Clean tools are the foundation of a good barber shop. They protect your clients from skin infections, keep your clippers cutting smoothly and show every person who sits in your chair that you take your craft seriously. If you have ever wondered how to clean clippers properly between clients, or what the rules actually say in New South Wales, this guide brings it together.
It covers daily cleaning, disinfecting, oiling, razors and sharps, and the NSW Health guidance that applies to hairdressers and barbers. It is a practical guide, not legal advice, so always check with your local council for the requirements that apply to your business.
Why tool hygiene matters
NSW Health notes that hairdressers and barbers carry out procedures that can spread skin infections on the scalp, face and neck, including impetigo and fungal infections such as tinea and ringworm. Those infections can spread when instruments and equipment are not cleaned between clients. A consistent cleaning routine is the simplest way to prevent that.
What NSW Health says about clippers and tools
NSW Health’s fact sheet for hairdressers and barbers, last updated in November 2025, sets out several points that apply directly to clippers and tools:
- All equipment must be cleaned between use, including combs, brushes, rollers, clippers and scissors, and be kept clean and dry.
- Manual clippers with non detachable blades should not be used, because they cannot be easily cleaned.
- Detachable blades on clippers must be cleaned before being reused.
- Equipment should not be soaked in disinfectant solutions unless the manufacturer’s instructions say so.
- Equipment must be cleaned using warm water and detergent. Common household detergents are not recommended because they foam heavily and leave residues.
- If equipment is exposed to blood or penetrates the skin, it must be sterilised in line with AS 5369:2023 before it can be reused.
The fact sheet also calls for a separate sink with clean warm water for cleaning equipment, and a dedicated hand wash basin.
How to clean clippers between clients
Step 1: Remove loose hair
Switch the clipper off and remove any guard. Brush loose hair out of the blade teeth and the housing with a small cleaning brush. Removing hair first lets your cleaning reach the metal.
Step 2: Detach the blade
Most professional clippers have detachable blades, which NSW Health guidance favours because they can be cleaned properly. Remove the blade following the manufacturer’s instructions and check for hair or debris trapped between the cutting blade and the stationary blade.
Step 3: Clean with warm water and detergent
Clean the blade and guards using warm water and a suitable detergent, keeping water away from the clipper motor and electrical parts. Do not use heavily foaming household detergents.
Step 4: Dry thoroughly
Dry the blade completely. Moisture left on metal parts encourages rust and blunts blades faster.
Step 5: Disinfect if your products allow it
After cleaning, many barbers use a disinfectant spray or wipe suitable for metal tools. Always read the label for the correct contact time and make sure the product is compatible with your clipper blades. Cleaning comes first. Disinfectant does not work properly on blades still covered in hair and product.
Step 6: Oil and reassemble
Refit the blade, oil it and store the clipper somewhere clean and dry.
How to oil clippers
Oiling reduces friction and heat, protects blades from rust and keeps cordless clippers running efficiently. Wahl’s directions for its blade oil are a good general method:
- Turn the clipper on with the blade pointing downwards.
- Apply three drops of oil, one on each side and one in the middle of the blade.
- Let it run for a few seconds to spread the oil. On adjustable clippers, move the taper lever back and forth.
- Turn it off and wipe away any excess with a clean towel.
Many barbers oil their clippers several times during a busy day of back to back fades, and always after cleaning. You can find options like Wahl blade oil and other clipper care products in the clipper and trimmer accessories range.
How to disinfect barber tools: scissors, combs and brushes
- Scissors: wipe hair away, clean with warm water and detergent, dry thoroughly and oil the pivot regularly.
- Combs and brushes: clean between clients, remove trapped hair and keep them dry. Replace worn or damaged brushes.
- Capes and towels: NSW Health guidance is to use clean towels or linen for each new client. If you use an impervious cover such as plastic, clean and disinfect it before each new client.
- Benches and chairs: clean treatment surfaces between clients, or place a clean covering over them.
UV boxes and storage
UV cabinets and boxes are popular for storing tools once they have been cleaned. The TUFT portable UV clipper and equipment box, for example, has compartments for clippers, trimmers and small accessories. Remember that a UV box is a storage and equipment care step, not a substitute for cleaning with warm water and detergent first.
Barbicide in Australia: should you soak your tools?
Plenty of barbers search for Barbicide in Australia because the classic blue jar is so familiar from barbershops overseas. Whatever disinfectant you use, the NSW Health guidance is clear: equipment should not be soaked in disinfectant solutions unless the manufacturer’s instructions specify it. Check both the disinfectant label and your tool manufacturer’s advice, and never use soaking as a replacement for cleaning.
Razors and sharps
Shaving and line work carry the highest risk of contact with blood, so the rules here are stricter.
- NSW Health says sterile single use razors should be used for shaving, and after use the razor must be disposed of in an appropriate sharps container.
- Sharps containers must meet AS 23907:2023.
- Straight razor handles that take disposable blades let you use a fresh blade for each client. You can find replacement blades in the Derby razor blade range.
- A used blade case at each station, such as this razor blade disposal case, keeps used blades contained while you work. Make sure the container you ultimately dispose of sharps in meets the Australian Standard, and ask your council about disposal arrangements.
If a clipper, trimmer or razor nicks the skin and the equipment is exposed to blood, it must be sterilised before reuse in line with AS 5369:2023.
Skin penetration in NSW: does it apply to your shop?
Searches for skin penetration NSW are common among barbers adding new services. According to NSW Health, only businesses that carry out skin penetration procedures need to comply with the Public Health Regulation 2022. Importantly, NSW Health states that waxing is a skin penetration procedure, so if a hairdresser or barber offers waxing, the business must register with the local council as a skin penetration business.
All hairdressing and barber businesses must also be registered with their local council and have the necessary approvals before opening. If your shop is in Wetherill Park, that is Fairfield City Council. In the Hunter, it may be City of Newcastle, Maitland City Council or Lake Macquarie City Council, depending on your address. You can also contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
A daily salon hygiene checklist
Use this salon hygiene checklist as a starting point and adapt it for your shop:
Between every client: - Brush out, clean, dry and oil clipper blades - Clean scissors, combs and brushes - Fresh towel or cape cover and new neck strip - Fresh disposable razor blade for any shave or line work - Wipe down the chair and bench - Wash hands before and after the service
End of each day: - Deep clean all clippers and trimmers - Bag and dispose of all waste - Wash linen in detergent and hot water - Check sharps containers and replace them when they reach the fill line - Restock disinfectant, gloves and neck strips
Keep a written version of your cleaning procedures and train every team member in them. NSW Health recommends documented cleaning and maintenance procedures for fixtures, fittings and equipment.
Elite Hair Supplier stocks disinfecting jars, blade care and replacement blades at its Beresfield store for Hunter barbers who need to top up between jobs.
FAQ
How do you clean clippers after use?
Brush out loose hair, remove the blade, clean it with warm water and a suitable detergent away from the motor, dry it fully, disinfect if the products allow it, then oil and refit the blade.
Can you clean clippers with alcohol?
Some disinfectant sprays and wipes made for tools are alcohol based. Clean the blade first, then follow the product label and your clipper manufacturer’s advice about what is safe to use on the blades.
How often should you oil clippers?
Oil after every clean and regularly through busy days. Following the manufacturer’s directions, a few drops across the blade while it runs is usually enough.
Do barbers need a skin penetration licence in NSW?
Only businesses carrying out skin penetration procedures need to comply with the Public Health Regulation 2022. NSW Health says waxing counts as skin penetration, so barbers who wax must register with their local council as a skin penetration business.
Can you reuse razor blades on different clients?
No. NSW Health guidance is to use sterile single use razors for shaving and dispose of them in an appropriate sharps container after use.
Elite Hair Supplier supplies professional hair, beauty and barber products to salons and barbers across NSW, with Click and Collect at both stores.
Register for a wholesale account · Call 1300 893 252 · Email info@elitehairsupplier.com.au
Beresfield: Unit 1/21 Babilla Cl, Beresfield NSW 2322 · 1300 893 252
Wetherill Park: Unit 1A/31 Elizabeth St, Wetherill Park NSW 2164 · 1300 893 252
