Good hygiene includes proper nail care. Regarding your toes, toe nail clippers are the best tool for trimming them safely and effectively. But if you’re unsure how to use toe nail clippers correctly, you could end up hurting yourself or someone else. Here are 7 steps for properly using toe nail clippers that will help ensure safe and effective trimming:
1. Sanitize the Clipper Blades
The first step is to make sure your toe nail clipper blades are clean and sanitary before each use, as this can prevent infection from spreading. Use a disinfectant or rubbing alcohol to thoroughly wipe off any dirt or debris on the blades before cutting your nails.
2. Soak Your Feet in Warm Water
To soften your nails, soak your feet in warm water for at least five minutes prior to using the toe nail clippers. This will help make trimming easier without causing too much pain or discomfort.
3. Cut Straight Across
It’s important to remember that when using toe nail clippers, you should always cut straight across rather than rounding off the edges of your nails. Rounded edges can cause ingrown nails which can be very painful and difficult to treat without professional help.
4. Stop Before You Get Too Close
When cutting your nails with an electric file or manual toe nail clipper, it’s important not to get too close to the skin around your toes as this can lead to cuts and infections if bacteria enters through any open wounds caused by careless trimming practices.
5. File Down Any Rough Edges
After cutting your nails with a pair of toenail clippers, use an emery board or foot file (a type of abrasive) to smooth any rough edges left by the blades so they don’t catch on clothes or shoes when walking barefoot outside or inside the house.
6. Apply moisturiser afterwards
Once you’ve trimmed all ten of your toes, apply moisturiser to keep them soft and nourished and to help reduce inflammation. This will help relieve chapped skin, cracked heels, dryness, itching, etc.
7. Disinfect the clippers again!
Finally, once you’ve completed all seven steps above, don’t forget to do a final disinfection: wipe down all surfaces of the toenail clippers with rubbing alcohol before storing them in a safe place until next time! This will minimise the chances of contamination from future contact with potentially harmful substances.
