As we meandered through another summer, I read several posts from salon operators about the “down times.” Well, if foot traffic is slow, now is a great time to dive deep, dig in and clean your salon.
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From equipment to the hard structures, furniture and appliances, get out the buckets, rags and vacuum and get to work! During my Sun is Life® Certification classroom sessions, I preach to salon operators to strive to run the cleanest facility in their town. Folks who come in, both current and prospective customers, should be able to immediately take in just how spotless your salon is. Get your team to work on a checklist of real deep-cleaning tasks, focused on the “nooks and crannies” that get neglected during busy times.
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For more about keeping a clean facility, check out the Sun is Life module titled, “A Little Dirty Talk.” Visit Sunislife.com today!
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Sunbeds and booths are dust magnets. If you are not familiar with how to remove your unit’s acrylic shields, hire someone who is or learn how to do it. Wipe both sides of the shields and gently vacuum the unit’s interior. Using a damp rag, wipe each lamp individually (remove them from the unit, if possible). The recommendation is to clean the inside of the acrylic every 100 hours (roughly every 300-400 sessions) and to remove the acrylics and clean each lamp and the reflective (shiny) material underneath the lamps every 250 hours (about every 750-1,000 sessions). If you have “slacked” on this basic maintenance, do it now! NOTE: Turn off the unit’s power at the circuit breaker prior to any interior cleaning or maintenance. Wipe the entire unit down (exterior/frame), focusing on removing any buildup of dirt, grease or fingerprints. If you have some units with problems or are non-functioning, budget to get them repaired NOW. You don’t want to head into next season with existing equipment issues! Remember, although quality acrylic shields last anywhere from 1,000-4,000 hours, check with the manufacturer for estimated useful life. That works out to basically every 2-3 lamp changes, which can be quite an investment. Most salon operators change acrylics only when they break; but, remember that the older the acrylic is, the more the transmission of UV rays can be blocked. This, of course, can lead to unhappy tanners! Use only quality acrylics from a reputable source.
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You may have had grand plans for changing the salon decor or maybe adding a fresh coat of paint. The slow season is a great time to get busy with it! When the business is rolling, many things get overlooked and the focus is just on sanitizing sunbed shields. With a mild cleanser, you need to wipe down everything in every tanning room. Door handles, timer knobs, fans, mirrors, trashcans, floors, seating and even the walls need cleaning. During this project, each room of the salon, the hallways, floors, furniture – EVERYTHING – should be cleaned. Everyone knows that you only have one chance to make a first impression, so make yours a great one. Be proud of your deep-cleaning efforts and maintain this standard of quality throughout the year!
