Disinffectants

There is a set standard on how disinfectants should work. Ideally all disinfectants must offer complete sterilization, without being harmful to humans, be relatively inexpensive, and non-corrosive on equipment. This is the natural ideal that all disinfectants strive for however very few can effectively accomplish. All disinfectants are also, by their very nature, potentially harmful (even toxic) to humans or animals. It is their harmful or corrosive properties which enable disinfectants to kill micro organisms.

This section is purely for informational purposes as I find many people don’t know how to use disinfectants properly. Disinfectants may not seem to be very dangerous but should be treated with appropriate care so that no unfortunate events take place. Most household disinfectants come with safety instructions printed on the packaging, which should be read in full before using. Most modern household disinfectants that are normally also used in pedicure or manicure salons contain Bitrex, an exceptionally bitter substance designed to discourage ingestion, as an added safety measure. Note that even if you are running a nail salon, you should keep to normal household disinfectants as they are strong enough to disinfect properly while still relatively safe.

The choice of the disinfectant to be used in on manicure equipments depends largely on the particular situation in which the disinfectant is used (e.g. wiping down a bench, cleaning nail cutting equipment etc.) Some disinfectants have a wide spectrum (kill nearly all microorganisms), but are more harmful to humans and probably needs more to be effective whilst others kill a smaller range of microorganisms but are preferred for other properties (they may be non-corrosive, non-toxic, or inexpensive). For example, disinfectants used to clean pedicure spas after every use can have a smaller spectrum whereas ones used to clean the floors or flush the pedicure spa pumps should be wide-spectrum.

Here is a relatively unknown tip. Natural light or sunlight (ultra-violet light) actually has very good disinfecting properties. All you have to do is open up your nail salon to natural sun light for just a few hours a day to get the beneficial effects of the sun’s rays. Rather than total reliance on chemicals, basic hygiene - a pillar of a good nail salon - is important in the fight against bacteria and any other risky microorganisms since they generally prefer a warm-moist-dark environment.

Thus, there is logic in using a nail salon that has lots of natural light and isn’t filled to the brim with chemicals. There are arguments for creating or maintaining conditions which are not conducive to bacterial survival and multiplication, rather than attempting to kill them with chemicals. This is what you should strive for.

In the next section I’ll show you the different types of disinfectants and how they are used. You’ll be re-directed to my sister site:

 - Alcohol & Isopropyl;
 - Halogens;
 - Oxidizing Agents;
 - Phenolics;
 - Quarternary Ammonium Products.