Hygiene rules for wellness spaces: how to comply

The hygiene rules are changing regularly at the moment. So how do you keep up, and how do you reassure your clients so that they can enjoy your wellness spaces? Here is everything you need to know.

On the layout

Hygiene rules do not apply solely to cleaning: they can also affect the layout of a room.

For example:

- The waiting room must be laid out so that clients do not cross paths. Clear information about protective measures must be given before and after clients arrive.

- The massage room must be arranged with disinfectable areas and set up so that nothing needs to be touched, door handles in particular.

Unsurprisingly, the following rules also apply:

- Hand sanitiser and washbasins with soap must be available to clients.

- A full disinfection of the premises and ventilation of the room must be carried out before and after every massage, as well as at the end of the day. You will therefore need to limit the number of clients you see each day in order to manage this rotation.

- Linen must be washed at over 60°C on a long cycle.

Hygiene rules for staff and clients

You have known the first rule for a long time now: face masks are compulsory. They must be worn by staff AND clients throughout the session. Hand sanitising is also compulsory.

Among the other rules:

- Body-to-body movements must be avoided, and head and face massages are not permitted. Where there is contact with the client's skin (during massages, for example), disposable gloves may be used.

- It is important to make sure you have the client's contact details and to ask to be notified should any symptoms appear afterwards. Now you know everything! By applying these rules, you will give your clients confidence and help prevent the spread of the virus. And if you fancy refreshing your hotel's decor, do read our article on possible partnerships!

Here are the main requirements that apply in a massage room or wellness space, organised by area:

Area	Requirement	Detail
Equipment	Hand sanitizer and soap	Accessible to all clients
Cleaning	Laundry	Wash above 60 °C on long cycle
Cleaning	Premises	Complete disinfection and ventilation before and after each treatment, then at end of day
Treatment room layout	Disinfectable zones	Remove anything that can be touched (especially door handles)
Waiting room layout	Circulation	Arrange so two clients do not meet
Staff and clients	Mask	Required from start to end of treatment for both practitioner and client
Staff and clients	Hand disinfection	Required
Permitted treatments	Skin contact	Disposable gloves possible; full body contact and facial/scalp massage forbidden

Frequently asked questions

Is a mask required for the whole session? Yes, for the therapist and for the client, from the start of the treatment to the end. Hand disinfection is mandatory too. It is the least negotiable rule on the list.

How many clients can I take in a day? There is no single number: it depends on how long your protocol takes. The rooms must be disinfected and aired before and after every massage, then again at the end of the day, which cuts down the number of slots. Build your schedule around the real length of the cleaning, not the length of the treatment.

What temperature should the linen be washed at? Above 60 °C, on a long cycle. That covers sheets, towels and anything else that touches the client's skin.

Are face and scalp massages still allowed? No, those are banned, and body-to-body movements have to be avoided. Where contact with the skin is still needed, disposable gloves can be used.

Do I need to keep the clients' contact details? Yes. Take enough to reach every client, and ask them to let you know if symptoms appear after their visit. That is what lets you warn the people who came in on the same day.

How should the waiting area and the treatment room be set up? The waiting area has to be arranged so that two clients never cross paths, and the protection measures are explained before arrival and repeated afterwards. In the treatment room, plan disinfectable surfaces and remove everything there is to touch, door handles included. Hand gel and a sink with soap stay within reach of clients.