When cleaning and sanitizing your facility, don’t take any shortcuts.
[gap height=”15″]
Over the past several months, this column has been devoted to cleaning and sanitizing your salon, specifically, with attention to dealing with COVID-19. Truthfully, many of these techniques and policies should have already been in place at your facility. That first impression when a guest (or prospective customer) comes through your front door, creates a lasting image. So, let’s cover proper cleaning procedure.
[gap height=”15″]
Every “touchable” surface in the tanning room should be wiped with a proper sanitizing solution. Some states have specific solution requirements, so make sure to determine whether any are applicable to your salon. Clean all surfaces, not just those of the tanning equipment: pillows, chairs, buttons, as well as the sunbed canopy and frame should be sanitized. Never touch a surface with your hand once it’s been cleaned. Whether you start at one end and move to the other or begin in the middle, never re-wipe over a surface once it’s been cleaned. Do NOT use the same towel to clean another tanning system.
[gap height=”15″]
Stand-up tanning systems also need attention. Wipe any handles/seating/shelving in the booth and clean the floor of the tanning space, as well. If there is a wastebasket in the tanning room/booth, remove anything inside and make sure that it’s clean – you never know what may be deposited in there! An often-overlooked tanning room item is the vinyl sunbed pillow – a crack in the vinyl can harbor bacteria. If damaged, it should be replaced immediately.
[gap height=”15″]
Many states regulate policies for cleaning protective eyewear and some may require you to provide eyewear free of charge, especially if a tanner forgets to bring theirs. You may also provide reusable ones for sale. The risk of transmitting infectious disease, specifically bacterial infections such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) is high with reusable eyewear. Salon guests should be made aware that there is a risk of infection from other people, but also that it’s possible to re-infect themselves. Eyewear-specific cleaning/disinfecting solutions should be mixed according to manufacturer instructions; rinse the eyewear completely and dry it with a clean cloth. The solution must state on the label that it kills common germs and bacteria effectively and must not damage the plastic goggle surface, which could make it non-compliant with FDA standards of blocking 99.9% of UVB and 99% of UVA light.
[gap height=”15″]
A question frequently asked during Sun is Life® classroom certification sessions is, “who is responsible for cleaning the tanning unit after a session – the tanner or the staff?” Ultimately, it lies with the salon staff. Although guests may want to re-clean the acrylic surface before they use it, the tanner should never be solely responsible for cleaning the tanning equipment or eyewear.
[gap height=”15″]
Once the cleaning process is complete, step back and look at it from your guest’s point of view. Does the room look clean?
[gap height=”15″]
Don’t take any shortcuts in the cleaning and sanitizing of your facility and equipment and create that lasting GOOD impression! For more on proper cleaning procedures, check out Sun is Life Training today!
[gap height=”15″]
[gap height=”15″]
