Disinfection, PST, and Sterilization: a complete guide to tool processing for manicurists

Client safety is the basis of professional service in the beauty industry, not only for manicure and pedicure technicians, but also for podiatry, aesthetic medicine, cosmetology, etc. Let’s take a closer look at all the stages of instrument processing and how they differ.

Disinfection: the first line of defense

Disinfection is the initial stage of instrument processing, during which most pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed. This process reduces microbial contamination to a conditionally safe level with the help of special disinfectants, such as MicroSTOP DEZ.

It is important to understand that disinfection, although effective, does not ensure complete sterility of instruments. It does not destroy bacterial spores and some resistant microorganisms. The main function of disinfection is to prevent the spread of pathogens to other surfaces (table, sink, other objects located in the area of instrument processing).

Pre-sterilization treatment (PST): an important intermediate step

Pre-sterilization is a set of measures that is performed after disinfection and before sterilization. This stage includes:

• cleaning the instruments from residual disinfectant solution, organic contaminants, materials, etc;

• washing instruments in cleaning solutions (if necessary);

• rinsing with running water;

• drying until the moisture has completely evaporated.

Before sterilization, it is very important to clean the instruments from the disinfectant solution residue. This is because the remnants of the disinfectant solution can “stick” to the instruments under the influence of high temperatures in the drying agent and form a brown coating on them, which will be very difficult to remove later.

PST can be performed in two ways:

Manually – by rinsing the instruments with a brush under running water. It is very important not to just rinse the instruments under water, but to use a brush.

Mechanically – using an ultrasonic cleaner, where instruments immersed in the cleaner tank are cleaned by ultrasonic waves. This method of cleaning is very convenient for manicure, pedicure, cosmetology, etc. masters, as it allows you to thoroughly and gently clean the instruments, significantly saves time, and minimizes the possibility of injury from interaction with the cutting parts of the instruments. Ultrasonic cleaners from MicroSTOP are an excellent solution for mechanical pre-sterilization treatment of instruments.

The purpose of the pretreatment is to remove all organic and inorganic contaminants that may interfere with high-quality sterilization.

It is very important to dry the instruments in their open/disassembled state before drying in the dryer, and one of three methods of drying instruments can be used:

• leave to air dry until the moisture has completely evaporated;

• wipe with dry wipes;

• use the MicroSTOP dryer and place the instruments (without kraft bags) inside the chamber and turn on the “drying” mode – 80°C / 30 minutes.

A useful tip from MicroSTOP: to save you time, you can combine the disinfection and reprocessing of instruments with an ultrasonic washer. To do this, add the disinfectant concentrate to water in the proportion recommended by the manufacturer of your disinfectant and run the process of simultaneous cleaning and disinfection in the ultrasonic washer. The working solution concentration and exposure time may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Afterwards, rinse the instruments under running water to remove any residual disinfectant, or use an ultrasonic cleaner to replace the dirty solution with clean water and restart the cleaning process. In our online store, you can choose from four models of MicroSTOP ultrasonic cleaners depending on your needs: MU-SMART, MU-PROF, MU-PROMAX or MU-EXPERT.

Sterilization: a guarantee of complete safety

Sterilization is the final and most important stage of processing, which ensures the complete destruction of all forms of microorganisms, including their spores. This process is carried out with the help of special equipment – dry heat sterilizers or autoclaves, which use high temperatures to achieve absolute sterility of instruments.

Why are all three stages important?

Think of it as a triple protection system:

1. Disinfection significantly reduces the number of microorganisms by protecting work surfaces from pathogen contamination.
2. Pre-sterilization treatment cleans the instruments from disinfectant residues, organic and inorganic contaminants.
3. Sterilization completes the process, ensuring that your instruments are perfectly sterile.

Professional approach to instrument treatment

First of all, high-quality and professional sterilization of instruments is essential for a beauty technician – they are in the first risk group for infection, as they may come into contact with dozens of clients every day. Of course, perfect sterility of instruments is equally important for the health of clients, and it is also the key to the stable development of your business. To maximize the safety of a beauty procedure, you need to:

• perform high-quality disinfection after each use of the instruments;

• carefully perform all stages of the PST;

• use professional sterilization devices certified in Ukraine, such as MicroSTOP manicure dryers;

• follow the sterilization regimens approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine;

• store the sterilized instruments in kraft bags or in a UV cabinet until use.

Conclusion: the key differences between disinfection, PST, and sterilization

Disinfection:

• destroys most microorganisms;

• is the first stage of processing;

• does not ensure sterility.

PST:

• removes all types of contaminants;

• prepares instruments for sterilization;

• is an intermediate stage between disinfection and sterilization;

• ensures the effectiveness of subsequent sterilization.

Sterilization:

• ensures complete destruction of all microorganisms;

• is the final stage of processing;

• guarantees complete sterility of the instruments.

Remember: neglecting any of these stages disrupts the entire safety chain. Only the consistent implementation of all stages of instrument processing guarantees a professional level of service, the health of the nail technician and his/her clients.

When choosing sterilization equipment, trust trusted manufacturers that ensure compliance with all sanitary and safety standards. After all, the issue of sterility is not only a matter of your business reputation, but also health. MicroSTOP is a company that cares about safety while you create beauty.