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If you're a professional groomer, we know how vital your grooming clippers are to your business. These tools of your trade need to be regularly and properly maintained to keep them running smoothly on a busy day in the salon when you need them the most.
But how should you be maintaining your clippers to keep them operating properly?
At Groomers, we're experts in all things related to professional grooming clippers, so we've compiled our top tips and tricks on dog clipper maintenance to help you keep yours in the best condition. From how often to clean them to how regularly you should oil them, keeping your clippers working at their best has never been easier!
Table of contents:
Quick look: 5 top tips for looking after your clippers
How often should I clean my clippers?
How often should I oil my clippers?
Clipper blade maintenance and care
Quick look: 5 top tips for looking after your clippers
Cleaning and maintaining your dog clipper blades extends their life and guarantees a smoother and safer experience for the dogs you groom.
Before we delve into the details of how to keep your dog grooming clippers in the best condition possible, here are five easy tips that you can follow to ensure you're maintaining their performance.
- Clean your clippers
Hair and debris clog clipper blades, which, if left, can cause them to dull prematurely. Disassembling and cleaning your clippers thoroughly between appointments isn't always practical in a busy salon. However, by blasting the hair from them or using a brush to remove the hair from the blades, this quick cleaning tip can aid their performance, preventing them from damage.
Remember to re-oil your clipper blades after cleaning them to prevent friction.
- Lubrication
You should regularly lubricate your clipper blades with clipper oil each time they're cleaned and every 15-20 minutes during operation. Clipper oil reduces friction, prevents the blades from overheating, slows wear and tear, and reduces strain on the motor. By keeping your blades well-oiled, you'll extend their life, reducing the number of replacement blades you'll require.
- Allowing cooling time
Clipper blades can get hot during use, but it's important not to let them overheat as this can cause them to dull quickly and can be uncomfortable for the dog you're grooming. If your clipper blades feel hot, cool them down with coolant spray or swap them out with replacement blades until they've had time to cool off.
- Disinfect the blades
Between grooming appointments and at the end of a busy day in the salon, you should make time to disinfect your blades. Spray on some germicidal and fungicidal Clippercide Spray to lubricate, disinfect and clean your clipper blades to keep them performing well and prevent germs' spread.
- Store your blades
At the end of the day, once your clipper blades have been cleaned, disinfected, dried and oiled, you should always store them safely to prevent damage and misalignment. Invest in clipper storage to keep your tools performing at their best.
How often should I clean my clippers?
Your clippers should be cleaned properly every day to prevent the spread of germs among the dogs that visit the salon and to prevent them from becoming damaged.
Remove all hair from the blades and blade drive using the brush supplied with your clipper, a toothbrush, or a soft makeup brush. This is a really important step in maintaining your clippers, as any hair left on them could build up in the clipper, travelling down into the mechanisms, causing it to slow down or jam entirely.
To prevent this from happening, clean your clippers regularly by following these steps:
- First, unplug the clipper; if it's cordless, ensure it's powered off.
- Remove the hair from any places it has collected, checking the air vents for any blockages.
- Disassemble your clippers by referring to the manufacturer's instructions for advice on carefully removing the blades.
- Brush away any hair or debris with your brush.
- Allow the blades to soak in a compatible blade wash solution. Never use water to clean your blades, as this can cause them to rust. Scrub away any remaining build-up.
- Dry thoroughly to prevent rust and moisture.
- Unless you're planning to store the blades away, reassemble your clippers, apply some clipper oil, and test to ensure everything works correctly.
While cleaning your clippers, check the blade drive for wear and tear. The blade drive moves the blade back and forth to create the cutting action; if it's worn out, it's time to replace it.
If your clipper blades seem loose while cutting, your clipper's latch may need to be replaced.
How often should I oil my clippers?
Whilst keeping your clipper blades lubricated helps their performance, it also prevents clipper rash, a skin irritation caused when blades overheat and burn a dog's skin. With this in mind, you should lubricate your blades at regular 15 - 20 minute intervals (and after cleaning the blades).
To oil your blades, point the clipper downward with the blade horizontal. Put a drop of oil on either side of the blade where the top and bottom blades meet while the motor is running. Excess oil and hair will run off the clippers as the motor runs.
Once done, turn off the blades and dab with a paper towel.
Clipper blade maintenance and care
Alongside cleaning and oiling your clippers, you should regularly check them for issues.
Before using your clippers, ensure the blade tension and placement are correct. If there are any issues, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for correcting the tension.
If your clipper hasn't been serviced, book it in with a professional. If you work in a busy salon, your clipper may need to be serviced twice a year, so having a spare clipper on hand makes sense.
Don't forget to check that your blades are free from rust, have free movement without sticking, and don't have any broken teeth. If your blades start pulling or dragging the dog's coat, it may be time to get them professionally sharpened.
When the blades are sharpened, product build-up and rust are removed, broken parts are replaced, and the blades are thoroughly cleaned and lubricated. If you use your clippers daily, the blades may require sharpening every few months to keep them at their best.
Finally, if you have a corded clipper, check it regularly for nicks, cuts and other issues to maintain its performance and prevent a dangerous situation, such as an electric shock, from occurring. Ensure trailing leads aren't a trip hazard, as the blades could become damaged if dropped or pulled over, or worse, a trailing lead could lead to an injury in the salon.
Maintain your clippers by exploring our range at Groomers
Now that you know how to care for your clippers, why not invest in the best clipper maintenance products at Groomers? From clipper oil to blade wash, we've got everything you could possibly need to keep your clippers in check and store them safely. If your clipper needs replacing, discover our extensive clippers collection.
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