Objective To explore the effective method of manicure for aged patients without self-care ability,in order to improve the quality of basic nursing and prevent foot infection.Methods Totally 41 aged patients staying in Songjiang Social Welfare Institute and Community Health Service Center of Xinqiao Town from June to August 2016 were selected as research objects. The left hands and left feet of aged patients were taken as the observation group,while the right hands and right feet of aged patients were taken as the control group. In the observation group,nails were trimmed after wrapped by rubber gloves with oil cotton ball for 30 min. In the control group,patients' hands and feet were soaked in warm water for 30 min before manicure. The pass rate of manicure,patients' pain score,preparation time of assistant nurses,trimming time,nails' splash and damage situation were detected in two groups.Results There were significant differences in the comparison of the pass rate of manicure in mild thickening nails group and severe thickening nails group,the number of limbs feeling pain in the process of manicure,patients' pain score,preparation time of assistant nurses,time spent on manicure,nails' splash and damage situation between two groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Wet compress with oil cotton ball can improve the pass rate and efficiency of manicure,increase patients' comfort,improve nursing quality and reduce the risk of foot infection and human cost.