If you’re the owner of an electric nail file, this blog will help you expand its life span. As you know, electric nail files are essential to the work of nail salons and nail techs. You probably also know that electric nail files, or nail drills, are mechanical devices with many moving parts. Professional techs like you use these drills for many hours each day, putting a lot of stress on the parts. That’s why it’s essential to make the cleaning and maintenance of your nail drill a regular part of your nail tech routine.

First, what electric nail file should I be using?

There are several electric nail files on the market. Whether you’re buying wholesale nail files or a single nail file for your personal business or at-home nail care, you want to be sure that the brand you choose is high quality. The Kupa ManiPro Passport is a Nails Plus favorite. It’s powerful, portable, and extremely smooth. In our opinion, it is the most reliable nail drill available.

How do I maintain my electric nail file?

Extend the life of your electric nail file with preventative care. Here are a few tips recommended by both Nails Plus and the makers of Kupa drills:

• Reduce the amount of dust that comes in contact with your electric nail file. Eliminating dust from the manicure process just isn’t possible, but you can cut down on the amount of dust on and around your nail file. After each ue, thoroughly wipe down your e-file with a soft brush or dry, soft cloth. Do not use any liquids to clean your e-file, as this may cause damage.
• Avoid crimping or bending the cord of your electric nail file. This will result in a weakened connection between the drill bit and the drill motor. To keep your e-file working at full power, keep the cord long and smooth.
• This one might seem obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: don't drop your electric nail file! Store it in a secure palace and never place it on the edge of your manicure table. Also, always keep the blank bit locked in your e-file after use, as this will protect it from major damage should you drop your e-file.

How do I clean my electric nail file?

For the longevity of the drill and the safety of your clients, it is essential that you wash, sanitize, and throgouthy dry the drill bits after every use. We’re sharing the sanitation steps for a drill with metal bits (carbide). If your electric file uses diamond or ceramic bits, check with the manufacturer or a repair center authorized by the manufacturer for proper cleaning directions. Here’s how to clean your metal electric file bits:

• After thoroughly wiping down the outside of the drill to remove dust, clean your bits thoroughly by washing them with a brush in soapy water, or by immersing them in acetone for five to ten minutes.
• After thoroughly cleaning your drill bits, you’ll need to disinfect them. Cleaning the electric file bits in soapy water and/or immersing them in acetone will not sufficiently sanitize them! Use a wire brush to clean the indented cutting flutes attached to the drill’s metal bits. Then, soak the metal bits in a disinfectant solution.
• Completely dry the drill bits before putting them back in the drill. Any small amount of fluid left on the bit will make its way inside the drill, causing internal parts of the drill to rust or seize up. Always give your drill bits the proper time to dry.
• Remember that sanding bands can’t be disinfected, so they should be discarded after each use. However, the mandrel bits that the sanding bands fit on top of can be disinfected in the same manner as other metal bits.

Any other tips for electric nail file care?

Oil will not make your drill run more smoothly! We have seen many nail tech clients put oil in the drill thinking it will improve the drill’s performance. However, electric nail files are designed to work without oils. Oil used inside the drill will eventually get gummy and hard, causing severe damage.

Here’s another thing that can cause severe damage to your electric nail file: taking apart and reassembling the drill on your own. We see our nail tech customers make this mistake all too often. This usually results in a malfunctioning drill. If your nail drill isn’t working properly, bring it to a repair center authorized by the manufacturer. Nails Plus is authorized to repair all Kupa drills.

Should I have my drill professionally cleaned?

It’s important for nail techs to know how to clean their nail drill for everyday use. However, to really extend the life of your drill and protect your investment, we recommend having drills professionally cleaned at a repair center authorized by the manufacturer. As an authorized Kupa repair center, we’ll completely take apart the entire handpiece and deep clean every individual part. This helps the drill last longer and run more smoothly. During cleaning, we can also let you know if we see any part that is in need of repair or replacement.

We hope this blog helps you to properly care for your electric nail file. Want more tips on nail art and nail tech accessories? Subscribe to our blog! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on our top products!

Beautifully Yours,

Kim Phan, VP