How to Disinfect Barber Tools Properly: Clippers, Shears, Combs and Razors

October 20, 2026

Barbicide Concentrate 473ml bottle used to disinfect barber tools in a sanitising jar

Disinfecting barber tools properly comes down to a simple sequence done the same way every time: remove hair and debris first, then disinfect with the right product for the tool, then store it clean. This guide walks through what to do between every client, what to do at close, how to run a Barbicide style jar correctly, and the mistakes that quietly wreck clippers and shears.

Cleaning and disinfecting are two different jobs

Cleaning is the physical removal of hair, skin cells, product build up and oil. Disinfecting is the chemical step that follows. A disinfectant cannot work through a layer of hair and pomade, so a comb dropped straight into a jar without a brush and rinse first is just getting wet. The order never changes: brush or wipe, rinse, disinfect for the full contact time on the label, dry, store.

What to do between every client

You have maybe two minutes between the cape coming off and the next person sitting down, so the routine has to be fast and repeatable.

Clippers and trimmers. Brush hair out of the blade with a stiff clipper brush, blow it clear if you have air, then spray a blade disinfectant such as Clippercide Disinfectant Spray or Trimmercide Blade Spray Plus 5 in 1 through the teeth with the clipper running for a second or two. Wipe the excess and let it sit for the time stated on the can. These sprays clean, cool and lubricate at once, which is why they are the standard between client product.
Guards and attachment combs. Brush out, then either spray with the same blade spray or drop them in the jar. Plastic guards tolerate jar solution well.
Shears and thinning scissors. Wipe the blades with a clean towel, then wipe with a disinfectant wipe or a towel dampened with Artists Choice Isopropyl Alcohol. Do not submerge good shears in a jar for long periods, the pivot screw and tension hardware do not like extended soaking.
Combs, clips and brushes. Rinse, remove trapped hair, then into the jar for the full contact time. Keep enough combs that one set can sit in the jar while another is in use.
Razors. Eject the blade into a sharps container, wipe and disinfect the handle and head. Load a fresh blade for the next client. More on this below.
Chair, neck and work surface. Spray the headrest, armrests and bench with a surface disinfectant and wipe. Change the neck strip and shake out or swap the cape.
Hands. Wash or sanitise between every client.

Between client checklist

Item	Clean	Disinfect with	Notes
Clipper and trimmer blades	Brush hair out	Blade spray (Clippercide, Trimmercide)	Spray through teeth, wipe, let sit per label
Guards and combs	Rinse, brush	Jar solution	Full contact time, then dry
Shears	Wipe blades	Isopropyl wipe or spray	No long soaking, re oil the pivot
Razor	Wipe head and handle	Isopropyl or surface spray	New blade every client, old blade into sharps
Chair and bench	Wipe loose hair	Surface disinfectant spray	Headrest, armrests, bench, mirror edge
Cape and neck strip	Shake out cape	Fresh neck strip	Swap cape if soiled
Towels	Into the laundry	Hot wash	One client, one towel

How to run a Barbicide style disinfecting jar

The blue jar is the symbol of a clean barbershop, but only when it is mixed, timed and changed correctly. Solution poured on Monday and topped up on Thursday is doing very little by Friday.

Mixing

Barbicide Concentrate is sold concentrated and must be diluted with water. The ratio is printed on the label, follow it exactly. Measure the concentrate with a marked cup rather than guessing from the bottle, and mix with cool tap water. The same applies to Disicide Disinfectant Concentrate, a water based, ethanol free alternative with its own mixing ratio on the bottle, and to Salon Smart Disinfectant 1L, which many Australian salons use as their jar and surface solution.

Contact time

Contact time is the number of minutes a tool must stay fully submerged for the disinfectant to do its work. It is on the label and it is not negotiable. Dipping a comb for ten seconds is theatre. Fill the jar high enough to cover the longest comb in the basket.

Changing the solution

Change the jar at least daily and immediately if it goes cloudy, discoloured or has visible hair floating in it. Rinse the jar and basket, let them dry, then mix fresh. Multi chair shops sharing a jar should change it at the midday lull as well. Rinse tools in clean water after the jar and dry them before they go back to the station.

Choosing a jar

Any jar from the sanitising jars collection will hold solution, but a lift out basket means you never put your fingers in the liquid, and a heavy base stops it being knocked over by an elbow. Acrylic jars such as the Marvy Disinfectant Jar survive being dropped, glass jars look sharper on the bench. One jar per chair if you can.

Disinfectant sprays for clippers and trimmers

Clippers and trimmers cannot go in a jar, so sprays carry the hygiene load for your most used tools. There are two types to keep at the station.

Combined blade sprays. Clippercide and Trimmercide Blade Spray Plus are aerosol products that disinfect, cool, clean and leave a thin lubricating film. Spray through the teeth with the blade running, wipe the excess, and give the product the time stated on the can before cutting again. A drop of proper clipper oil at the end of the day is still worth doing.
Ready to use surface sprays. Water based sprays such as the Disicide spray range are for the clipper housing, chair, bench, trolley and mirror edge. They are gentler on plastics and vinyl than alcohol.

The full range of sprays, concentrates and oils is in the disinfectant and lubricant collection. For the deeper weekly service, including blade removal, alignment and oiling, follow our clipper cleaning and maintenance guide.

Razor blades, neck strips and other single use items

Some things are not disinfected, they are thrown away.

Razor blades. Every client gets a fresh blade in a shavette or safety razor, and the used blade goes straight into a sharps container, never the bin. Blades for shavettes and safety razors are in the razor blades collection, and our double edge razor blades comparison covers which brands suit which skin.
Neck strips. One strip per client, applied before the cape goes on so the cape never touches bare skin. A wall mounted dispenser keeps the roll clean and dry. See the neck strips and dispensers collection.
Gloves. Nitrile gloves for shaves, colour work, cleaning up blood from a nick, and for mixing jar concentrate. Change them between tasks, not just between clients. JRL Black Nitrile Gloves are a popular shop choice, and the nitrile gloves collection has other colours and sizes.

Towels and capes

A towel is used once, then it goes in the laundry. Keep a lidded hamper at each station so used towels are never left on the bench. Wash hot and dry fully, damp towels folded into a cupboard smell by morning. Microfibre salon towels dry quickly and launder well in volume, cotton barber towels hold heat better for hot towel shaves, and disposable hair towels suit shops where laundry volume is a problem. All are in the towels collection. Capes get swapped when soiled and washed at least daily, with the neck closure wiped between clients.

End of day routine

The close down takes about fifteen minutes per chair.

Empty and rinse the jar and basket, leave them upside down to dry overnight.
Brush all clipper and trimmer blades, spray with blade disinfectant, wipe, then apply two or three drops of clipper oil and run for ten seconds.
Wipe shears with isopropyl alcohol, dry, add a drop of oil to the pivot, and store closed in a case or a dry drawer.
Wipe down chairs, benches, trolleys, mirrors and door handles with surface disinfectant.
Collect all towels and capes for washing, wipe out the hamper.
Check the sharps container is not more than three quarters full, and restock neck strips, gloves and blades so the morning starts clean.
Refill labelled spray bottles with surface disinfectant.

What not to do

No alcohol on plastic housings. Isopropyl is excellent on steel blades, shear blades and razor heads. On clipper bodies, guards, chair vinyl and acrylic jars it clouds the plastic over time and can lift printed markings. Use a water based surface spray on anything plastic or vinyl.
Never soak electrical parts. Only the detachable blade of a clipper or trimmer should ever touch liquid, and even then only briefly before drying. The housing, motor, cord and battery compartment stay dry.
Do not top up old solution. Adding fresh concentrate to a cloudy jar does not restore it. Empty, rinse, remix.
Do not mix products. Keep each disinfectant in its own labelled bottle.
Do not skip the drying step. Wet steel rusts and wet plastic breeds odour.

Setting up a hygiene station

A dedicated spot, even a 40 centimetre stretch of bench or a trolley shelf, keeps hygiene visible and fast. Clients notice a clean jar and a sealed blade pack more than you might think. For one chair you need:

One disinfecting jar with a lift out basket, filled to the correct level with fresh solution.
A bottle of concentrate and a marked measuring cup for the daily remix.
One blade spray for clippers and trimmers, plus a small bottle of clipper oil.
One labelled trigger spray bottle of surface disinfectant for the chair and bench.
A bottle of isopropyl alcohol and a stack of clean lint free wipes for shears and razor heads.
A box of nitrile gloves in your size.
A neck strip dispenser and a sharps container, both wall mounted.
A lidded hamper for used towels, a stiff clipper brush and a small drying tray.

Fitting out a new shop? Our barbershop starter kit guide covers the hygiene station alongside clippers, shears and furniture.

FAQ

How often should I change the Barbicide jar?

At least once a day, and immediately if the solution turns cloudy, changes colour or has hair floating in it. Never top up old solution with fresh concentrate, empty and remix instead.

Can I put clipper blades in the disinfecting jar?

Detachable blades can be dipped briefly if they are fully dried and oiled straight after, but the better daily method is a blade spray that disinfects and lubricates in one step. Never put the clipper body, cord or battery near liquid.

Is isopropyl alcohol enough to disinfect shears?

For the steel blades of shears and razor heads, wiping with isopropyl alcohol is a practical and widely used method, and it dries fast without leaving residue. Keep it off plastic handles, clipper housings and vinyl. Always wipe hair and product off first, then apply the alcohol.

Do I need gloves for a regular haircut?

Not for the cut itself, but keep nitrile gloves at the station for shaves, straight razor line ups, dealing with a nick, colour work and mixing concentrate. Change gloves between tasks rather than wearing one pair all day.

How do I dispose of used razor blades?

Straight into a sealed sharps container, never loose in the bin or wrapped in paper. When it is about three quarters full, seal it and dispose of it according to your local council or waste contractor's instructions.

Shop the guide

Barbershops and salons buying hygiene supplies in volume can apply for a trade account with OZ Barber Supply.