Put Your Best Foot Forward

Nothing complements a pretty summer sandal like soft, smooth feet and polished toenails. And with pedicures, the process is half the fun, sitting in a massage chair in an air-conditioned salon getting your calves rubbed with scented lotion and your feet soaked in a warm tub.
As good as a pedicure can make you look and feel, though, it's important to do some basic homework first to ensure that you're not putting your health at risk.

"There are just a lot of diseases that can be transferred from person to person if the tools and implements and the area used for pedicures aren't cleaned between clients," said Christine Anthony, spokeswoman for the state Department of Licensing, which monitors Washington's nearly 12,000 licensed salons.

Risks associated with unsanitary salon conditions include MRSA and other bacterial infections, Anthony said. The department has eight inspectors who visit each salon every two years to help ensure that state law and safety standards are being followed.

"We do 500 inspections a month, but we can't be everywhere and we certainly can't see everything at once," Anthony said. "We tell people that in a way they can be their own inspector."

By being observant and assertive, people can greatly increase the odds of a pleasant, positive and safe pedicure experience.

"We really encourage people to look around and make sure they're comfortable with how clean things are and not to be afraid to ask questions," Anthony said.

The Department of Licensing suggests the following safety tips for consumers:

1. Check credentials. Make sure that the salon and its operators are licensed by the state. This ensures that employees have had proper training and are being monitored. To look up a salon or service provider, go to dol.wa.gov. Under the Business Licensing drop-down menu, select "Check status of a business or professional license." Or call the Department of Licensing at 360-664-6626 with questions, comments or complaints.

2. Use your eyes. Survey the overall cleanliness of the salon, making sure there aren't hairs or nail clippings on the floor or work surfaces, and that trash cans aren't overflowing. Check to see that towels look clean, and that there isn't any residue on nail clippers and other tools, which should be sanitized and disinfected before being reused. Certain tools, such as emery boards and toe separators, cannot be used on multiple people. They must be discarded or given to the client after each job.

3. Look in the tub. Make sure there's no standing water in the basin of the foot spa, and that it looks clean. The state requires salons to keep a cleaning log for foot spas, so don't be afraid to ask to see these records if you have any concerns, Anthony said.

4. Just ask. Don't hesitate to ask questions about cleaning policies and procedures. "The good salons will answer," Anthony said.

5. Give yourself a once-over. Make sure you don't have any open cuts or sores on your feet or legs. Avoid shaving the day of a pedicure, since this can cause small nicks that you might not even notice, but that could put you at increased risk of infection. "Anything open is more susceptible to germs," Anthony said.

6. When in doubt, walk out. It's better to cancel an appointment than put your health in jeopardy. "If you ask all your questions and aren't comfortable, we tell people it's OK to get up and walk out," Anthony said.