I boil for 20 min and then clean with an electric toothbrush and dish soap then use Flitz polish.
Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner (jewelery cleaner)?
Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner (jewelery cleaner)?
The reason you don't use alcohol to sterilize surgical equipment is because alcohol is not an antibacterial in and of itself. Rather it is a dehydrant (removes water) as it evaporates. So it does work for lots of bacteria, but some bacteria are dessication resistant. Mostly the endospore formers, ie. anything from the genus Bacillus or Clostridium. Many of the bacteria from these genuses can cause major problems with surgical patients. Particularly Clostridium tetanii=lockjaw or Clostritidium perfringens=gas gangrene. Also alcohol does not work against all viruses.olkev said:FOR STERILIZATION: I have bought some items on eBay and went and invested about $3.99 in Hydrox Hydrocide at one of the barber/beauty supply houses. Barbicide was twice as much for the same 16 oz. I compared the two and they are virtually the same.
They both are effective against HIV-1 (AIDS virus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella cholerausus, and Stapholococcus aureus. The mix is 4oz/gal for about 10 min.
I work in surgery and we autoclave stuff all of the time. Unless you really know what you are doing and are used to working with hazardous chemicals, I would stay away from Cidex. Don't get me wrong. IT WORKS but, I think there are other things that will do the same without the cost or hazards, and then you have to be able to properly dispose of the stuff as well. We now use Steris equipment more than Cidex. I honestly can't remember the last time I used Cidex. Steris is a bleach based cold sterilization technique.
Why don't I simply use alcohol? I can't give you a technical reason but, I know we don't STERILIZE surgical instruments for use with patients with it so logic would suggest that it is lacking in some way.
I use Simple Green with a toothbrush to clean them before I dunk them in the Hydrocide.
Just my .02 worth.
kenxxxxxx said:Get this - in a 50/50 white vinegar/water solution, I boiled a '58 adjustable. it came out great but has a slight coppoer tint now. upon closer inspection, it looks like the ring just under the adjuster dial might be copper. i wonder if this is where the copper tint came from? at any rate, it looks really cool with the tint. I was not able to capture the tint with my camera, otherwise i'd a posted the pic.
i'm no chemistry star, does this make sense to anyone else?
kenxxxxxx said:Has anyone else had these results? I assume that all the early Gillette adjustables have this same brass/copper ring.
With The Grain said:as a general note on this thread, guys should really hit their local sally's beauty supply and buy some barbercide+ or marvcide, it kills herpes, aids, kudies everything and it saves you the PITA of mixing these vinegar, bleach, water, garlic and chive cocktails that are just as likely to ruin the finish of the razor as sterilize it.
TimmyBoston said:Be very wary of bleach in general, I soaked an old Gilette in a very light bleach dilution and it destroyed the finish. It looks all rusted and the bleach actually destroyed an old pot that I was soaking it in.
The razor was a gift for my dad so I've had to start looking for another one again. If I boil the new one in salt and baking soda or if I boil it in a vinegar dilution will this sterilize the razor? I feel better with bleach because I know it will be sterile, but if its ruined who cares.
Tim,TimmyBoston said:Be very wary of bleach in general, I soaked an old Gilette in a very light bleach dilution and it destroyed the finish. It looks all rusted and the bleach actually destroyed an old pot that I was soaking it in.
The razor was a gift for my dad so I've had to start looking for another one again. If I boil the new one in salt and baking soda or if I boil it in a vinegar dilution will this sterilize the razor? I feel better with bleach because I know it will be sterile, but if its ruined who cares.
TimmyBoston said:Be very wary of bleach in general, I soaked an old Gilette in a very light bleach dilution and it destroyed the finish. It looks all rusted and the bleach actually destroyed an old pot that I was soaking it in.
The razor was a gift for my dad so I've had to start looking for another one again. If I boil the new one in salt and baking soda or if I boil it in a vinegar dilution will this sterilize the razor? I feel better with bleach because I know it will be sterile, but if its ruined who cares.
letterk said:You have a point there. I've read that HIV/Hep/etc... can't live outside a host body in dry blood for more than a couple days, sometimes hours. However, they can live longer in contained blood that doesn't dry out as fast. That said, a razor from 40 years ago probably isn't carying much more than dirt and grime. Personally, it just makes me feel better even though I know it's probably irrational.