The importance of regularly cleaning and servicing your clippers and blades.
Whether you’re a professional pet groomer, a hairdresser, a horse clipper or someone who prefers DIY haircuts, clippers are an essential tool in your kit. They are designed to provide precise and clean cuts, making your job easier and ensuring that your clients (or yourself) look their best. However, like any piece of machinery, clippers require regular maintenance to perform optimally. Here’s why it’s important to service your clippers regularly.
1. Maintaining Performance and Precision
Over time, hair, skin particles, and other debris can accumulate in the blades and mechanisms of your clipper blades. This buildup can dull the blades, causing them to pull or snag hair instead of cutting smoothly. Regular servicing, which includes cleaning and oiling the blades, ensures they stay sharp and perform at their best. This not only guarantees a clean cut but also enhances the overall experience for your clients.
2. Prolonging the Life of Your Clippers
Clippers are an investment, and like any investment, you want to protect it. Regular maintenance helps prevent wear and tear on the internal components of your clippers. By routinely cleaning, greasing, and replacing worn-out parts, you can significantly extend the life of your tool. This means you won’t need to replace your clippers as often, saving you money in the long run.
3. Ensuring Hygiene and Safety
Hygiene is paramount in any grooming environment. Clippers that are not regularly cleaned can harbour bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens, posing a health risk to your clients. Regular servicing, which includes thorough cleaning and sanitizing, helps maintain a hygienic tool. This practice not only protects your clients but also upholds your reputation as a professional who prioritises cleanliness and safety. You can find suitable sanitising products by clicking here: https://thepointyendsharpening.com.au/product-category/clipper-and-blade-care/
4. Reducing the Risk of Breakdowns
Unexpected equipment failure can be a major inconvenience, especially in a busy salon or grooming business. Regular servicing helps identify and address potential issues before they become serious problems. By routinely checking and maintaining your clippers, you can reduce the likelihood of sudden breakdowns, ensuring that your operations run smoothly without interruption.
5. Enhancing Client Satisfaction
Client satisfaction is the cornerstone of any service-based business. Well-maintained clippers provide a better cutting experience, leading to smoother, more precise cuts. This enhances client comfort and satisfaction, encouraging repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals. Clients are more likely to return to a professional who consistently delivers high-quality results.
6. Economic Efficiency
While it might seem like an added expense, regular servicing of your clippers is economically efficient in the long run. Preventative maintenance is typically much less costly than major repairs or replacements. By investing a small amount of time and money into regular upkeep, you can avoid larger, more expensive issues down the line.
Tips for Regularly Servicing Your Clippers
- Daily Cleaning: After each use, brush away loose hair and debris from the blades. Use a disinfectant spray to sanitize the blades.
- Oiling: Blade manufacturers recommend oiling blades every ten minutes of running time. Only a very small amount of oil is required each time. In addition, apply a few drops of clipper oil to the blades at the end of each day to keep them lubricated and functioning smoothly.
- Deep Cleaning: Periodically, check your clippers and clean hair build up thoroughly. Remove any hair or debris that may have accumulated particularly around where the blade attaches. In the case your clipper has a filter, remove this and brush or blow out any accumulated hair.
- Blade Sharpening: Depending on usage, have your blades professionally sharpened every few months to maintain their cutting efficiency. Your blades will tell you when they’re becoming blunt when they start dragging through the hair.
- Regular Checkups: Take your clippers to a professional service provider for a comprehensive checkup and maintenance at least once a year.
Conclusion
Regularly servicing your clippers is not just about maintaining a tool; it’s about ensuring the quality of your work, the satisfaction of your clients, and the longevity of your investment. By incorporating routine maintenance into your schedule, you can enjoy reliable performance, enhanced hygiene, and a thriving business. Make clipper maintenance a priority and reap the benefits of smooth, efficient, and precise grooming every time.
