Hot Towel Cabinets and Sterilizers
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I keep hot towels warm in my spa or salon?
Starting with high-quality towels, neatly roll and fold them prior to placing them in the hot towel cabinet and thoroughly heat the towels following the manufacturer's recommendations. Do not stuff too many towels in your warmer and always check the temperature against your own skin before placing it on a client’s body. Properly following the instructions included with your hot towel warmer will maximize the heat retention of the towel. Most hot towel cabinets range from 150 to 180 degrees and take between 15 to 60 minutes to heat through depending on the capacity of the unit.
How long can I leave my hot towel cabinet on?
Hot towel cabinets can be powered on and operational throughout the entire workday; however it is not sanitary to store towels in the cabinet overnight. Daily cleaning and regular maintenance will ensure a long life for your hot towel cabi. Please consult your unit’s manual for detailed information on using and caring for your hot towel warmer.
How can I use a hot towel warmer in my practice?
Even though unit capacity and distinguishing features like ultraviolet sterilization vary from unit to unit, the basic steps for using a hot towel cabinet are essentially the same. As unit functionality varies, please consult the manufacturer’s instructions before operating a hot towel cabinet.
- Plug in the towel warming cabinet;
- If your unit does NOT have a steaming function, dampen towels;
- Evenly roll clean towels for maximum efficiency;
- Add towels to unit as directed by the manufacturer;
- Turn the unit on.
Can you place dry towels in a hot towel warmer?
Some units have built-in steaming functions and require the towels to be dry towels while others instruct users to dampen towels prior to heating.
How should I sterilize tools in a spa or salon?
Salons and spas typically use three different methods to keep tools sanitized - UV light, moist heat, dry heat or a combination of all three. UV sterilizers are affordable disinfecting equipment that utilizes UV-C wavelengths to destroy microorganisms. Full disinfection with a UV sterilizer takes between 30 to 90 minutes depending on the cycle. Moist heat sterilizers, or autoclaves, use pressure and steam at very high temperatures to effectively eliminate harmful organisms in about 20 minutes. These units are often used for sanitizing metal salon and spa implements. Finally, dry heat sterilization is dependent on achieving extremely hot temperatures operating similarly to autoclaves without moisture.
Throughout the day, beauticians and estheticians may choose to keep combs, brushes, cuticle nippers, and other tools in a sanitizing tray or jar filled with a germicidal liquid like Barbicide for cleaning between clients.