Sterilizing tools and equipment.

[Princess_Ffi]

Hi Just about to buy some disinfection bits for my files and tools frm mundo. Just wondering how im meant to sterilize them between clients?? I want to get this right as its so important to me!! lol thanks xx

 

[wg19]

Hi Just about to buy some disinfection bits for my files and tools frm mundo. Just wondering how im meant to sterilize them between clients?? I want to get this right as its so important to me!! lol thanks xx

I use the clear one they sell, keep it in a small barbicide jar on my desk, it disinfects/sterilises in 5/10 min (cant remember which one!) I find this is ample time for implements in between clients. The 2 litre refill size is excellent value too!

 

[uniq12u]

First, you need to understand the difference between the terms you are using. There is a big difference between sterilization and disinfection and to what degree of cleaniliness they are:

Sanitize - washing implements/equipment with soap and water, first step before disinfection or sterilization.

Disinfect - use of a disinfecting product to soak implements in after sanitizing. Usual time is 10 mins, but could be more. This is not sterilizing. This is normally what is done in nail salons to provide clean/disinfected tools to use on clients.

Sterilize - use of autoclave or other equipment, usually by bringing to a high temperature with steam or dry heat. Normally used in doctor and dentist's offices and hospitals. This is the ultimate in cleanliness as it kills micro-organisms.

Being clear and concise on your terminology is important as it shows that you are a professional and know what you are doing and explaining to clients what is in their best interest.

 

[Princess_Ffi]

First, you need to understand the difference between the terms you are using. There is a big difference between sterilization and disinfection and to what degree of cleaniliness they are:

Sanitize - washing implements/equipment with soap and water, first step before disinfection or sterilization.

Disinfect - use of a disinfecting product to soak implements in after sanitizing. Usual time is 10 mins, but could be more. This is not sterilizing. This is normally what is done in nail salons to provide clean/disinfected tools to use on clients.

Sterilize - use of autoclave or other equipment, usually by bringing to a high temperature with steam or dry heat. Normally used in doctor and dentist's offices and hospitals. This is the ultimate in cleanliness as it kills micro-organisms.

Being clear and concise on your terminology is important as it shows that you are a professional and know what you are doing and explaining to clients what is in their best interest.

Ive got all the info like that in my training manual..what i was wondering is how I went about sterilising it. it also says in my manual that so long as you disinfect the equipment sterilizing isnt necessary. I do have a steam sterilizer for my baby's bottles. But I didnt want to put my files in there incase they went weird or something!! lol.

 

[marioned]

Remember to sanitise before you disinfect. Popping the tools into the disinfectant isn't enough, athough some people do this. Ukkkk!

 

[uniq12u]

It isn't necessary to sterilize, at least not in most of the states. Not sure about your area. Metal implements should be sanitized (washed) and then put in disinfection solution. Need to read your directions for how long they need to soak in that solution. Most are 10 mins., others could be more.

Files will not hold up to being sterilized and actually our metal tools won't either over a short period of time. And only files that are labeled as disinfectable can be disinfected.

 

[geeg]

Ive got all the info like that in my training manual..what i was wondering is how I went about sterilising it. it also says in my manual that so long as you disinfect the equipment sterilizing isnt necessary. I do have a steam sterilizer for my baby's bottles. But I didnt want to put my files in there incase they went weird or something!! lol.

Well there are certain circumstances where sterilization might be necessary, but mostly not.

Sanitising, disinfection and sterilization are ALL methods used to remove/kill pathogens from/on a surface. Sanitzation is pretty darned effective on its own, disinfection goes further to reduce the number of pathogens and sterilization removes all pathogens.

The fact is that sanitising followed by disinfection is all you need to do in the salon environment under normal circumstances. Why? Because disinfection kills all pathogens on a surface APART from spores.

Sterilization kills all known pathogens including spores.

Hepatitus (for instance) can exist in spore form for months on a dry durface and is re-activated by coming into contact with whole blood ... so ... if you draw blood on a tool it is important to sterilize .. on a file (throw it away) on an orangewood stick (thorw it away) etc. Otherwise disinfection is the rule in the salon.

A steam sterilizer will be fine for metal implements but would wreck a file or buffer unless the manufacturer specifically has made a file to withstand a sterilizing proceedure.

Actually there is only a very small difference between sterilization and disinfection, which I have explained above; this small difference is however important and you need to know when to and when not to use either proceedure.

PS You cannot sterilize anything that is on a living living being (such as a nail plate) ... so when people talk about nail plate sterilizers or try to sell you something that they say is a nail plate sterilizer, it is absolutely misleading and incorrect. You cannot sterilize a nail plate (well not unless it was detached form the living person ).

 

[mum]

Great response Geeg!

The Industry Authority (Habia) do not recommend that sterilisation is necessary for a salon other than extreme circumstances (i.e blood or serum)

Environmental Health Depts take advice from Habia and also do their own research and they do not require sterilisation in a salon.

As Geeg says, it is really important that technicians understand the difference between all the decontamination situations.

See the Habia website and, more importantly, download or purchase the Nail Industry Code of Practice. Have it available in your salon for clients and EHO visits.

 

[Eni]

Marion, here in NZ we have *nothing* with regards to standards of practice or codes. (yeah drives me batty)......as I was trained in NYS (US) I tend to use those standards (pretty strict) and go from there.

The only time we were told we needed to autoclave sterlise is in the case of bodily fluid contact. Now, I don't have an autoclave, so I usually ditch the file/orangewood stick that does get blood contamination, and I sanitise then disinfect with clorahex my metal implements.

Here in NZ it seems a lot of people use this Virkon stuff (stinks to high heaven). The question then (yeah I'm long winded today lol)....which is the better of the two? I've wondered that for a while now.



Nancy

 

[geeg]

Marion, here in NZ we have *nothing* with regards to standards of practice or codes. (yeah drives me batty)......as I was trained in NYS (US) I tend to use those standards (pretty strict) and go from there.

The only time we were told we needed to autoclave sterlise is in the case of bodily fluid contact. Now, I don't have an autoclave, so I usually ditch the file/orangewood stick that does get blood contamination, and I sanitise then disinfect with clorahex my metal implements.

Here in NZ it seems a lot of people use this Virkon stuff (stinks to high heaven). The question then (yeah I'm long winded today lol)....which is the better of the two? I've wondered that for a while now.



Nancy

To me the most important thing is to use a broad spectrum disinfectant.

You will I'm sure learn allot from the MUNDO website about disease control in the salon.

mundo Diseases FAQs

Mundo is a UK based company that make disinfecting materials specifically for salon use which means that although they are incredibly effective they are also very user friendly and work fast (which is what technicians need).

 

[Eni]

Geeg,

I actually do know all about about germs/spores and broad spectrum vs narrow spectrum disinfectants, etc.

What I was asking was between the two *that are readily available here in NEW ZEALAND* which does Marion think it is the best between the two. Or you could answer which you think is best.

As I'm sure *you* know Mundo is NOT readily available here in NZ. Unless, of course, something has changed. Even shipping in from Australia is not cost effective.

Thanx

N.

 

[geeg]

Geeg,

I actually do know all about about germs/spores and broad spectrum vs narrow spectrum disinfectants, etc.

What I was asking was between the two *that are readily available here in NEW ZEALAND* which does Marion think it is the best between the two. Or you could answer which you think is best.

As I'm sure *you* know Mundo is NOT readily available here in NZ. Unless, of course, something has changed. Even shipping in from Australia is not cost effective.

Thanx

N.

I don't know the two brands to compare them but I'm sure with all the relevant info that comes with them your good judgement will suffice and you are most likely doing more than most!! :hug:

 

[mum]

Marion, here in NZ we have *nothing* with regards to standards of practice or codes. (yeah drives me batty)......as I was trained in NYS (US) I tend to use those standards (pretty strict) and go from there.

The only time we were told we needed to autoclave sterlise is in the case of bodily fluid contact. Now, I don't have an autoclave, so I usually ditch the file/orangewood stick that does get blood contamination, and I sanitise then disinfect with clorahex my metal implements.

Here in NZ it seems a lot of people use this Virkon stuff (stinks to high heaven). The question then (yeah I'm long winded today lol)....which is the better of the two? I've wondered that for a while now.



Nancy

Hi Nancy

Virkon doesn't seem very user friendly! I think what you are doing is fine. Guidelines here is that you wash tools with soap and water before disinfecting. I believe the reason for this is to remove any solid residue and grease that may be on the tool as a disinfectant will not necessarily deal with this effectively.

As long as your disinfectant is a broad spectrum virucide and bactericide then you will be fine.

 

[Eni]

Hi Marion,

Thanx for the confirmation. Its really interesting to be here in NZ cos I've been spoilt living in the US and having everything I could possibly want or need available and then here, the industry really is in its infancy (somedays I still think its in utero LOL).



Nancy

 

[Eni]

Geeg,

As I said to Marion, some days I feel like the time traveller (not his wife), heh. Clorahex has always worked for me (they use it in hospitals actually) and yep, this is one of the things I'm anal retentive about. (Virgo thing maybe? LOL)

Thanx

N.