Hello tanners! It is important to have a little bit of training in how to properly take care of your tanning bed. We have put together a short list of simple steps necessary for those of you who want to get the longest life out of your tanning bed.
Australian Gold pH Nuetralizing Disinfectant
Let’s begin by discussing the importance of using an appropriate tanning bed acrylic cleaner. I have known many of you that have confessed to using Windex or other over the counter cleaners to keep your tanning bed acrylics (sometimes referred to as the glass) clean. It is extremely important to know that any cleaner containing amonia can seriously decrease the life of your acrylic. Over the counter cleaners can cause, yellowing, cracking, peeling, and little white foggy ghost-like spots to appear. Not only does this effect your ability to get an even tan but acrylics are also very expensive. Some tanning bed acrylics cost between four and five hundred dollars but the average tanning bed acrylic is usually at least $300 to replace. Once this is considered it helps to point out that a $10.99 bottle of tanning bed cleaner which dilutes to make 16 gallons of cleaner is well worth the investment. It is also important to invest in a tanning bed cleaner because you need a hospital grade disinfectant to prevent those nasty little critters which cause white spots on you. So get the right cleaner, dilute it according to the directions on the back, and get years and years out of your tanning bed acrylic.
Next lets discuss how best to condition your tanning bed acrylic. Using a standard conditioning polish on both sides of each acrylic can sincerely add years to the life of your tanning bed acrylics. Our favorite is made by Novusand we treat our beds just once or twice a year. A good time to condition your acrylics is when you have them out for standard cleaning or to change tanning bed lamps. To maintain the new look of the acrylic you can use this product more frequently. Novus also has products to treat light scratches and heavy scratches and they work amazingly well. We have made old tanning bed acrylics look just like new with the use of these products.
Phillips S12 Tanning Bed Starters
Next, change out your tanning bed bulbs and starters when necessary. Let’s first discuss how to know when you need new tanning bed starters. There are a few signs that you can’t miss. Delayed ignition is when your tanning beds bulbs do not light immediately. Often they flicker or you see a noticeable delay after turning the bed on. Another sign is if you notice a bright orange hue at the end of your lamps usually at least 2 inches wide. Finally, a lamp that won’t ignite at all could be the starter. If a lamp won’t light at all if could also be the lamp itself, the lamp holder, or other things but it’s always best to rule out the starter before investing in more expensive replacement parts. Tanning bed starters do not need to be replaced every lamp change. Usually they will last two to three lamp changes. Phillips tanning bed starters have a great reputation for being reliable, long lasting starters. The cost for these is less then $2.00 a piece.
Let’s get real about tanning bed bulbs. Different tanning beds offer all kinds of features to set them a part from one another. Wide tanning surfaces, MP3 players, body fans and other great features worth having, but in the end it is the tanning bed lamps that tan you. Tanning bed bulbs are designed to meet the needs of different skin types with different tanning histories. To find the lamps most suitable for you, consider what best meets your needs and the needs of others tanning in your bed/s. We have an articlethat can make this decision a whole lot simpler. So having the right lamps is the most important thing but it’s also important to replace them when necessary. Tanning bed bulbs will often continue to ignite long after their phosphors have diminished and their tanning ability with them. Most tanning beds offer hour meters to help you keep up but the best way to tell is by judging your results. If you are getting the color you want then you are good to go but if you feel like you are laying forever and getting nothing, you probably are not. So don’t be fooled into thinking that just because they turn on they are tanning.
A few final things to keep your tanning bed doing what it does best, which of coarse is transforming you into a golden beauty.
- Do not use tanning bed lotions that are not specifically created for indoor tanning beds. These can contain ingredients which can damage your acrylics. Never, ever use baby oil. Do not use tanning bed lotions purchased from eBay as you are often only getting the bottle with a very different lotion then what the manufacturer provides. Tanning lotions sold on eBay and other shopping sites are not ever coming from a licensed distributor. They do not allow their products sold in such venues so beware that you get what you are paying for by choosing a trusted distributor.
- When changing your lamps vacuum around the lamp holders and dust your reflector plate well.
- Make sure to regularly clean your internal cooling fans. Dirty fans can drastically reduce the tanning ability of your tanning bed.
- If you are using a bed that operates off a standard household electrical circuit (120V) make sure that nothing else is going to that outlet. They require a dedicated circuit so don’t plug a lamp or anything else into the socket.
OK- consider yourself educated. Applying these simple steps can make a big difference in how your tanning bed performs and how lovely your glow can be. Remember that we welcome your questions so don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We are here for you!
