How I clean, disinfect and sterilize my tools: the three steps

Every reusable metal tool I use goes through three stages before it touches a client: cleaning, disinfection and autoclave sterilization. Florida's rules require tools to be cleaned first and then fully immersed in an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant. I add autoclave sterilization on top of that for extra protection.

Proper tool processing is one of the most important parts of professional nail care, and in my practice safety is never a matter of guesswork. Florida's salon rules set the basic order: reusable tools are cleaned first, then disinfected. I follow that order and add a third step, sterilization in an autoclave. This is what I took from Milady Standard Nail Technology, CDC infection control guidance and the Florida Board of Cosmetology rules.

Step 1: Cleaning

Disinfectant can't work properly through dirt. Tiny skin particles, oils and dust can shield microorganisms from the disinfectant and from heat later on, so cleaning always comes first. The tools are washed with soap and water, then go into a professional ultrasonic bath with a cleaning solution. High-frequency sound waves create microscopic bubbles that clear debris out of small hinges, teeth and joints that you can't reach by hand, without dulling the blades. After that the tools are rinsed well.

Milady's textbook describes the same order: infection control starts with cleaning, then disinfecting with an EPA-registered disinfectant. It treats sterilization as an extra method that is rarely required.

Step 2: Disinfection

The clean tools are fully immersed in an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant (I use Barbicide) that kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is mixed and used according to the manufacturer's directions, and Florida requires a minimum contact time of 10 minutes for most items. Disinfection destroys most harmful organisms on surfaces, but not necessarily all of them.

Step 3: Autoclave sterilization

Sterilization means destroying all microbial life, including bacterial spores. Florida's rules require clean, disinfected tools, but they do not require an autoclave. I use one anyway, because steam under pressure is one of the most effective and reliable ways to sterilize tools in a professional setting. The dry tools are sealed in individual sterilization pouches with a chemical indicator and processed in a medical-grade steam autoclave. The sealed pouch keeps them clean until your appointment.

What you will see in my studio

• A fresh sealed pouch. Your tools come out of a sealed sterilization pouch that I open in front of you.
• A color-changing indicator. The strip on each pouch changes color when it has been exposed to the heat and steam of the cycle.
• Single-use items. Nail files, buffers and orange sticks are used once and thrown away after your appointment.
• Clean surfaces. I wipe down surfaces, armrests and lamps between clients with an EPA-registered disinfectant.

You shouldn't have to wonder about safety. If you ever have a question about how my tools are processed, please ask me.

If you have pain, swelling, redness, pus or other signs of infection, please see a doctor.

By Volha Zhybuliova

Sources: Fla. Admin. Code R. 61G5-20.002, Salon Requirements; CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities; Nail Knowledge, Sterilization vs. Disinfection; Milady Standard Nail Technology, 7th ed. (Cengage Learning), Ch. 5, Infection Control: Principles and Practices