To properly clean a tattooing or piercing needle, follow these 4 simple steps:

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Rinse the needle under cold water.
  3. Soak in a glass of bleach for 2 minutes, making sure it’s completely under the water.
  4. Rinse the needle under cold water again.

If you need to use someone else’s syringe, follow these 5 steps:

  1. Draw water to the top of the barrel, then squirt down a drain (do this at least two times).
  2. Draw bleach to the top of the barrel.
  3. Shake the syringe for 30 seconds then squirt down the drain.
  4. Repeat step #3 at least twice.
  5. Rinse syringe with water at least two times.

There’s no way to know if you’re getting 100% of the germs, which is why it’s always better to use new equipment every time, but if you are unable to do so for any reason, cleaning your needles with bleach is a good practice to get familiar with.