New Year!

Ariadne

 

[Carmen]

Why not just use a disinfectant to soak your implements in?

 

[Lana]

EPA approved hospital grade disinfectant is sufficient.

 

[Kerry's Nails]

I use disinfectant then put metal tools thru a dishwasher, then sit them in disinfectant again until they are needed. HTH

 

[Ariadne]

Why not just use a disinfectant to soak your implements in?

Would you like to go to a dentist that just disinfect? I don't use it in myself if I don't sterilize properly. We can give any kinds of diseases if it gets in contact with blood.

Ariadne

 

[Carmen]

Who says disinfection isn't sufficient? I'm not talking about sanitizing, I'm talking about disinfecting.

It's actually quite the norm to use a hospital grade disinfectant. There are many sold at suppliers that are good. I use Accel CS 20. It is effective for critical instruments (ie. hospital) that come into contact with blood or tissue.

 

[Ariadne]

Who says disinfection isn't sufficient? I'm not talking about sanitizing, I'm talking about disinfecting.

It's actually quite the norm to use a hospital grade disinfectant. There are many sold at suppliers that are good. I use Accel CS 20. It is effective for critical instruments (ie. hospital) that come into contact with blood or tissue.

Still, disinfection doesn't kill everything. You can get some nasty diseases in the nails because of that. Look the information:

"Unlike sterilization, disinfection is not sporicidal. A few disinfectants will kill spores with prolonged exposure times (3–12 hours); these are called chemical sterilants. At similar concentrations but with shorter exposure periods (e.g., 20 minutes for 2% glutaraldehyde), these same disinfectants will kill all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores; they are called high-level disinfectants. Low-level disinfectants can kill most vegetative bacteria, some fungi, and some viruses in a practical period of time (<10 minutes). Intermediate-level disinfectants might be cidal for mycobacteria, vegetative bacteria, most viruses, and most fungi but do not necessarily kill bacterial spores. Germicides differ markedly, primarily in their antimicrobial spectrum and rapidity of action."

Where I come from (Brazil) its mandatory to have all metal instruments sterile, and all plastic & wood be dispose after using. I thought here would be as clean as that!

Ariadne

 

[Carmen]

I guess technology is changing because Accel 20 is a "Chemosterilant and High Level Disinfectant for Medical Devices and Instruments" and is effective in 20 minutes - not 3-12 hours.

You should purchase whatever you feel comfortable using though. For myself, knowing this is a hospital grade disinfectant makes me feel confident I'm disinfecting to the approved industry and government levels.

 

[Vetty]

But doing a set of nails wont put your tools in contact with blood - it's nail enhancing not open heart surgery!! If you abrade a client then bin that file immediately, otherwise disinfection is perfectly adequate for metal tools used in nail services......

 

[Carmen]

But doing a set of nails wont put your tools in contact with blood - it's nail enhancing not open heart surgery!! If you abrade a client then bin that file immediately, otherwise disinfection is perfectly adequate for metal tools used in nail services......

EXACTLY!!!!! Not sure why blood woud be drawn with implements....

 

[Ariadne]

EXACTLY!!!!! Not sure why blood woud be drawn with implements....

If cuticle is removed the tools can get in contact with blood. And there are some fungus that are not easily killed. You never know some health conditions of clients, because they don't say everything. If someone is under some heavy medical treatment, the drugs can make bacteria or virus more strong, and chemically they are not killed. Only with heat (dry or wet) you can be sure about that.

Last weekend in the San Diego News paper had an article about a would that had to cut one finger because of manicure tools. And the saloon had to pay a lot for the client. Isn't cheaper to clean it properly and avoid problem?

Ariadne

 

[Carmen]

I feel as if you keep pinpointing my comments for some reason. We are all saying the same thing.

Cuticle should NEVER be cut unless it is dead tissue. If you are drawing blood, you are cutting live tissue.

As for a fungal infection, I would NEVER put an enhancement on an infected nail.

 

[cynthiabb]

Hi were I work we use both the medical grade desinfectant and a UV Box. It´s much better to be safe than sorry. The autclave is great but you can´t reuse the implements until they have cooled down with the UV you can leave them there for 20 mins and they are ready to be used again. Thats just my 2 cents

 

[Carmen]

This information is from Nail Biz Links Page

"KILL THOSE COOTIES
by Diana from Indiana


Just a note here about uv sanitizers and disinfection.......I teach here in Indiana about this very important subject....everyone gets confused....so I try to make it simple........so we are all cootie free!!!!!!!! A simple rule........to kill hiv and hepatitis and other nasty cooties.....you have to disinfect....what is disinfect...simple.......10 MINUTES IN A DISINFECT SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!What is a disinfect? read your labels.....it must state that it is EPA registered....examples,,,Barbicide,,,Barbicide Plus....Swiss Armour...there are gobs of others.......Confused between sanitation and disinfection......sanitation is to clean and to remove SOME cooties......disinfection is to KILL those cooties.........So here is a sample........you could take a disinfect solution, it is epa registered....says it kills hiv and hepatitis.....lets say barbicide.....You take this barbicide and spray in on your table......you immediately wipe it up......you think,,,,ah, killed all those cooties!!!WRONG!!!!!!!!if you did not leave the disinfect on for 10 minutes you only sanitized even though you used a disinfect (barbicide).....But if you left it on for 10 minutes, then wiped it clean...you now have killed those cooties,,,,now you have disinfected.......

So remember..........Disinfects equals to 10 minutes (NOTE HERE: some disinfects need 20 minutes, most are 10 minutes, read your labels)10 minutes (20) equal killing hiv/hepatitis and other germies......
And a word about sterile.........unless you have an autoclave in your salon, you should never use this word!!! Get it out of your vocabulary!!!!!!!!
And remember also,,,,,you sanitize your hands and nail plate.....you do not disinfect your hands and nail plate.......think about it....if you disinfected your hands and your clients nail plate.......remember.....they would have to soak it in an epa registered disinfect solution for 10 minutes!!!!!!!! Now who has time for this and besides, not good for your skin or your clients nail plate!!!!!!hehehe
Uv sanitizers are good for storage only....so after you DISINFECT(10 minutes(20)) then dry and use this as a storage unit......hope this helps some of you.....diana from indiana


If a manufacturer is saying UV Sterilizer, then they are miss labeling the unit......Sterile means kills bacterial spores, the most resistant form of life on Earth.(Schoon)....Sterilization can be achieved with heat/and or steam........very very hot.......there is also a cold sterilization (liquid) that some doctors use....but this cold/liquid process takes hours and hours. I seem to remember it would take 12 hours or longer to sterilize this way. I have to info somewher if someone needs it. I have always seen the uv units called uv sanitizers........According to Doug Schoon (hiv/aids/hepatitis..everything you need to know to protect yourself and others) he states........Uv Sanitizers are useful storage containers. The ultraviolet rays can kill many kinds of bacteria, but they will not disinfect (kill hiv/hepatitis) salon implements. Uv light rays cannot reach into every crevice and are ineffective against viruses.

Also, yes....to disinfect your table you have to let the solution sit for 10 (20) minutes. hope I answered your question about the uv units....... I guess the point here is the old sayin......Consumer Beware!! heheh see ya diana from indiana"


Taking all that into consideration, if you are worried about sterilizing then you should purchase an autoclave.

 

[Vetty]

If cuticle is removed the tools can get in contact with blood.

That is incorrect - cuticle is non-living tissue that sits on the nail plate, eponychium is living tissue at the bottom of the nail that should never be cut, nipped or removed...... As long as only cuticle is removed (with an appropriate disenficted metal tool) there is no chance of your tools being in contact with blood.

 

[cynthiabb]

My god this is starting to get very catty. Let´s just all agree to disagree

 

[Ariadne]

That is incorrect - cuticle is non-living tissue that sits on the nail plate, eponychium is living tissue at the bottom of the nail that should never be cut, nipped or removed...... As long as only cuticle is removed (with an appropriate disenficted metal tool) there is no chance of your tools being in contact with blood.

So, you don't know any manicure that ever took a piece that shoudn't?

I still prefer to be safe than sorry, but if you don't want to use any of those things, I'm not imposing anything, I just don't agree with you or Carmen. And Carmen, I just quote so you would know what I was answering, not to get you mad. Sorry if you didn't like, it wasn't my intention.

I just wanted to know from the ppl that use those tools (autoclave, dry heat, UV) what they were using more. Nothing else!

[]s

Ariadne

 

[Carmen]

If you feel you must have sterile tools then I would get an autoclave. UV does not kill bacteria but it does prevent the growth. So, if you disinfect and then store in UV, it will still only be disinfected, not sterile.

I understand you may not agree with me (or pretty much every other tech) and that's fine. Each is entitled to their own opinions. I was merely trying to tell you that according to the health departments, a disinfectant is up to code.

I'm done with this thread now!!

 

[Nafia]

I agree but in any event in the the state of Illinois cuticle cutting is outlawed and carries a fine up to 5000 dollars but i clean the implements and the soak in barbiside plus

I feel as if you keep pinpointing my comments for some reason. We are all saying the same thing.

Cuticle should NEVER be cut unless it is dead tissue. If you are drawing blood, you are cutting live tissue.

As for a fungal infection, I would NEVER put an enhancement on an infected nail.

 

[SalonGranny]

If you truly want to use instruments that have been properly decontaminated...

Immediately after each client session, place all reusable metal instruments in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner with a fresh mixture of enzyme detergent and water. The soaking will help debris from hardening, and turning ON the ultrasonic cleaner will scrub the debris from the instruments.

Run water over the instruments for several minutes to remove debris and detergent.

The instruments can air dry on a towel.

Using envelopes designed for your specific sterilizer, you can package these instruments so that everything you need for one client is in one envelope.

Dry heat sterilizers or autoclaves will sterilize. Follow manufacturer's directions for use.

Store these items away from dirt and moisture.

Chemical "sterilants" are toxic and should not be used in the beauty industry. Disinfectants that are safe for us are low- and intermediate-level. Intermediate-level disinfectants will easily destroy most of the microbes that we might be exposed to.

The truth is that our clients might have a whole lot more things than you could ever realize or ever see. They might very well have blood or feces that is totally invisible to the naked eye under and around their fingernails.

Ultraviolet devices that say "sterilizer" are not. They should never be used for anything more than storage of clean items.

I really do hope that our profession can improve our image by increasing knowledge.