Did you know that using an unclean epilator is one of the most common causes of pore infections and skin rashes? Your epilator requires a proper cleaning because it is exposed to different parts of your body and most likely picks up bacteria along the way.
Why is this harmful?
Here are a few reasons why not cleaning an epilator can be harmful:
Bacteria Buildup
The tiny blades in an epilator’s mechanism deal with your body hair and skin cells, which is why you need to clean them before using them again.
If you let your epilator attachments sit without a proper clean, it allows the bacteria to multiply and transfer back to your skin when you use them.
Once you start epilating, the machine pulls out the hair, temporarily damaging the follicle area. This makes your skin super sensitive and prone to infection or irritation.
Hence, it is best to keep your skin away from bacteria sitting on your unclean epilating machine.
Affects Device Longevity
The hair that clogs up the epilator machinery can affect how long your device actually lasts. If you do not clean your epilator and remove all the hair properly, it will make it difficult for the rollers and attachments to function.
This will lead the motor in the epilator to heat up and burnout, rendering your epilator a useless piece of junk rather than your hair-removing best friend.
Taking proper care of the attachments and rollers will ensure smooth running, and your epilating device will last you way longer!
Well, now that we have that sorted, let’s look at how we can clean an epilator. You can use this step-by-step guide to help you clean your epilating machine and all its attachments for a stress-free epilation session in the future.
Things You’ll Need to Clean Your Epilator
- Water
- Cleaning Brush or any old toothbrush/paintbrush/makeup brush that can get the job done
- Clean cloth or towel
- Soap
- Rubbing alcohol or any other disinfectant
- Cotton balls or cotton round
- Hairdryer (not necessary)
Assess Your Epilator
Before you dive into cleaning your epilator, you should know what kind of epilator you own and How to clean epilator at home. Some epilating devices can be used in the shower because they are waterproof, while some can only be used dry.
If you have a waterproof epilator, follow the steps highlighted below. However, if you have an epilator that is dry use only, then skip Step 3 and follow the rest accordingly.
Step 1: Disassemble All Epilator Parts
Unplug your epilator and keep the wire away if it is fully detachable. Disassemble the parts of your epilator and lay them on a clean, light-colored towel or cloth so you can see the hair properly.
You will have to clean everything separately, from the caps, attachments to the hand-held machine itself.
If you examine the parts closely, you will be pretty shocked to see the amount of hair that gets stuck in the machine rollers and different attachments.
If you use your epilator in the shower, the hair is clumpy and sticky, making the machine look like a mess. Laying everything in front of you will help you determine how you need to go about the entire cleaning process.
Step 2: Remove Hair
Now it’s time to remove all the hair that is stuck in the crevices of your epilator. Most epilating devices come with a small brush that you can use to dust off the hair.
If you have somehow misplaced the brush, you can always opt for other household tools such as an old makeup brush, a used toothbrush, or even a paintbrush with long, synthetic bristles to get all the hair out.
Dusting the machine or attachments with a brush can get rid of the hair that is stuck. However, if you want a speedy alternative, you can also use a hairdryer to blow off the hair.
Make sure you are doing this over a sink or over a towel to catch all the hair that will come off the epilator.
Ideally, a combination of brushes and a blow dryer can help you get all the hair out, especially the ones that are stuck in the nooks and crannies of the epilator.
Step 3: Soak Head Attachments
If you feel that dry dusting is not doing the job, you can soak your attachments in some soapy water to make the hair loose.
Do not soak the epilator itself even if it is waterproof because that can permanently damage the machine inside (you can run it under a tap because the running water will wash the hair away).
Soaking your epilator attachments can also be useful if you have dried hair stuck to your attachments.
This usually happens when you use the epilator in the shower and forget to clean it right away. The tacky hair dries while clogging the epilator.
Once your attachments are done soaking for a while, you can take a cloth or a cotton Q-tip to remove any clumps of hair that still remain.
Run the parts under the tap to take off any soap residue, and your attachments should be pretty clean by now.
Step 4: Disinfect with Alcohol
Shake off all the water and pat dry everything. Soak a dry wipe, cotton balls, or cotton rounds in some rubbing alcohol and wipe off each part of the epilator to disinfect it.
Make sure you really get in there, especially those parts that directly come in contact with your skin.
If you do not have any rubbing alcohol on hand, you can always use vodka or any other disinfectant solution you have lying around the house.
Disinfecting all surfaces and attachments will help you kill off any bacteria that remain on the epilator, potentially eliminating the risk of any skin infections.
Step 5: Wipe Parts Thoroughly
Make sure you wipe all the remaining parts thoroughly because leaving behind some moisture can ruin the machine and even cause rusting.
Use a clean towel, or perhaps run it under a blow dryer again if you are not able to reach the crevices.
Note: Do not blow hot air directly on top of the device as it can heat up the machine inside. You can either use the cool setting on your blow dryer or keep it at a safe distance.
Step 6: Leave to Dry
Layout the machine and attachments individually on a clean cloth or towel and let it air dry. Do not store your epilator unless you’re absolutely sure that it is dry.
Depending on the amount of water you have used, it should take a few hours to dry fully.
Step 7: Storing Your Epilator
Once it is fully dry, you can assemble the epilator back together or store the parts individually. However, storing your epilator correctly is also an essential part of the process.
Most epilators you purchase off the market come with a pouch in which you can store them after use. In case you do not have a pouch, you can always buy a makeup bag and designate it for your epilator so that it stays safe and dry.
Avoid placing your epilator in your bathroom cabinet because the moisture can cause damage. It is always best to store an epilator in a cool and dry place to avoid any issues such as rusting.
Also don’t forget to checkout epilators for sideburns.
Remember, your skin is more sensitive than you think
After an epilation session, it is vital for users to keep their skin incredibly clean and not just their epilating machine. Hair removal is a delicate matter, especially if you are dealing with it on your own.
Running an epilator over your skin (be it any part of the body) leaves the skin red and sensitive to touch. The sensitivity occurs because the pores of your skin feel irritated. Hence, it is pretty easy to catch an infection.
Folliculitis: Should you be concerned?
Folliculitis is a condition which you may suffer from due to an unsanitary epilator. This skin condition is characterized by inflamed hair follicles caused by fungal or bacterial infections.
It may appear as red, inflamed bumps or whiteheads around your hair follicles. If not taken care of, these bumps and whiteheads can turn into painful, crusty sores.
Although this isn’t an extremely threatening situation, it can be pretty itchy and embarrassing. Severe cases can even leave scars on your skin.
Hence, it is crucial to take care of your skin hygiene, including regularly cleaning and disinfecting the machines you use on your skin, such as an epilator.
Wrapping Up
Cleaning your epilator is pretty easy – with just a few things to keep in mind, you can clean your epilator in less than half an hour with few minutes to spare!
What’s important here is to remember that cleaning your epilator is something you should never skip out on to protect your skin, hygiene, and your device’s longevity.