Which items have contact points that cannot be immersed in liquid and require a regulatory oversight agency approved disinfectant?

Which items have contact points that cannot be immersed in liquid and require a regulatory oversight agency approved disinfectant?

• A. Towels and capes
• B. Hair clippers, electrotherapy tools, and nail drills
• C. Hair dryers, curling irons
• D. Scissors and combs

Answer: (B)

Non-immersion disinfection is called for when a tool has contact surfaces that can’t be soaked in liquid because soaking could damage electrical components or seals. For these tools, you remove visible debris and then disinfect the non-porous contact surfaces with an EPA‑registered (“regulatory oversight agency approved”) disinfectant, following the product and tool manufacturer’s instructions. Hair clippers, electrotherapy devices, and nail drill handpieces fit this scenario: they have moving parts and electrical interfaces that can’t be submerged, so they must be surface-disinfected between clients with an approved disinfectant. Towels and capes are fabrics and are laundered rather than chemically disinfected in this way, while hair dryers and curling irons are electrical tools that are typically wiped down rather than immersed and follow manufacturer guidelines for disinfection.

Non-immersion disinfection is called for when a tool has contact surfaces that can’t be soaked in liquid because soaking could damage electrical components or seals. For these tools, you remove visible debris and then disinfect the non-porous contact surfaces with an EPA‑registered (“regulatory oversight agency approved”) disinfectant, following the product and tool manufacturer’s instructions. Hair clippers, electrotherapy devices, and nail drill handpieces fit this scenario: they have moving parts and electrical interfaces that can’t be submerged, so they must be surface-disinfected between clients with an approved disinfectant. Towels and capes are fabrics and are laundered rather than chemically disinfected in this way, while hair dryers and curling irons are electrical tools that are typically wiped down rather than immersed and follow manufacturer guidelines for disinfection.