How to Disinfect Salon Chairs

It isn’t so much that disinfecting salon chairs is much different than disinfecting any other piece of furniture or accessory that is critical to the beauty services industry. It’s that businesses in the industry rely on the volume of customers, and the necessity of disinfecting salon chairs in between each client due to pandemic-related health & safety policies adds up in time throughout the day.

Here’s how to disinfect your salon chairs quickly and effectively, so that you can seamlessly transition between clients while still following COVID-19 procedures and giving your clients peace of mind when it comes to mitigating health risks.

Best Disinfectant = Nothing to Disinfect

It’s simple – ask your clients to wash their hands with soap and water thoroughly before sitting, as this will prevent any uninvited germs, bacteria, or viruses off of the arm rests.

Top to Bottom Wipe Part 1

Dry-wipe the entire surface area of your salon chair from top to bottom, excluding none of it. This will bring all of the debris onto the floor.

Sweep & Dispose of Debris

Sweep and dispose of all of the debris on the floor under and surrounding your salon chair. If not done, your chair may be recontaminated after disinfecting, as foot traffic and the use of salon accessories (i.e. hair dryers) can kick up finer particles off of the floor and back on your chair.

Top to Bottom Wipe Part 2

If your salon chair’s cushioned areas are lined with vinyl or leather, then wipe the surfaces using an appropriate cleaning solution so as not to damage the material but still clean it of germs and bacteria. If the cushions are cloth, then spray a mixture of water and antibacterial soap (though not too much), gently wipe, and let dry.

Following this, wipe the metal fixtures, arm rests, head rests, foot rests, and remaining aspects of the salon chair with surface-appropriate cleaning solutions.

Disinfecting

Once your salon chair has been wiped and cleared of visible dirt and debris, and cleaned with antibacterial solution, it’s time to disinfect. Whether you choose to spray and wipe or use a packaged disinfectant wipe, make sure the product labels read “EPA Registered”. An EPA registered disinfectant product will have the appropriate active ingredients necessary to kill potential viruses.

After disinfecting your salon chair, let it air dry. Hand dry any remaining wet areas with a fresh cloth before your next client takes their seat.

At the end of each day, follow the same steps to clean and disinfect your salon chair. Because you will be doing this way more frequently due to the higher demand to do so, it may be wise to use a leather or vinyl conditioner at the end of each day, or as needed, to maintain your salon chair. Also, using a salon chair cover overnight will help keep it clean and free of contaminants.