How to Clean Lash Tweezers – 7 Easy Steps

One of the most important tools in a lash artist’s kit is their tweezers, We use this essential tool to pick up and apply Eyelash extensions. Since they are used around the client’s eyes it is super important to keep them clean and sanitized properly.

Do you know how to clean and disinfect your lash tweezers properly?

In this article we will teach you ideal step by step on how to clean your eyelash extension tweezers, other methods and some do’s and don’ts when handling your tweezers.

Why You Should Clean Your Eyelash Tweezers

Tweezers are used to isolate and apply eyelash extensions. This is done by separating the eyelashes on the client around their eyes. Since we are working around the eyes, the tweezers may come in contact with the client’s hair, skin, mucus membrane, and tears.

Based on the list of Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings tweezers can be categorized as a semi-critical item.^[1] Although they are not intended to penetrate the skin, it is used around the eyes, they may very well come in contact with the mucus membrane or tears. This means they must be cleaned followed by high-level disinfection.

To prevent the transmission of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, tweezers must be cleaned between each client. This ensures that the environment is safe and hygienic which is a very important practice for any lash artist to keep them and their clients safe.

How to Clean Lash Tweezers (Step by Step)

Let’s take you through the steps one by one to effectively clean and disinfect your tweezers. Remember, this should be done between each client.

Step by Step

1. Remove any dried adhesive on the tweezers with acetone.
2. Remove any organic material by using detergent and remove any visible soil from the surface of the tweezers.
3. Rinse the tweezers with water.
4. Dry the tweezers with a paper towel. Drying prevents any microbial growth and also prevents the stainless steel from corrosion.
5. Soak the tweezers in liquid disinfectant for the recommended time. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for product use, reuse, and contact time.
6. Dry the tweezers by wiping them down with disinfectant wipes.
7. Store in a sterile pouch or container once they are completely dry.

Note: We recommend using Accell hld 5 /PreExempt CS20 for disinfecting.

Which Solution Should You Use to Clean Tweezers

We recommend disinfecting your tools with Accel hld 5. Which is a solution with 2% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide™ formulation that provides high-level disinfection of tools and implements in only 5 minutes.^[2] This solution can be reused for up to 14 days. Always follow the recommended guidelines for the use of the solution.

Other Methods of Sterilization

There are other methods of sterilization available, let’s take a look at some of the other options.

1. Alcohol to Disinfect Tweezers

Yes, you can use an alcohol concentration of at least 70% to disinfect your tweezers. There are higher concentrations of alcohol, for example, 99.9% but higher alcohol doesn’t mean it is better.

When the concentration is lower it has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria.^[3] To disinfect the tweezers, they should be immersed for at least 10 minutes. The alcohol needs to be changed daily.

Since it needs to be changed daily the cost can become higher.

2. Boiling Tweezers

Long answer short, no you shouldn’t boil your tweezers. Boiling is a method to sterilize your metal tools where you would need to place the washed tweezers into the pot and bring the water to a rolling boil of at least 200°F (93.3°C) for at least 30 minutes before use.^[4]

However, we don’t recommend this method as it is very time-consuming and not practical in a salon setting.

3. Using an Autoclave

Yes, you can use an autoclave. This is a mechanism that sterilizes your metal tools by using pressurized steam. This method is recommended for critical items, these are items that penetrate the skin or mucous membranes or come in direct contact with the bloodstream.

This is often used in medical settings. So the use of an autoclave in a salon setting is going the extra mile. These machines can be very costly and require weekly and monthly maintenance so it might not be the most accessible way of sterilizing your tweezers.

4. Glass Bead Sterilizer

No the use of glass bead sterilizer is not a good method. Glass bead sterilizers use glass beads placed in a stainless steel pot where the core can heat up to 300 degrees Celcius quickly killing fungi, bacteria, and viruses.^[5]

Although it may sound quick and convenient, we do not recommend this method of sterilization. Firstly, you are not able to sterilize the whole length of the tweezer.

Secondly, you would need to stick the tweezers from the tip where you can risk bending or damaging the tip of the tweezers compromising the tip.

5. UV Light

No, we don’t recommend using a UV light to disinfect your tweezers. Uv light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is transmitted in waves and particles at various wavelengths and frequencies.

To effectively disinfect the UV light needs to be on the same wavelength as the germ or virus, you want to eliminate.

Simply using a UV light would not be enough to properly disinfect your tweezers. If there is any dirt or debris that blocks the light, that area will not be effectively disinfected.

However, this can be a great tool to keep your already disinfected tweezers bacteria-free.

Do’s and Don’Ts With Eyelash Tweezers

Do

• Keep multiple pairs in case you damage your tweezers.
• Disinfect your tweezers between each client.
• Make sure the tweezers are completely dry before they are stored away.
• Keep the rubber tip on to make sure the tip stays sharp!

Don’t

• Avoid using a nail buffer to remove the dried adhesive, this may rub against the metal changing precision of the tweezer tips.
• Avoid using your fingernails to flick off the dried adhesive.
• Avoid submerging the tweezers in the disinfectant overnight.

Final Thoughts

To keep you and your clients safe, remember to always operate your business in a clean and hygienic workspace. Keeping your tools clean and sanitized is super important especially since they are used around the client’s eyes.

Make sure that your tweezers are properly cleaned and disinfected between each client because the last thing you want is your clients coming back with an eye infection!

I hope that this helped you understand how to effectively clean and disinfect your lash tweezers.

Stay beautiful!

– Asako

Further Readings on DivineLashes.ca: If you would like to know more about another essential tool in your arsenal, check out my eyelash extension adhesive 101 article and my review of the best lash beds available today. Also, make sure to cover your bases with my eyelash extension beginner’s guide and allergic reaction to lash extensions post.

References

1. Public Health Ontario. Classes of Equipment and Instruments. Retrieved from https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/a/2018/at-a-glance-ipac-pss-equipment-instrument-classes.pdf?sc_lang=en (Accessed on 30 March 2022)
2. Virox Probeauty. Tool Disinfection. Retrieved from https://www.viroxprobeauty.ca/tool-disinfection (Accessed on 30 March 2022)
3. Brunilda Nazario, MD (2020). What to Know About Rubbing Alcohol. Retrieve from https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/rubbing-alcohol-uses (Accessed on 30 March 2022)
4. Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., R.N., CRNA (2019). How to Sterilize a Needle at Home. Retrieve from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-sterilize-a-needle (Accessed on 30 March 2022)
5. BT Lab Systems (2019). The Effectiveness of a Glass Bead Sterilizer. Retrieve from https://blog.btlabsystems.com/blog/the-effectiveness-of-a-glass-bead-sterilizer (Accessed on 30 March 2022)