EPA-Approved Disinfectants & Safety Certifications
This article includes:
- The differences between hygiene, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing
- A quick rundown of the top 4 EPA-approved disinfectants for use in the beauty industry
- Additional resources to help get your salon and staff educated, certified, and ready to re-open safely
Disclaimer: The content on this blog or contributed/associated with Vagaro, including, but not limited to, the text, graphics, images, links, and other material are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment related to or in defense to any virus or infectious diseases. The above does not constitute medical or professional advice. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk.
Clean, Sanitize, Disinfect, Sterilize—What’s the Difference?
You’re preparing to reopen and find yourself looking for the best practices to keep you and your clients clean and safe! Through your research, you find words such as hygiene, cleansing, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing. These are all words used to describe different levels of sanitation, which is the effective use of methods, tools, and products to keep an area clean and healthy. Let’s break down what each of them mean.
- Hygiene is the practices a person takes to maintain health and prevent disease, like washing your hands or “vampire sneezing” into your elbow.
- Cleaning is removing visible debris from something, like washing a plate or sweeping the floor.
- Sanitizing reduces the number of pathogens on a clean surface, like wiping down your workstation or the shampoo bowl with a chemical solution. Sanitizing reduces (but doesn’t kill) bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
- Disinfecting eliminates most of the microbial life that can lead to infection in humans. This includes the flu, salmonella, hepatitis, staph infections, HIV/AIDS, herpes, and with certain EPA-approved disinfectants—even COVID-19.
- Sterilization is a decontamination process that kills all microorganisms on a surface and is performed with heat in an autoclave. This is generally reserved for nail salon tools, tattoo and piercing equipment, or medical instruments.
Post-COVID-19 Salon Sanitation
When your state begins to phase in reopening requirements, salons, spas, barber shops, and other service-based industries will be under extremely strict sanitation guidelines. And because many services will still be limited to prevent extended person-to-person contact, your salon’s cleanliness and sanitation will be considered the new standard of luxury for customers. Not only will you need to stock your salon with EPA-approved virucidal disinfectants (quats), you may need to explain these products to customers to put their minds at ease.
What Are EPA-Approved Disinfectants?
Quats (quaternary ammonium compounds) are the potent chemical formulations in disinfecting wipes, sprays, and cleaners, for industrial or household use. Quats are effective in eliminating germs, viruses, bacteria, microbes, fungi, and other pathogens.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is the federal agency in charge of protecting human health and the environment. The EPA regulates the production, labeling, and sale of toxic and chemical products, including disinfectants that have quats in their formulation. EPA-approved disinfectant quats are tested, verified, and approved safe for use.
When stocking for your re-opening, make sure that your disinfectants (quats) are EPA-approved for eliminating common pathogens and eliminating the pathogens associated with COVID-19.
Here’s a brief rundown of EPA-approved disinfectants, how to explain to clients what they protect against, and which products offer additional education or certification to get your space ready to re-open with confidence and safety.
EPA-Approved Salon Disinfectants
There are over 400 EPA-approved disinfectants effective in eliminating pathogens associated with COVID-19. The products outlined here are the most common disinfectants used in the beauty industry. To access the full list of EPA-approved products effective against the novel Coronavirus, visit the EPA. While surface disinfectant products on List N have not been tested specifically against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, EPA expects them to kill the virus because they:
- Demonstrate efficacy (e.g. effectiveness) against a harder-to-kill virus; or
- Demonstrate efficacy against another type of human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.
Top 4 Salon Disinfectants
Barbicide®, Spacide® & Clippercide®
What they are: EPA approved broad-spectrum disinfectants for use on non-porous surfaces, available as a concentrate, spray, or wipes.
Contact time: 10 minutes for concentrate, immersion, or Clippercide® spray; 2 minutes for wipes.
Education, Training, & Certification:
Learn More: BARBICIDE FAQ
CaviCide® Disinfectant Cleaner
What it is: EPA approved broad-spectrum disinfectant for use on non-porous surfaces, available as a concentrate, spray, or wipes, with or without bleach.
Contact time: 3 minutes
Education, Training, & Certification:
Learn More: Metrex Products and COVID-19
GermiCide3®
What it is: EPA approved broad-spectrum disinfectants for use on non-porous surfaces, available as a concentrate, spray, or wipes.
Contact time: 3 minutes
Education, Training, & Certification:
Learn More: Germiphene® and COVID-19
Lucasol™ & Lucas-Cide™ Salon & Spa Sanitizer & Disinfectant
What it is: EPA approved broad-spectrum disinfectants for use on non-porous surfaces, available as a concentrate, spray, or wipes.
Contact time: 10 minutes for concentrate or immersion, 2 minutes for wipes.
Education, Training, & Certification:
Learn more: Lucas Products
Common Household EPA-Approved Disinfectants
There are over 400 EPA-approved disinfectants effective in eliminating pathogens associated with COVID-19. These are some of the most common household cleaners approved to eliminate pathogens associated with COVID-19. While surface disinfectant products on List N have not been tested specifically against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, EPA expects them to kill the virus because they:
- Demonstrate efficacy (e.g. effectiveness) against a harder-to-kill virus; or
- Demonstrate efficacy against another type of human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.
- Clorox Bleach, Disinfecting Wipes, Commercial Solutions, Disinfecting Spray, Multi-Surface Cleaner + Bleach, Bleach Germicidal Cleaner Spray, Pet Solutions Advanced Formula Disinfecting Stain & Odor Remover, Scentiva Bathroom Disinfecting Foam Cleaner, Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner
- Lysol All Purpose Cleaner,Deodorizing Disinfectant Cleaner,Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner, Disinfectant Max Cover Mist, Heavy-Duty Cleaner Disinfectant Concentrate, Bathroom Cleaner, Kitchen Pro Antibacterial Cleaner, Disinfecting Wipes (All Scents), Cling & Fresh Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Bleach Mold And Mildew Remover, Lime & Rust Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Neutra Air® 2 in 1
- Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes, hand sanitizer
- Windex Disinfectant Cleaner
- Scrubbing Bubbles Power Stain Destroyer Non-Bleach Toilet Bowl Disinfectant, Bubbly Bleach Gel Toilet Bowl Disinfectant, Bathroom Disinfectant Bathroom Grime Fighter, Disinfectant Restroom Cleaner II
Additional Resources
- AACS (American Association of Cosmetology Schools) Coronavirus Resource Center
- Dermalogica Principles for Enhanced Service Safety– Safe Touch Certification Course
- PBA (Pro Beauty Association) Webinars & Education Hub
- No Excuses Safety Training – Salon/Spa Sanitation and Hygiene Checklist
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Facts Sheet (updated daily)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – COVID-19 Standards
Disclaimer: The content on this blog or contributed/associated with Vagaro, including, but not limited to, the text, graphics, images, links, and other material are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment related to or in defense to any virus or infectious diseases. The above does not constitute medical or professional advice. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk.
Getting ready to re-open after COVID-19 requires careful planning and making sure your shop is fully stocked with EPA-approved disinfectants is the first step. You’ve got the skills – we’ve got the tools to help you start back strong.
Images: Kitera Dent via Vagaro
Infographic: Mia Montemayor via Vagaro