As a barber, you likely know that protecting your clients and the integrity of your barbershop means adhering to strict sanitation guidelines. Clients are unlikely to come back to a shop that doesn’t feel clean, even if they’re satisfied with other services. To that end, barbicide solution has become a staple in most, if not all, barbershops.

Barbicide has excellent disinfecting abilities, and it’s also one of the more affordable cleaning solutions. However, in order to achieve the level of cleanliness required for safety regulations, the proper mixing and application of the solution are essential.¹

Keep your barbershop clean and your clients happy, and learn how to use barbicide effectively in this concise guide.What is Barbicide Used For?

In barbershops and salons, sanitation methods are typically separated into two categories: the cleaning of porous and non-porous items or surfaces.

• Porous – Porous items, like towels and neck strips, can absorb liquids. In the service industry, porous items are usually discarded because they can’t be safely reused client-to-client.
• Non-porous – Non-porous surfaces or items, like objects made of metal, glass, or plastic, cannot absorb liquid, nor can liquid pass through them. These items can be disinfected and used repeatedly.

Barbicide, and other disinfecting solutions, are intended to clean non-porous items in order to maintain state hygienic regulations. Disinfectants such as barbicide destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi that could impact the health of barbershop clients.²

Proper Barbicide Solution Ratios

If you plan to use barbicide in its concentrated form, you’ll need to mix it with water to form your cleaning solution. When doing so, it’s important to measure the right ratios for proper cleaning effectiveness.

The proper ratio of barbicide to water is:

• 2 ounces (or a quarter cup) of barbicide concentrate
• 32 ounces (of 4 cups) of water

This dilution is designed to kill all pathogens listed on the EPA-registered label. (Reference your barbicide concentrate product label for a full list of pathogens.)² At its correct ratio, the solution is subtly and freshly fragranced, leaving your entire shop smelling clean without overpowering.

How to Clean Tools with Barbicide

There are a few different ways you can use your barbicide solution to clean your barber tools. Ahead, we’ll walk through a few of the options so you can decide what fits your workflow best.

#1 Immersion Cleaning

A popular way to clean items such as combs, scissors, and clippers is to immerse them in a barbicide solution. If you’re going for this option, you’ll need a cleaning container big enough for the cleaning solution, plus all of your clipper blades, hair brushes, and other barber tools.²

The first step to immersive disinfection is scrubbing any debris from your equipment. Using water and soap, wash and brush your tools to remove hair, product residue, and debris from the surfaces. Do this in a separate sink to keep your disinfecting solution uncontaminated.²

Once you’ve scrubbed your equipment, put on a pair of latex gloves and place your tools in the barbicide solution to let them soak for 10 minutes. This amount of time will make sure all pathogens are eradicated.

When 10 minutes have passed, you can take your tools out of the disinfectant and rinse them in cold water—just make sure to do so with a new pair of latex gloves. Handling disinfected equipment with contaminated gloves will re-contaminate the tools.²

After rinsing, dry your styling and grooming tools with a clean towel and store them in an enclosed, air-tight container until you’re ready to use them again. Keep in mind that your barbicide solution must be changed out 24 hours after its first use.²

#2 Spray Cleaning

While immersion cleaning works well for smaller tools, spray cleaning disinfects the larger workspace and furniture inside your shop.

This requires pouring your barbicide-and-water solution into a spray bottle. Then, you can spray the solution to sanitize surfaces like:

• Counters
• Chairs
• Mirrors
• Sinks

Make sure that the surfaces stay visibly wet for 10 minutes, and then wipe them down with a clean towel. Similar to immersion, leaving your spray on for 10 minutes ensures proper disinfection.²

#3 Wipe Cleaning

For quick touch-up cleaning, barbicide disinfectant also comes in the form of disposable wipes. These barbicide wipes can be used on metals and plastics, and require just two minutes of contact time instead of ten.²

However, it’s important to note that you’ll have to wipe surfaces twice: the first time to sanitize, the second to disinfect.

Other Ways to Keep Your Shop Clean

Other than offering excellent services and haircut styles for men, implementing proper disinfection regulations in your barbershop or salon is a practice that cannot be overvalued. When your shop is clean, your clients (and your staff) feel more comfortable and appreciated.

To that end, make sure to adopt other cleaning practices in your space, such as:

• Washing your hands regularly
• Disinfecting the reception and transaction spaces
• Washing glass doors and windows to remove fingerprints
• Washing the floors with fresh-smelling, sanitizing floor solution

To maintain sanitation standards, be sure that all staff members and barbers in your shop understand what is required of them. Salons can be high-traffic areas, depending on how many barbers are in one shop, so a team effort is the best way to create a comfortable and sanitary atmosphere for your clients.²

Keep the Foot Traffic Coming with SQUIRE

If you’re looking for a better way to manage that foot traffic, SQUIRE is the solution for you.

SQUIRE provides all-in-one booking, operations, and payment system for barbershop owners. Make managing appointments easier for both you and your clients, and manage your end-to-end operations under one digital rooftop. That way, you’ll have more time to ensure your shop is clean and welcoming to all.

Clean up your operations today and get started with SQUIRE.

Sources:

1. Salons Direct Blog. The Importance of Hygiene in a Salon – Safe & Hygienic Working Practises. https://www.salonsdirect.com/blog/the-importance-of-hygiene-within-your-salon/
2. Barbicide. BARBICIDE® Infection Control Best Practices. https://www.barbicide.com/barbicide-infection-control-best-practices