How to Disinfect Hair Clippers: A Complete Guide

To disinfect hair clippers, you must first clean them thoroughly, then use a specialized blade spray, an alcohol soak, or a sanitizing solution like Barbicide. A final oiling step is essential to prevent rust and maintain performance. Regular disinfection keeps your tools hygienic and extends their lifespan, whether you're a professional barber or cutting hair at home.

Why Disinfecting Hair Clippers Matters

Disinfecting your clippers isn't just about keeping them clean—it's about safety and performance.

Hygiene and health: If you don't disinfect equipment regularly, it can harbor bacteria and cause health issues like skin infections and irritation. By cleansing your clippers between uses, you prevent the spread of germs and provide a sanitary experience.

Better cutting performance: Clean, disinfected clippers perform better than unwashed equipment. Proper maintenance removes build-up, which helps the blades cut more smoothly and precisely.

Longer tool life: Regular washing extends the lifespan of your tools, protecting your investment in quality hair clippers. Well-maintained clippers are more reliable and always ready when you need them.

Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Clippers

This is the most important step: Unplug your clippers before cleaning them. Removing the power source keeps you safe and prevents electrical mishaps.

Remove attachments:

• Unplug the clippers and remove all attachments and guards
• Take off the clipper guards so you can access and sanitize all parts properly

Brush away debris:

Use a small, stiff brush (often included with the clippers) or an old toothbrush to remove all hair and debris from the blades. Use compressed air if needed for stubborn particles stuck between the teeth.

Wipe the handle:

Use a clean cloth dampened with an alcohol-based wipe or spray to clean the body of the clippers, particularly around the on/off switch. Understanding what a hair clipper is helps you identify all the areas that need cleaning.

Step 2: Choose Your Disinfection Method

Pick one of these three methods based on what you have available and how thoroughly you need to disinfect.

Method 1: Use a 5-in-1 aerosol spray

A 5-in-1 clipper spray, such as Clippercide or Andis Cool Care, cleans, disinfects, and lubricates in one step.

1. Turn the clippers on and hold them with the blades facing downward
2. Spray the front and back of the blades liberally with the aerosol
3. Allow the product to run through the teeth
4. Leave the spray on for at least 10 minutes to allow the disinfectant to work

Method 2: Use an alcohol soak

Isopropyl alcohol with a 70% concentration is effective for sanitizing metal blades.

1. Pour a small amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol into a shallow bowl or saucer
2. Turn the clippers on and let them run
3. Carefully dip only the blades into the alcohol for about 20 seconds
4. Keep the blade angle downward to prevent liquid from entering the motor
5. Wipe the blades dry with a soft, clean towel

Method 3: Use Barbicide

Barbicide is a hospital-grade disinfectant commonly used in salons and barbershops for sterilizing tools.

1. Mix the Barbicide concentrate with cold water according to the manufacturer's instructions
2. Remove the blades from the clippers completely
3. Submerge them in the solution for the recommended time (usually 10 minutes)
4. Rinse the blades thoroughly with cool water
5. Dry them completely with a clean cloth

Step 3: Oil the Blades After Disinfecting

Oiling after disinfecting is essential to prevent rust and ensure the clippers continue to run smoothly.

How to oil clippers properly:

1. Re-attach the blades with them facing downward
2. Turn the clippers on
3. Apply two to three drops of high-quality clipper oil across the top of the blade
4. Apply one drop of oil at the back of each rail
5. Run the clippers for 5–10 seconds to distribute the oil evenly
6. Wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth

When barber clippers need oiling, they often make loud noises or feel hot to the touch. In some cases, they might also cut hair unevenly or snag hair.

Keep your cutting tools in professional condition with proper disinfection and maintenance. Explore our collection of professional hair clippers designed for easy cleaning and long-lasting performance.

Disinfecting Clipper Guards and Attachments

Clipper guards should also be cleaned and disinfected regularly, especially if used on multiple people.

Two effective methods:

• Barbicide soak: Submerge the guards in a Barbicide solution for 10 minutes, then rinse and dry completely
• Soap and water: Wash them with warm, soapy water, rinse well, and dry them completely before storing

Guards are made of plastic and won't rust, so water is safe to use on them. Just make sure they're completely dry before putting them back on your clippers.

Quick Cleaning Between Clients

How do you disinfect clippers when you have back-to-back appointments? Here are fast ways to clean your tools so every client gets the best experience:

Compressed air method: Before you sanitize the clipper blades, blast away hair and debris with compressed air. This is fast and easy—perfect for quick clean-ups between clients.

All-in-one spray method:

1. Turn the clippers on
2. Spray the cleaner lightly on the blades
3. Let the clippers run for a few seconds
4. Gently wipe off excess moisture

Quick alcohol dip:

1. Pour alcohol into a shallow container
2. Turn clippers on and let them run
3. Carefully dip the blades into the alcohol
4. Dry the sanitized blades with a clean cloth

Professional barbers using quality hair cutting kits should perform a quick clean and disinfection between every client.

How Often Should You Disinfect Clippers?

The frequency depends on how you use your clippers and whether you're a professional or home user.

After every use:

• Perform a quick cleaning
• Brush away hair
• Spray with a disinfectant
• Apply oil

For professionals: Barbers and stylists should perform a quick clean and disinfection between every client. This maintains hygiene standards and helps prevent skin infections and irritation.

Weekly or monthly deep cleaning: Remove the blades from the housing completely to clear out any built-up hair and debris. This thorough maintenance keeps your clippers running at peak performance.

What Not to Do When Disinfecting

Avoid these common mistakes that can damage your clippers or reduce their effectiveness.

Don't use water on the blades: Cleaning the blades with water can cause rust and damage. Instead, use clipper cleaners or isopropyl alcohol, and make sure you dry off the blades every time.

Don't submerge the entire clipper: Avoid submerging your clippers in water or cleaning solution since you could permanently damage them or get shocked. Only the detachable blades should go into liquid solutions.

Don't skip the oiling step: Always oil after disinfecting. Disinfectants and alcohol dry out the metal, making rust more likely if you don't lubricate immediately.

Don't use hand soap or regular shampoo: Don't use hand soap or the first shampoo you see. Pick up an antibacterial clipper cleaner, which is formulated specifically to wash and disinfect your blades without damaging them.

Storing Disinfected Clippers Properly

Store your clipper tools in a dry, clean area after disinfecting and oiling them.

Many beard trimmers and clippers come in a hard plastic storage case, ideal for keeping them in one place and secure from dust and dampness.

If you don't have a case, you can put your clippers anywhere free from moisture and dirt, which can damage the blades and motor. Proper storage prevents contamination between uses and keeps your tools ready for the next cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is alcohol enough to disinfect clippers?

Yes, regular rubbing alcohol (70% strength) works great for cleaning clipper blades. Turn your clippers on and dip just the blade part in alcohol for 20 seconds. Keep them tilted down so alcohol doesn't get in the motor.

But clipper sprays like Clippercide are easier to use because they clean, disinfect, and oil your blades all at once.

Do barbers disinfect clippers between clients?

Yes, professional barbers must clean their clippers between every single client. This prevents germs and infections from spreading.

Most barbers use quick methods like sprays or alcohol dips that take less than a minute. This keeps things clean without slowing down their work.

How long does it take to sanitize clippers?

Quick cleaning: Clipper spray or alcohol dip takes about 20-30 seconds, plus a few seconds to air dry.

Deep cleaning: If you're soaking blades in Barbicide solution, leave them for 10 minutes like the bottle says.

Always give the cleaner enough time to work properly.

What liquid do barbers use to clean clippers?

Barbers use three main things:

• Clipper sprays (like Clippercide or Andis Cool Care) - Most popular because they do everything at once
• Rubbing alcohol (70%) - Simple and effective
• Barbicide solution - Hospital-grade cleaner for deep disinfection

Clipper sprays are the favorite because they clean, disinfect, cool down, and oil the blades in one spray.

How do I prevent clipper blades from rusting?

Follow these simple steps:

1. Always dry blades completely after any wet cleaning
2. Add clipper oil right away - this protects against moisture
3. Never put the whole clipper in water - only clean the blade part
4. Store in a dry place away from steamy bathrooms

Rust happens fast when blades stay wet, so drying and oiling are key.

Can I use hand sanitizer to disinfect my clippers?

No, don't use hand sanitizer on clippers. Even though it has alcohol, it also has lotions and gels that stick to the blades. This attracts hair and makes your clippers work poorly.

Stick with plain rubbing alcohol or proper clipper sprays that are made for metal blades and won't leave sticky residue.

Keep your cutting tools in professional condition with proper disinfection and maintenance. Explore our collection of professional hair clippers designed for easy cleaning and long-lasting performance.