Spa Secure announces Six Top Sanitation Problems to watch out for at Spas

Top Six Sanitation Errors Found At Spas
Fort Collins, Colorado, November 2, 2004
Spa Secure issues list of most sited problems during onsite spa visits. "Typically spa directors and owners are nervous when we physically go through their site to look for sanitation issues, licensure and scope of practice given each technician's licensure, training, education and skill sets. However, even spas that are going the extra mile to do everything correctly are missing the mark when it comes to a few basic considerations,' says Melinda Minton who recently created a short list of things to look for when choosing spa.

Top 6 Sanitation Errors found in Spas:
 Nails: The nail area of a spa is continuing to be a problematic department due to many factors. Implements that cannot be sterilized or sanitized such as nail files, porous foot buffing stones and toe separators are being used over and over again without the proper sanitation steps.
 Hair Bowls: With busy hair washing occurring around the hair bowls it is easy to forget to sanitize hair bowls between clients. Even in some very nice salons and spas hair is, in fact, being found in the drain traps evidence of previous clients.
 Waxing Areas: Waxing pots are not being kept clean enough. In fact, many spas have old orange wood sticks sitting on or in the pots. Furthermore, some estheticians are using the same stick over and over again on an individual client double dipping into the wax as they go.



 Bedding on Treatment Tables: While the bedding on treatment tables is becoming more elaborate and ‘prettier' it is also becoming harder and harder to completely change the linens and bedding for each client. Consequently bedding is left unchanged between clients. This is primarily occurring with blankets, duvets, comforters, bolsters and items of that nature.
 Flooring: Sanitation issues regarding flooring surfaces are various. Some spas have beautiful rugs that are lavishly spread throughout the spa for the client's comfort. The rugs are beautiful bug harbingers of germs and bacteria. Some of the new bamboo and jute permanent flooring options are being used in spas that are porous and not able to be cleaned. In fact, some of these floors are so bad that they are rotting in sections.
 Wet Rooms: By their very nature wet areas are more susceptible to bacteria and germs. The heat and water combined with skin exfoliation alone are a combination for a potentially unclean space. Improper sundries storage, surfaces, implements and equipment that aren't completely cleaned between clients, dirty floors and mats and re-use of materials on multiple clients are among the problems that we have seen.

"I think that spas want to provide a clean, safe environment for their clients. We have spoken to many spas that put a lot of attention and money into keeping their facility clean. Raising awareness in the industry is a perfect solution to enhancing the standards at spas for the benefit of our industry as well as the consumer's served,' says Minton.

To receive Spa Secure licensure, each spa must undergo an extensive examination process. Each spa is required to pass a written examination as well as an on-site inspection with stringent standards. Once a spa passes they are able to display the Spa Secure logo on all marketing materials to show that the spa has undergone testing and a site inspection utilizing the industry's highest standards. Licensures last two years and all spas that are licensed are subject to unannounced on site auditing during the period of their licensure.

Spa Secure is a first of its kind international benchmarking licensing program, which gives consumers a tool to immediately recognize exceptional spas. Developed in July of 2004 by The Spa Association (SPAA), Spa Secure requires spa applicants to undergo an onsite inspection, stringent battery of tests and routine auditing follow up to become a Spa Secured facility. Please go to www.spasecure.com or call 970-207-4293 for more information.