Tattoo steralization

Hi, I recently bought a tattoo kit, I've always wanted to learn, and I'm doing very well actually, but I was wondering what would be the best/affordable way to steralize, I do have an ultrasonic cleaner and alconox for it, but I don't have the money to put out for an autoclave right now, I've been cleaning in the ultrasonic, and since it's only been my husband and I getting tattooed, I've been cleaning, can I boil the tips and tubes? or clean in bleach? I want to be sure we don't get any infections due to me not cleaning properly. Thanks.

this is a technical question we pros do not answer them per gabes wishes.

OK, you are tattooing at home and you don't have proper sterilisation equipment but don't want to get/pass on any form of infection. I'm not a pro and would advise against carrying on tattooing without proper training but I know you won't listen to that so, I would suggest rather than re-using any 'kit' that you have bought, you should buy new STERILE disposable needles, grips, tips and tubes for every time you use the machine. (Grip, tip and tube come as a single moulded plastic item). These can be bought from most tattoo suppliers in sealed plastic wrappers so you know that they are always clean and hygenic before you start. Just remember though that as soon as you pick it up with bare skin or put it onto a worktop that has not been sterilised properly, it is no longer sterile and should be replaced. If your machine gets any blood or other bodily fluids on it then it will also no longer be sterile. Tattooing is a great way to ruin someones life if you do not know what you are doing. Please reconsider before you do someone a lot of harm. You may only be tattooing your husband but ther is a saying "We always hurt the ones we love the most".

To the original poster: If you've been tattooing and don't know what disposable tubes are,or that boiling your tubes won't do shit, then you shouldn't be tattooing.

the best thing to do is wear disposable glove (saves getting ink on ur hands and any blood,dirt etc...) also instead of using the same needles use new ones each time! they cost about 50p each so it wont cost u an arm and a leg to use a new one! and to clean your tubes, you can autoclave them, or in extreme cases boil them with part water and anti bacterial liquid. also anything that touches the client ensure is newly cleaned and coverd I.E clingfilm is always a good barrier. hope this helps. wes

wes, kindly keep your misinformation to yourself. You're not helping. And what would possibly be considered an "extreme" situation in tattooing where you would have to resort to pseudo sterilization? If you don't have sterile equipment, you don't tattoo. It's that simple, nothing extreme about it.

In my eyes if you tattoo without proper BBP, etc. It is ASSAULT or worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I just "shat" myself reading this. Why on earth would ANYONE think it is "close enough" safe to boil tubes/needles etc? It honestly does not matter if you are only using them on you and your spouse. The simple fact of the matter is, you do not share blood. Saliva and sexual emissions are totally different then blood. I am not sure if you studied this in highschool, but blood cells interact differently on a cellular level. They reject different cells. I mean blood types can actually be destructive towards foreign types. Hence why you have to have a certain blood type for a transfusion. I suggest taking a blood borne pathogen course before continuing tattooing.