THE PULSE GUIDE TO REOPENING
A Sanitation and Hygiene Crash Course
Do you have questions about PPE, sanitation processes and important new equipment?
ISPA has answers. While you’ll find our most extensive guidelines around sanitation and
hygiene at experienceispa.com/covid-19-info, Pulse will walk you through some of the most
relevant aspects for reopening a spa.
Proper sanitation
has long been
practiced in spa,
but the COVID-19
pandemic has shined
an atypically bright
spotlight on it.
The Basics of Sanitation
Sanitization is the process of lowering the number of
germs on a surface to a safe level, a process which is carried
out by cleaning and disinfecting. In essence, cleaning
uses soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove
germs; disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs. Both are
critical to effectively sanitizing the surfaces in your spa.
Proper sanitation has long been practiced in spa, but
the COVID-19 pandemic has shined an atypically bright
spotlight on it. ISPA recommends that you clean and disinfect
all high-touch surfaces regularly, from doorknobs to
faucets, shelves, tables, benches, countertops and more.
Soft surfaces—such as rugs and furniture—should be
cleaned regularly with soap and water.
Best Practices for Laundry
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a simple
method to clean linens and terry: wash and dry them
according to manufacturer instructions. After a treatment,
immediately remove any linens or towels used and place
them in a laundry receptacle—it is preferable to wear
gloves while doing so. When the laundry is collected, be
sure to wear gloves while handling the hamper. And last,
but not least: don’t forget to sanitize the hamper after the
laundry is emptied, too.
Cleaning Tools and Implements
Salons are likely to be the first area within the spa to reopen,
and sanitizing tools—like tweezers, clippers, files,
16 PULSE ■ JULY 2020