When using a paraffin wax bath, dust will eventually fall into the wax and settle on the bottom. When salons are cited for improper use of paraffin wax, it is usually because inspectors need only look in the bathtub to see signs of dirty wax. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning the device once a month, while others recommend cleaning it once every 25 uses. Know your paraffin equipment and schedule regular cleaning when the wax gets dirty to ensure it is always clean. Here are some general instructions on how to clean a bathtub.
- Unplug the power plug, remove the cap, and let the wax sit overnight to harden. Some manicurists insert hangers, cords or other objects into the wax while it is still liquid, so they embed themselves in the solid block and help them remove it.
- After the paraffin has solidified, open the device for several minutes to heat the outer edge of the paraffin and release it from the device.
- Then press one end of the paraffin or use a hanger or rope to lift the block from the device.
- You can remove wax blocks, or you can carefully cut away the bottom layer where debris has accumulated. Make sure the slice has completely removed the dirty layer and the remaining wax is clean.
- Scrape and remove the remaining paraffin wax from the device. A hair dryer can help soften stubborn hardened wax blocks and make them easier to remove.
- Clean the inside and outside of the device with general detergent or disinfectant, and dry the device thoroughly.
- Place the block back into the unit and add any extra paraffin to raise the level to the appropriate height.
Melissa Pechey, owner of The Matrix Nail Lab in Cape Cod, Mass., adds paraffin wax to her salon menu as a highlight of her thermal manicures and pedicures, and as an add-on to other services. “I have about seven or eight clients a week doing paraffin wax,” she said. “They love it.”
Pechey uses a “spoon” technique for paraffin wax, in which a paraffin bath heats the wax and keeps it liquid, but when it’s time to apply wax, she scoops the liquid wax into a disposable plastic lining and inserts it into the client’s hand or foot.