Massage Couch Covers Hygiene and Comfort

[tyslessNure]

As a client I have experienced various coverings on the couch.

My least favourite is when paper is rolled out over the terry cover. It is not a nice material to lie on but I guess it's easier for the therapist who can just throw the paper away after a treatment. However I am dubious as to how permeable the paper is given that every clients anatomy is the same so the groin area in a sense is where the last persons was only with a a fresh piece of paper in between which concerns me from a hygiene point of view unless perhaps the paper is impermeable?

I know how nice it feels without paper because I have had massage on toweling and even taken my own towel in to go over the paper.

My question is do many therapists routinely cover the couch with paper or do some use a cloth cover and change it between clients so you get a fresh one? Or just use a fresh towel under as well as over; well I hope it's a fresh towel!?

Thanks, Luke.

 

[Blair W]

Hi Luke,

For every client, the couch is cleaned, fresh couch cover and new couch roll. Therefore everything is replaced for every client with a clean disinfected couch.

Myarka.

 

[*Caution: Fresh Paint*]

Thanks Myarka, but why use a paper roll if the cover is replaced. I can guess it's 'to protect the cover from the client' but do any clients object to paper as it's not as nice to lie on, feels a bit like going to the doctors surgery?

 

[Akima]

I still use couch roll because it takes up any excess oil and stops the clients skin sticking to the bolster in hot weather.

Myarka.

 

[BatMan]

hi

i personally prefer towels, both from a therapist and client point. i dont find it very relaxing when you hear the crunchy noise of couch roll, an towels absorb any excess oils better too. ok it can be alot of washing but i think its more professional.

lilyflower x

 

[jaybone7997]

So is that 2 towels on the couch, + 2 on the client for drapes, i.e. 4 per client?

Myarka.

 

[Adam M]

2 big 2 small, thats the way i was taught.
when i did the indian head massage course we had to roll a towel like a sausage then cover it in couch roll, this was to support the clients head. but i didnt find it very relaxing because you could hear the crunchy noise from the couch roll.
it will be interesting to hear other peoples methods.

lilyflower x

 

[Binu J]

That's what I looked at when I started, but that would work out at washing 100 towels a week @ 60 degrees. That would kill any domestic washing machine quickly. At least couch covers take very little room in the washing machine and they dry much quicker.

Myarka.

 

[miami J]

yeah thats a good point, i use a couch cover too. i have only recently qualified, so i guess its good to have input from experienced therapists.

lilyflower x

 

[Sonia T]

Washing the towels isn't so much of the problem, a good industrial washer starts at about £450, but it's the driers that are expensive and need to be installed by an electrician because they use so much power and need up-rated circuits.

That's one of the big downers from being mobile or working from home.

Myarka.
PS. I'm just starting up too

 

[Andy L]

I like this way of doing things from a client perspective.

I guess it's pragmatism that brings in the paper roll which is a shame, all the washing if a therapist has a full day/week of bookings but then should that be the client's problem. Then again when I took my own beach towel and lay on it during the massage; I put it on my bed at home later and had the smell of lavender all night.

 

[NemAcconyNent]

I know it feels nicer to just use covers/towels but I do use paper and don't change the couch cover after every client: it's not only all the washing but I don't have a dryer and not a lot of storage for lots of towels. Also I tend to cycle to the clinic I work so wouldn't be able to transport all those towels.

 

[Timothy Pinelo]

thats a great idea to take your own towel, but i doubt many clients would think of that and if as a therapist we asked them to they would probably think we had flipped.

myarka i didnt realise you were just starting up too, having read lots of your posts i assumed you were a well established therapist.
i am finding it quite difficult right now, there seems to be a massage therapist in virtually every street, i guess its just getting your foot in the door that is the initial problem. I am a single mum with a little girl, so its all a big balancing act.

lilyflower x

 

[xfbeyjpr]

I'm just old - lol

I gave up my career in electronics to get out of the rat race.

Have you signed up with business link? They have been very helpfull in working out how to make my business work with the marketing etc. I got a bit disheartened too by the competition. But once you start talking to salons, clinics, and just general networking doors start to open.

Myarka.

 

[LeonardKO]

Being an enterprising lass I use 100% plain cotton tablecloths and matching napkins for the head.

I buy the tablecloths which are much larger than towels for about £3.00 each and 4 napkins, 4 for a £1.00

I do know of therapists who have regular clients keep using the same towels just for them , giving towels a blow on the line to freshen up.

And I would be surprised if the health farms or whatever they call them selves these days supplied fresh towels for every client.

Eileen.

 

[manstar375]

I hate couch paper so refuse to use it.

I use 2 large bath sheets or batiks and 2 hand towels per client.

If I have a busy week I get the laundrette to pick up a huge bag and pay £11 for it be done, that picked up and delivered, washed and tumbled.

Two tips for you:

1. use batiks on top of the bath sheet and to cover, on a cool day use a bath sheet OVER the batik. that way you are just having to wash to very very thin batiks.

2. use single bed sheets in cotton. thats what our American cousins do.

I used to do pamper parties with an American. I would spend ages packing all of my stuff, a full sports bag of towels, couch paper, pillows, then oils, bed, hot stones, etc, and would pick her up, she would have a massage couch a small bag with bed sheets in.

 

[Renan S]

Myarka, Im sure your not that old lol

i never though about business link, will have to look into that.
I have a few ideas in mind, i approached somebody yesterday and i felt the reply i had was quite abrupt, which was not very helpful. i guess i just need to keep an open mind that not everyone is like that.

lilyflower x

 

[kid_of_the_k-hole]

cotton bedsheets, thats a great idea. it must save a lot of washing of towels, and far less bulky to carry around.

its really helpful hearing other peoples methods

lilyflower x

 

[run and tell that homeboy]

Really hate using couch roll, we use it on the NHS but I use towels over the couch cover for private practice, no rustling.. lovely.

 

[Ketooraw R]

I use a fresh towelling couch cover for every client, and drape them with two cot sheets, adding fleece throws over the top if they are chilly (rare). I don't like lying on paper, so wouldn't ask any of my clients to. I often see people for daily treatments, so strip the couch when I have worked on them, putting their cover and two sheets, plus pillow covers, into an archive box which is stored in a cupboard till next day - fresh stuff is put on for the next client. I have plenty of spare covers etc, so only do a 60 degree wash once a week. The fleeces get washed once a fortnight - they don't come into contact with the skin of the clients.