What does high-level disinfection (1,000 ppm) require?

High-level disinfection at 1,000 ppm requires adding one-third cup of household bleach to one gallon of water and ensuring that the items being disinfected soak for a minimum of 20 minutes. This concentration and duration are crucial for effectively killing a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, thereby providing a high level of disinfection necessary in a cosmetology setting.

The two key components here are the appropriate dilution ratio and the soaking time, which are both critical to achieving the desired level of disinfectant efficacy. Using bleach at this specific concentration ensures that it is strong enough to achieve high-level disinfection while also being safe for common salon equipment and surfaces when used as directed.

In contrast, the other options may not meet the required standards for high-level disinfection either in terms of concentration or procedural effectiveness. For instance, adding one cup of bleach to five gallons of water creates a much lower concentration, and using a steam cleaner, while it may sanitize, does not correspond directly to a specified ppm of bleach. Lastly, adding half a cup of bleach to two gallons of water also results in a weaker solution than needed for high-level disinfection.