As a professional dog groomer, you will need more equipment than a dog owner. However, exactly what you need will vary depending on the services you offer and the dogs you groom.
What dog grooming equipment do I need?
As a broad rule of thumb, you will need:
- a dog grooming table
- a bath
- pet clippers (with different blades)
- different-sized combs
- trimmers and scissors
- a dryer
- a tangle splitter
- a range of brushes
- a de-matting and/or undercoat rake
- stripping equipment
- nail clippers
This is not an exhaustive list. There may be other equipment you use or acquire as you build your business.
Why must dog grooming equipment be kept clean?
It’s important to keep grooming equipment clean for hygiene and health reasons. If you groom a dog which turns out to have an infectious skin condition, such as ringworm or fleas, you do not want to risk spreading it to other dogs or to yourself.
Sometimes the condition or an infection may not be obvious when you groom an animal, so you cannot assume you only need to clean your equipment when you spot a problem.
Another reason is that good practices extend the longevity of your equipment and your ability to groom a dog well. Using dirty combs or brushes is unlikely to help get a dog clean, and dirt can build up on tools like clippers, causing them to stop working.
How do I clean my dog grooming equipment?
Start by making sure you have all the cleaning supplies you need. Then establish a regular cleaning regime.
What cleaning equipment do I need?
You should always have a good supply of cleaning materials. These include:
- antibacterial surface spray
- hand gel
- clean cloths
- liquid antibacterial soap
- floor cleaner
- a mop and broom
- clipper oil
- disinfectant wipes
- barbicide (a disinfectant solution for grooming tools)
How do I clean my dog brushes and combs?
Start by removing any hair and then put them in a bowl of hot soapy water – use an antibacterial soap. Leave them to soak for 10 to 20 mins. You may want to use a cloth to help wash away any dirt and then rinse thoroughly.
You can dry your combs with a dry cloth. If you have washed metal combs, make sure they are properly dried to prevent rusting; you may need to leave the brushes to dry for a bit. Make sure you leave brushes bristle-side down so water drains from the brush head.
Ideally, you should wash your brushes and combs between each dog. If it’s not possible to get them dry in time, consider having an alternative set of brushes. In any event, wipe them down and remove dirt between grooming sessions.
How do I clean nail clippers, scissors, and metal equipment?
Again, remove any hair and excess dirt with a cloth or an old (clean) toothbrush. You don’t want to soak metal equipment like nail clippers because they could rust. Wipe them with a damp cloth and spray them with disinfectant (or use a disinfectant wipe).
Dry the equipment properly with a dry cloth and then add a drop of oil to the joints to keep them lubricated. Wipe away any excess oil. You do not need to add oil between uses, but you should wipe them down with disinfectant wipes or spray.
How do I clean my grooming clippers?
Make sure the clippers are switched off and unplugged, and then remove any obvious dirt and hair.
Submerge the clipper blades in hot water, using either special blade wash or antibacterial soap. You may need to give them a scrub with a cloth or small brush. Rinse thoroughly and then dry.
When they are completely dry, oil the blades. Make sure you don’t add too much, and wipe away any excess.
Your clippers should be properly cleaned once a week. At a minimum, wipe them down between each client.
How do I clean my grooming table, bath, and premises?
You should rinse your dog grooming bath, spray down the table between each client, and sweep up any hair.
Make sure the premises are clean and tidy at the end of each working day. Sweep and mop the floor and wipe down any surfaces.
The importance of dog grooming insurance
As the work of a dog groomer involves handling clients’ pets in circumstances that could result in injury or infection, it is especially important that a professional dog groomer has adequate business insurance.
At Pet Business Insurance, we’ve spent almost two decades specialising in the provision of insurance for a range of small- and medium-sized pet businesses, including cover for pet groomers.
Whether you are running a mobile dog grooming operation or have your own established premises, our policies can cover your typical business liabilities, while also offering the extra protections you need, such as accidents and injuries to animals insurance.
As you need to take good care of the equipment you use for grooming, we also provide equipment insurance to safeguard the tools of your trade if they are stolen or damaged.
In addition, optional cover is available for businesses with specific operational needs, such as employers’ liability insurance and personal accident cover.
To discuss your dog grooming insurance requirements, get in touch with Pet Business Insurance today. Call 01284 736 874 or complete our online enquiry form.