Footbaths – Infection Prevention and Control

Do Foot Baths Have to Be Cleaned and Disinfected Between Clients?

• Yes. Footbaths must be cleaned and disinfected between clients.
• Footbaths must also be cleaned and disinfected at the end of each day.

Does the Foot Bath Screen Have to Be Removed, Cleaned and Disinfected?

• Yes. If the footbath is pipeless or non-recirculating, then the screen must be cleanedand disinfected between clients.
• If the footbath has pipes or is recirculating, then the screen must be removed, cleaned and disinfected at the end of each day.

How Do You Clean and Disinfect a Pipeless Foot Bath?

Between clients you must:

• Clean the tub with soap and water. Use a scrub brush.*
• Rinse with clean water.
• Disinfect the tub with a disinfectant that has a Tuberculocidial (TB) claim on the label. Spray the footbath thoroughly and follow the manufacturer instructions.

OR

Disinfect the tub with a bleach solution. The solution can be made by mixing 10 ml of bleach with 495 ml of water or 2 teaspoons of bleach with 2 cups of water. It must be made fresh daily. Spray the footbath with the bleach solution and let it sit for 10 minutes.

If the footbath has a screen, then the screen must be removed, cleaned and disinfected between clients and at the end of each day.

How Do You Clean and Disinfect a Foot Bath with Pipes?

Between clients you must:

• Clean the tub with soap and water. Use a scrub brush.*
• Rinse with clean water.

• Disinfect the tub with a disinfectant that has a TB claim on the label. Circulate the disinfectant through the pipes and follow the manufacturer instructions.

OR

Disinfect the tub with a bleach solution (this may be corrosive to your pipes). The solution can be made by mixing 20 litres of water with 404 ml of bleach, approximately the volume of a small drinking water bottle. Circulate the solution through the pipes for at least 10 minutes.

At the end of each day, the screen must be removed, cleaned and disinfected.

What More Can I Do to Protect My Clients from Infection?

• Tell your clients to avoid waxing or shaving legs 24 hours before having a pedicure

* At the end of each day clean and soak the scrub brush in a disinfectant.

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