Spa Safety and Sanitation

How can you tell if a spa provides a safe, sanitary environment? One of the best ways to take a tour. (Just ask politely.) Keep your eyes open for “red flags” that indicate unsanitary conditions in the spa.

* Look at drains in wetrooms and showers. They should be clean and free of hair.

* Look to see how implements are cleaned between uses.

* Look at wet rooms and body treatment rooms. If a facility is not scrupulous in cleaning, these rooms that will show it.

* Make sure all wraps being used are disposable or completely sanitized after each use.

* Ask if pedicure equipment and hydrotherapy tubs are self-sanitizing or find out how they are sanitized.

* Look for double dipping – a real no-no. This means that the technician uses an implement to take product out of a container, puts it on the client, then sticks it back in the container. This contaminates the product.

* Make sure hand and foot bowls are being cleaned between uses.

* Make sure wax pots are clean and watch for double-dipping. A new spatula should be used each time more wax is taken out of the pot.

In evaluating a spa, feel free to ask the right questions before you book an appointment. And it’s also important to observe how you and other customers are treated, which will indicate whether you will have a good spa experience.

These are among the guidelines The Spa Association in Fort Collins, Colo., uses to license spas. Spas with the “Spa Secure” logo have been inspected to see that they meet the highest health and safety standards.