How should you clean and sanitize nail implements between clients?

• A. Wipe with a dry cloth and place in a used cup.
• B. Soak in plain water between clients.
• C. Remove debris, wash with detergent, rinse, dry, then disinfect per product label or use high-level disinfectant; store in clean container.
• D. Disinfect only with household bleach for minutes.

Answer: (C)

Cleaning and sanitizing nail implements between clients begins with removing visible debris, then washing with detergent, rinsing, and thoroughly drying. After clean, disinfect using an EPA-registered disinfectant or a high-level disinfectant, following the product’s label for concentration and contact time. Finally, store the disinfected tools in a clean container to prevent recontamination. Wiping with a dry cloth and placing tools in a used cup misses the essential cleaning step and risks transferring microbes. Soaking in plain water does not kill pathogens and isn’t a sanitizer. Relying on household bleach without following the product’s instructions and required contact time isn’t reliable or appropriate for all implements, so it’s better to use the proper disinfectant with labeled directions and then store the tools properly.