Cosmetology · Infection Control and Safety

What should you do first if a tool or implement is visibly soiled before disinfecting it?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Clean it (wash off visible debris) before disinfecting

A Use it anyway
B Clean it (wash off visible debris) before disinfecting
C Throw it away
D Disinfect it immediately

Why this is the answer

Before disinfecting any tool, you must first clean it — wash off visible debris, oils, and product with soap and water — because disinfectants cannot work properly on a soiled surface. Cleaning physically removes contaminants and reduces the number of organisms, allowing the disinfectant to then kill the remaining pathogens. The correct order is always clean first, then disinfect. Skipping the cleaning step is a common infection-control error and can leave tools unsafe even after they have been soaked in disinfectant.

Source: Scientific Concepts — Clean Then Disinfect

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About this topic: Infection Control and Safety

Infection control questions cover the types of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites), how infection spreads in a salon, Standard Precautions, and the salon professional's responsibilities. This is the most heavily tested theory topic in every state. This is one of 11 Scientific Concepts questions on infection control and safety, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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What should you do first if a tool or implement is visibly soiled before disinfecting it?

Why this is the answer

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About this topic: Infection Control and Safety

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