How to Disinfect Hair Clippers: Step-by-Step Guide for Barbers

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Clippers touch skin and hair all day. Disinfecting them between clients is a basic hygiene step for barbers, and a good habit at home too. We cover a simple routine, what the rules say in one state, and where your own local rules may differ.

Quick Answer

Why Disinfecting Clippers Matters

Clippers touch skin and hair, and hair and skin flakes collect in the blades. Cleaning removes that debris, and disinfecting is a separate step that uses a chemical to kill germs.

Rules for barbers come from your state board. As one example, the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology requires clippers and other electrical tools to be disinfected before each use: first remove visible debris, then disinfect with an EPA-registered disinfectant spray or wipe that has demonstrated bacteria-, fungus- and virus-killing activity, used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Other states have their own wording, so check your own board, especially if you work in a licensed shop. This is not legal advice.

What You Need

• Clipper brush to remove loose hair from the blades and body. A small one such as the Andis 12415 Blade Cleaning Brush fits between the teeth.
• Blade cleaner or a clean cloth to break down oil and stuck-on debris. Oster Blade Wash is one dedicated blade-cleaning solution; it is a cleaner, not a substitute for a disinfectant.
• An EPA-registered disinfectant spray or wipe that is labeled for the job. Andis lists its Andis Cool Care Plus spray as a 5-in-1 that disinfects, cools, lubricates, cleans and prevents rust. That is Andis’s claim, so check the label for the EPA registration and contact time on the can you buy.
• Blade oil to lubricate after cleaning. Andis says Cool Care Plus does not replace blade oil; a bottle of Andis Clipper Oil covers that step.
• A clean towel for drying.

Check Andis Cool Care Plus Price

Check Andis 12415 Blade Cleaning Brush Price

How to Disinfect Clippers, Step by Step

Step 1: Power off and take the blade guard off

Unplug a corded clipper or switch off a cordless one. Remove any guard. Take the blade off only if your clipper’s manual says it is safe to do so.

Step 2: Brush out loose hair

Use the brush on the blades, the gap between them, and the body. Debris left behind makes both cleaning and disinfecting harder.

Step 3: Clean the blades

Spray the blades with blade cleaner or wipe them with a clean cloth to lift oil and residue. The California rule above puts removing visible debris first for this reason.

Step 4: Apply the disinfectant

Spray or wipe the blades and the clipper with the disinfectant, following the label for how much to use and how long the surface must stay wet. That time is called the contact time and it differs by product, so we do not give one number here. Read it on your label.

Step 5: Dry the blades

Wipe the blades dry with a clean towel. Leftover moisture can lead to rust.

Step 6: Oil the blades and store the clipper

Put a few drops of blade oil on the blades, run the clipper briefly, and wipe off extra oil. Andis’s Cool Care Plus page suggests a few drops of oil before and after use. Store disinfected clippers in a clean place away from used tools.

Choosing a Clipper Disinfectant

Clipper sprays look alike on the shelf, so read the label rather than the front of the can. Four things matter most.

• An EPA registration number. A registered disinfectant carries an “EPA Reg. No.” on its label. For example, the EPA’s stamped label for Clippercide Spray lists EPA Registration Number 954-10.
• What it kills. California’s rule asks for a disinfectant with demonstrated bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal activity. Check that the label lists all three if your board asks for the same.
• Contact time. The label tells you how long the surface must stay wet. The EPA-accepted Clippercide label says to keep surfaces moist for 10 minutes, then let them air dry.
• Safety warnings. Aerosol clipper sprays are often flammable. The same Clippercide label warns that it is extremely flammable, says to spray with the clipper turned off and lists skin and eye irritation warnings, so use it in a ventilated space away from heat.

The CLIPPERCIDE 5-in-1 Clipper Disinfectant Spray (3-Pack) is a common shop choice because it is sold specifically for clipper blades. Its EPA label describes spraying through the teeth of the blades from about 6 to 8 inches away after each use. Andis Cool Care Plus is the other familiar can at the station; Andis describes it as a 5-in-1 spray, so check the registration and contact time on the can you buy.

Check CLIPPERCIDE 5-in-1 Clipper Disinfectant Spray (3-Pack) Price

Whatever you pick, follow the label you have in hand. Formulas and labels change, and the version on your shelf is the one that counts.

Guards, Combs and Detachable Blades

The clipper body is an electrical tool, so it gets sprayed or wiped. Guards, combs and other non-electrical tools are different. California’s Article 12, section 979, sets out the order for non-electrical tools before use on a client:

1. Remove all visible debris.
2. Clean with soap or detergent and water.
3. Dry completely with a new, clean paper towel.
4. Totally immerse in an EPA-registered disinfectant with bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal activity, used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Wear protective gloves or use tongs to take the tools out of the disinfectant.

The same section says the solution must stay covered and be changed according to the manufacturer’s instructions or when it is cloudy or contains debris.

Barbicide is the classic immersion disinfectant. King Research, which makes it, says to mix 2 oz (1/4 cup) of BARBICIDE Disinfectant Concentrate with 32 oz (4 cups) of water, submerge non-porous tools for 10 minutes, rinse them and store them in a clean, dry area, and replace the solution daily. The BARBICIDE Jar and Concentrate Starter Set pairs a covered jar with a pint of concentrate, which covers the “remain covered” part of the rule.

Check BARBICIDE Jar and Concentrate Starter Set Price

For pulling tools out of the jar, a box of disposable gloves such as Soft Max Nitrile Exam Gloves is the simplest way to meet the gloves-or-tongs requirement. Never put the clipper body itself into a jar of liquid.

How Often to Disinfect

In a barbershop, disinfect clippers before each client. That is what the California rule requires for electrical tools, and many other state boards say something similar, but check yours. At home, there is no rule. Cleaning the blades after each cut and disinfecting now and then, for example when clippers are shared between family members, is a reasonable habit. That frequency is our suggestion, not a standard.

Storing Clean and Dirty Tools

Disinfecting only helps if a clean tool stays clean. California’s rules for electrical tools (section 980) say disinfected clippers must be stored in a clean place, and that soiled electrical tools go into a container labeled “Soiled,” “Dirty” or “Contaminated.” For non-electrical tools, section 979 adds that disinfected tools are stored in a clean, covered place labeled “Clean” or “Disinfected,” and not in a pouch or holder that cannot itself be disinfected.

In practice that means two clearly labeled spots at the station: one for tools waiting to be cleaned, one for tools ready to use. Other states word this differently, so check your own board’s rules.

A Simpler Routine at Home

A home clipper used on one person does not need a barbershop’s routine, and there is no rule to follow. A sensible habit is shorter:

• Brush the hair out of the blade after every cut.
• Oil the blade as the maker recommends; Andis suggests a few drops before and after use.
• Disinfect with a labeled clipper spray when the clipper is shared between family members or used on irritated skin, following the label’s contact time.
• Wash guards in soap and water, dry them and store them dry.

If anyone has a skin problem on the scalp or neck, don’t share the clipper until it has been cleaned and disinfected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping the cleaning step. Disinfectant works on a cleaned surface, so brush and wipe first.
• Ignoring the label. Contact time and use directions vary. Follow them.
• Using an unlabeled cleaner. Pick a product that states its EPA registration.
• Leaving blades wet. Dry them, then oil.
• Skipping oil after disinfecting. A spray that also lubricates, such as Cool Care Plus, does not replace oiling according to Andis.
• Spraying a running clipper near heat. Aerosol clipper sprays can be flammable; the Clippercide label says to spray with the clipper turned off.
• Keeping a cloudy jar. Immersion solution goes stale. King Research says to replace Barbicide daily, and California says to change it when it is cloudy or has debris in it.

Related reading: our clipper blade care guide and how often to oil clippers.

Watch: Using Disinfectants Properly

This short video is from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It covers mixing and using disinfectant, contact time, and which tools get sprayed or wiped and which get immersed. It is one state’s rule set, so check your own board.

FAQ

Is a disinfectant spray enough, or do I need to soak the blades? It depends on your state rules and the product label. California’s rules for clippers allow an EPA-registered spray or wipe used per its instructions, while non-electrical tools are immersed. Check your board. California treats detachable clipper blades and guards as non-electrical tools that must be immersed in liquid disinfectant, as the board’s video above explains.

Can I disinfect clippers with rubbing alcohol? We could not confirm a rule or maker guidance for this, so we do not recommend it. Use a product labeled for the purpose and follow its directions.

Does disinfecting replace oiling? No. Disinfecting and oiling do different jobs. Andis says even its 5-in-1 spray does not replace blade oil.

How long should the disinfectant stay on? As long as the product label says. We do not quote a time because it differs by product.

How do I disinfect clipper guards? Treat them like other non-electrical tools: remove debris, wash with soap and water, dry, then fully immerse in an EPA-registered disinfectant such as Barbicide for the label’s contact time. King Research lists 10 minutes for Barbicide.

How often should I change Barbicide? King Research says to replace the solution daily, and sooner if it becomes contaminated or was mixed wrong.

Can I spray disinfectant while the clipper is running? Follow your product’s label. The EPA-accepted Clippercide label says to spray with the clipper turned off and warns that the spray is extremely flammable.

Do I need gloves? California requires gloves or tongs when removing tools from an immersion disinfectant, and many sprays carry skin-irritation warnings. Gloves are a simple habit either way.

For more on the oiling side of clipper care, see our clipper oiling guide. Ready to stock up? The BARBICIDE Disinfectant Concentrate and CLIPPERCIDE 5-in-1 Clipper Disinfectant Spray (3-Pack) cover immersion and spray between them.

Sources

• California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Article 12 (definitions and sections on disinfecting electrical tools), read October 13, 2026.
• Andis Cool Care Plus product page, read October 13, 2026.
• EPA, About List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19), read October 13, 2026.
• King Research, BARBICIDE Concentrate product page and FAQ, read October 31, 2026.
• EPA, accepted label for Clippercide Spray (EPA Reg. No. 954-10), 2019, read October 31, 2026.

This article summarizes the sources above. Company pages are promotional, so we attribute their claims to the company. Rules differ by state and change, so confirm with your own board.