A Complete Guide to Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Nail Clippers at Home

Over time, your nail clippers can accumulate buildup. While this is normal, it’s really important to clean and disinfect the clippers regularly to avoid getting infections from bacteria and fungus. Read on to learn what disinfecting techniques and care tips will ensure your clippers are safe and ready to use.

Best Way to Disinfect Nail Clippers

Soak your nail clippers in a bowl of rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or hospital-grade disinfectant for 30 minutes. Rinse the clippers with warm water and dry them completely. Disinfect your nail clippers once a month to keep them clean.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Sanitize Nail Clippers

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1
Using rubbing alcohol Rubbing alcohol that’s at least 70% concentrated can disinfect just about anything, including your nail clippers. Fill a container or bowl with the rubbing alcohol and drop in your nail clippers. Let the clippers soak for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water and dry completely.^{[1]
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- Make sure the nail clippers are fully submerged in the rubbing alcohol.
- 70 to 90% isopropyl alcohol can also be used.
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Using hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical disinfectant that breaks down germs and bacteria.^{[2]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Go to source} Soak your nail clippers in a shallow bowl of hydrogen peroxide, or dab some of the solution on a cloth to wipe the clippers with. Expose the clippers to the hydrogen peroxide for at least 5 minutes.^{[3]
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- For extra disinfecting power, use rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide at once.
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3
Using hospital-grade disinfectant For the most advanced and clinical cleaning power, opt for a hospital-grade disinfectant. This is what salons typically use to disinfect their nail supplies. Simply immerse your nail clippers in the solution for at least 10 minutes and rinse them off once removed.^{[4]
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- Read the instructions on the disinfectant carefully, as some of these products recommend diluting the solution before using it.

Section 2 of 4:

Using a Heat Sterilizer to Disinfect Nail Clippers

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Prepare an autoclave or bead sterilizer. Sterilization requires getting your clippers to a hot enough temperature to kill bacteria and microorganisms. Autoclaves or bead sterilizers are special machines intended specifically for this purpose.^{[5]
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- Marta Nagorska, a licensed nail technician, explains that an autoclave is what most nail salons use and is the best way to kill all bacteria on your clippers.^{[6]
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  Marta Nagorska
  Nail Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.}
- Each sterilizer will be different, so follow the setup directions for your sterilizer for the best results.
- You could also use an oven to sterilize your clippers. To do this, lay your clippers on an oven-safe pan and bake them at precisely 170°C (340°F) for 60 minutes.^{[7]
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- Plastic nail clippers should be sanitized with another method, as the intense heat of this sterilization process may melt them.
Use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe your clippers down before sterilizing. This removes any loose bits of gunk or buildup. Pay extra attention to ridges and contours on your clippers, as gunk and buildup love to hide in these places.^{[8]
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Sterilize your clippers in the machine. Follow the instructions on your chosen sterilizer for how long to place your clippers into the machine. Some sterilization methods may require more time to completely sterilize your clippers than others. Generally, you can expect a metal tool to be sterilized if it has been held at a minimum of 170°C (340°F) for 60 minutes, but sterilizing machines may take as little as a single minute.^{[9]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Heat conducts easily through metal, so you may want to use gloves or an oven mitt when handling freshly heat-sterilized tools.
- Glass beads can sometimes stick to your clippers when using a bead sterilizer. Be careful, as these will be extremely hot.^{[10]
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Section 3 of 4:

Keeping Your Nail Clippers Clean

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Use a toothpick to remove buildup. Small bits of dirt and grime can cake onto your clippers over time. To keep your nail clippers clean, use a toothpick to remove any dead skin or nail clippings from the crevices of the tool. Scrape the pointy end of the toothpick against the clippers for the best results.
- After you’ve popped buildup free from your clippers, loose remnants might remain. Wipe the area with a dry cloth after using your toothpick to remove any remaining buildup.
- Consider using more rigid tools, like tweezers or a paperclip, for exceptionally stubborn buildup.
2
Scrub your clippers with a bristle brush. To keep your nail clippers in pristine condition, try to brush them off with a bristle brush regularly.^{[11]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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Go to source} This helps remove debris and keep them clean. Simply take the brush and move it back and forth against the clippers. Switch your scrubbing direction and angle frequently.
- Use a toothbrush or manicure brush for the best results.^{[12]
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  Marta Nagorska
  Nail Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.}
- Soak your clippers in a cleaning solution or disinfectant before scrubbing to help loosen any built up debris.
- Nail technician Marta Nagorska recommends spraying your nail clippers with a sanitizing spray after brushing them clean with soap and water.^{[13]
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  Expert Source
  
  Marta Nagorska
  Nail Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.}
3
Store your nail clippers when they’re dry. If you put your nail clippers away while they’re wet, it could cause the tool to rust or grow mold. To avoid this, always make sure your nail clippers are completely dry after using or cleaning them before putting them away.^{[14]
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- Similarly, ensure that your clippers are in a moisture- and dust-free environment when you’re not using them.
- Keep your nail clippers in a closed container with silica gel bags to ensure that the tool stays dry and away from dust.

Section 4 of 4:

Why should you disinfect your nail clippers?

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It’s extremely important to clean and sanitize your nail clippers at least once a month to get rid of any lingering bacteria and/or fungus.^{[15]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} Not cleaning your nail clippers could put you at risk of infections, nail fungus, and ingrown nails.^{[16]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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Tips

Aim to disinfect your nail clippers at least once a month.^{[17]
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Bleach can be used to disinfect nail clippers; however, it isn’t generally recommended as the solution is extremely strong and can cause burns or other health problems.

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