Sanitization of Metal Pedicure Tools/Equipment

Firstly, let me explain the different levels of sanitization which is common in the pedicure practice. The most thorough type of sanitization is to completely sterilize equipment. Sterilization mean to complete destruction of all forms of microbial and pathogenic life on the tool/equipment. Disinfection on the other hand is an intermediate measure that kills or destroys most disease producing micro organisms, except spores. Naturally, from this you can observe that the best type of sanitization is definitely sterilization.

Ideally, every item that is used between customers in pedicure situations should be sterilized after being used by a client and before being used on another. This will remove all risks of cross contamination between clients and will also offer the best level of safety to the pedicurist performing the procedures.

Sterilization of metal pedicure tools/equipment requires that the tools either be steamed under pressure for at least 3 minutes at 134oC, dry heated for over 6 minutes at 190 oC, or submerged completely in very high level disinfectants for over 10 hours. Some nail salons are able to do this as they have enough pedicure tools/equipment to spare, however it would be safe to say that most nail salons do not.

Unfortunately most nail salons can’t afford to sterilize their tools and only subject their pedicure tools to varying levels of disinfection. Note that proper use of disinfectants provides reasonable assurance that the tools/equipments are free from pathogens. The longer the tools/equipments are subjected to disinfectants the greater the level of assurance provided. Examples of high level disinfectants used by pedicure salons include Glutaraldehyde or more common household names for it such as Cidex, Coldspor, Sonacide.

Please refer to my Pedicure Disinfectants page for further details about disinfectants, which ones to use in what situation and on which tools.