In this article, you’ll learn about:

 


Many people come in and out your business every day. No wonder your clients are worried. You’re probably worried, too. In fact, pretty much everyone’s on edge about getting exposed to the Coronavirus (COVID-19.) For service professions in close personal contact with clients, the fear of contagion may also bring a dip in revenue, as worried customers contemplate skipping appointments. To keep everyone safe and to keep your business running, it’s crucial to identify and address the gaps between your routine sanitation and exceptional situation sanitation practices.

Sanitation Minimizes Risk


Higher cleanliness standards help clients trust your business. For hands-on service businesses, hygiene and sanitation is regulated at federal, state, and county levels. This means that your business is held to higher standards—so you’re already ahead of the curve!  


Your best line of defense against all types of illnesses, viruses, and pathogens is effectively cleaning, sanitizing & disinfecting high-traffic surfaces, equipment, linens, and any items that touch you or your clients. Check your sanitizing and disinfecting products to ensure your business stocks the recommended broad-spectrum disinfectant sanitizers, anti-viral & anti-microbials that minimize health risk. Use the information and checklists below to do a “walk-through” and see if there are opportunities to improve.

Recommended Disinfectants & Sanitizers



Quats (quaternary ammonium compounds) are the powerful disinfectant chemicals in disinfectant wipes, sprays, and cleaners. Quats are designed to kill germs, viruses, bacteria, microbes, fungi and other pathogens. Make sure your day-to-day practices include cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. Sanitizing reduces (but doesn’t kill) the occurrence and growth of bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Disinfecting “kills” microscopic organisms.


When stocking your business sanitation station, make sure to look for products and solutions that are effective against a variety of pathogens:

 

• HIV-1 • Hepatitis B (HBV) • Hepatitis C (HCV) • Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) • Salmonella • Staphylococcus • Bacteria (including MRSA and VRE) • Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) • Tuberculosis (TB) • Pseudomonas • Herpes • Influenza (including H1N1) • Tinea Pedis (athlete’s foot) • Viruses (hydrophilic and lipophilic) • Fungi


Look for the words Bactericidal, staphylocidal, Pseudomonacidal, Tuberculocidal, Virucidal, Fungicidal



Look for the words Bactericidal, staphylocidal, Pseudomonacidal, Tuberculocidal, Virucidal, Fungicidal

Sanitation Checklists


 Don’t come to work when you’re sick  Wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with antibacterial soap before and after each client  Ask clients to wash hands before their services  Avoid touching face, eyes, mouth, etc. during services  Throw away disposable products (gloves, processing caps, nail files, buffers, etc.)  Use a new pair of gloves for every client  Replace linens (towels, capes, etc.)  Clean, sanitize, disinfect, and (where necessary) sterilize tools & equipment used for the service, then store in a clean, closed container.  Sanitize all hard surfaces that clients may have come in to contact with  Change out quats, disinfectants, & sanitizers (Barbicide, Spacide, etc.) every day—no exceptions.


 Don’t come to work when you’re sick  Wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with antibacterial soap before and after each client  Ask clients to wash hands before their services  Avoid touching face, eyes, mouth, etc. during services  Throw away disposable products (gloves, processing caps, nail files, buffers, etc.)  Use a new pair of gloves for every client  Replace linens (towels, capes, etc.)  Clean, sanitize, disinfect, and (where necessary) sterilize tools & equipment used for the service, then store in a clean, closed container.  Sanitize all hard surfaces that clients may have come in to contact with  Change out quats, disinfectants, & sanitizers (Barbicide, Spacide, etc.) every day—no exceptions.


 Dust window ledges, tops of door frames, fan blades, & light fixtures  Dust & wipe down retail area with antibacterial cleaner  Check & unclog sinks if necessary  Sanitize & disinfect trash cans  Sanitize washing machine  Wipe down walls & railing with antibacterial cleaner  Re-stock cleaning products

 

Get the Checklists
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Sanitation Tips

 

  • Know your state’s infection control laws and comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Always clean and sanitize tools, equipment, linens, and surfaces before disinfecting them.
  • Always mix disinfectants according to the label instructions, to avoid dangerous chemical interactions.
  • Change disinfectants and quats every day—no exceptions.

  • When using disinfectants, use the right contact time (amount of time required to be effective against germs.)

 

Communicate Safety with Clients

Most of your sanitation steps are intentionally done behind-the-scenes, to provide an elevated service experience for your clients. However, the drawback to discreet cleaning and sanitation is that many clients may not know how hygienic your business is on a day-to-day basis. So it’s a great time to use text and email marketing to let clients know the steps you take daily to run a clean business. You can also use email and text messaging to communicate any additional measures your business is taking to ensure a safe, comfortable service experience.

Text Message Template


Acme Studios is dedicated to providing a safe, sanitary experience for our clients every day, but especially in light of COVID19. Click here to learn more about measures we’re taking to make sure your service is relaxing, safe, and sanitary.

Email Template



Acme Studios always provides a safe, sanitary experience for our clients, but in light of COVID19, we’re taking extra precautions to keep our clients and staff safe. We recommend visiting the CDC or WHO websites for official information and updates, and are following best practices to minimize risk.

Our industry standards of hygiene and sanitation require frequent hand washing, as well as the sanitation and disinfection of all tools, surfaces, linens and equipment between clients. We will maintain and increase these procedures to keep our space at the highest level of cleanliness.

We’re serious about your safety, so we’re taking action to make sure our business is hygienic, without disrupting your services. To protect our staff and clients, here are some extra steps we’re taking:

  • Service providers who are sick will stay home.

  • If you’re sick, or if you’ve traveled recently, we urge you to stay home as well. We’re happy to reschedule your services.

  • We’re temporarily pausing our cancellation and no-show policy. Your health and peace of mind is our top priority. However, we appreciate as much advance notice of a cancellation as possible.

  • We’ve removed all magazines, complimentary snacks, and the self-serve coffee station to minimize risk of infection. If you’d like coffee or a snack during your visit, just ask! Until further notice, Acme is storing snacks in a sealed, airtight container and individually preparing coffee.

  • Acme is temporarily creating a cashless check-out. You may pay in advance online or use your card at our disinfected check-out in-store. Disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer are provided at check-out.

Please subscribe to Acme Studios text message service for timely updates on changes to shop hours, rescheduling, or online sales. We thank you for your ongoing support in this time, and we hope to see you—safe and healthy—in the near future.

 

You’re Open for Them – We’re Open for You

Throughout history, service professions have made it through serious challenges and remained thriving. Because your business keeps going even when times are tough, COVID-19 is another challenge that Vagaro will rise to face with you. You’re open for business to help your clients, so we’re open to serve you, helping your business thrive, even under the most challenging circumstances. Vagaro is with you.

Additional Resources

Stay up-to-date and follow the safety advice and precautions recommended by the organizations listed below. Use proper sanitation protocols to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

If you show symptoms listed by the CDC, consult a licensed medical professional.

Links

 

Photographs: Giorgio Trovato via Vagaro

Icons & Graphics: Mia Montemayor via Vagaro