Should your feet be cleansed before a treatment?

The feet definitely MUST be cleaned prior to any treatment that involves touch. I've been using cotton wool with an alcohol cleanser to kill germs/bacteria/fungi e.t.c. however bathing your clients feet, or wrapping them with a warm towel is far more relaxing than using cotton wool.
I am considering converting to these methods as I have always found the experience far more pleasurable prior to a treatment and it also allows the client and therapist a moment to talk face to face about issues they may face during treatment (they may not have been raised during consultation) .and as this moment is intimate and allows time for these issues to come to the surface as the client will feel at ease and able to let go.

I have always experienced and always practised treating the feet before any treatment, including facials, as it relaxes the client and enhances there expereince. I think its important to let the customer know what to expect and let them know you do that first, as some dont
expect it, they often think "oh does she think im having a foot massage". I use essential oils that cleanse the feet (i.e lavender/rosemary)

it is both relaxing soothing and most of all for health and safety reasons it is part of procedure to most treatments that the feet is cleansed and any other area that is to be treated.

Not all spas or salons offer this, but it is a great way to start a treatment, in some cultures cleasning or washing the feet is a nice way to get rid of all the negative energy you have been carrying around with you, so you body can accept all of the psoitvie energies from the treatment being carried out.
Its also nice if you have been wearing high shoes, or closed in trainers just help freshen the feet and relax the feet. your feet and head are the most important parts of the body, so any treatmenton these areas helps the client to relax a lot more

For hygiene, health and safety reasons I always cleanse the treatment area. I usually add an extra treat such as hand massage with a blend of aromatherapy oils during a facial treatment while a face mask is on or a hand repair mask before starting a facial treatment. This is to help my client feels comforted, allow relaxation and attain an overall feeling of rejuvenation.

Hi. On a personal basis, I have never cleansed feet before massage treatment as I tend to pass over the soles whilst doing. Reflexology on the other hand, I have always cleansed because you are dealing directly with the feet and nothing else and it is for your benefit as well as theirs. Hope this helps.

At clarins they cleanse the feet with two hot mitts prior to the treatment and when I have gone for treatments I have always enjoyed this bit of the treatment.

I think it depends on what one is trying to achieve. If it is about sanitation then feet cleaning must be done but if it is only about bringing customers back then it is an addition and this may detract from the rest of the treatment from a timing point o view. Beauty therapists are taught to clean the feet before a treatment commences for a full body treatment but not necessary for a facial or a back treatment. Thebenefits of cleaning the feet are sanitation and relaxing, if massage is applied with aromatherapy blends but this adds to the timing. Some venues offer a foot treatment separately which is very beneficial.

I only cleanse the feet before a reflexology treatment or before a foot massage. I don't know any therapist in my area, or who I trained with that do this as a matter of course.

Feet should be always cleaned before a treatment, for hygiene reason. especially for massage, before and after the treatment, after for health and safety reasons.

I recall during training that we were taught to cleanse the feet before the start of any treament, in relation to full body massage

I only tend to cleanse the feet prior to reflexology, although I believe that some clients may like to have their feet freshened up during a massage. I'm not sure how it would benefit a facial though? Perhaps someone could enlighten me re the benefits...
Best regards
Michelle

I am neither personally nor professionally aware of such a requirement? However, I could see this service being added, as an additional service before, during or after a facial. Although, even when I worked as an Aesthetician at an Ayurveda medi spa, this was not something that we did prior to, nor after, any treatments, including the ayurveda body massages.
Perhaps you might want to survey your clients to find out what they prefer?