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barbicide not recommended for razors?

so I was looking at threads to see how I could best clean and disinfect a few razors that I have bought off the bst, and barbicide kept coming up so I searched for sources here in Ottawa but came across this:

http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/residents/health/inspections/personal_service/barbicide_en.html

the whole page is an interesting read and certainly addresses a lot of misconceptions I had (eg. spray and wipe) but interestingly it states:

“Barbicide” cannot be used to disinfect any part of a shaving razor or blade that contacts the skin (critical items such as blades for shaving are single-use items which must be disposed of in a sharps container immediately after use). The handle and cradle, which hold the blade, must be cleaned and disinfected as a semi-critical item between uses.

Thats quite the shock since everybody here seems to recommend barbicide and I was planning to dunk the razors in barbicide. I can't autoclave them, but what else do you use to disinfect razors and what would you recommend?
 
Alcohol can be used in lieu of Barbicide. If you plan to wipe down the surface of the razor, use a 70% solution as it's optimized for antiseptic purposes. If you want to disinfect wet surfaces, higher concentrations are required.
 
That post you linked to applies to Barbershops and Nail Salons. My barbershop does not use fixed blade straight razors for this reason.
Instead they use shavette type straights with throw away blade for face shaves and the like, but they are still required to soak the handle and blade holder in Barbicide.

Barbicide is perfectly fine for sanitizing razors in the home. It will kill pretty much anything that may be living on your razors.
 
I have read it takes the black ink out of the lettering on Gillette Adjustables.

It will if soaked to long.

I forgot about my Super Adjustable and accidentally left it soaking overnight... :blushing:

When I pulled it out the numbers were gone. Now I never soak past the recommended 15 minutes.
 
Makes you wonder how humanity ever survived more than a few generations without government regulations to protect us from the terrors of contaminated combs, razors, hairbrushes, etc.? :blink:
 
If the truth be known, blood born pathogens on metal sufaces only live a very short time I:E a few minutes.
So really no need to be so anal about cleaning a razor.
Soak it in Bleach for a few minutes, rinse and have total piece of mind.
 
I did a lot of research some time back. While I don't have the references any more, my conclusion was that the following covered pathogens of all types well. Any razor that I sell is sterilized in this way also.

* 1:5 mixture of sodium hypochlorite and water (Clorox)
* 70% isopropyl alcohol

(Don't leave the sodium hypochlorite solution on blades very long, and rinse with water.)

That being said, I consider 70% isopropyl alcohol sufficient. The sodium hypochlorite was added for good measure.
 
good reason to avoid public toilets:) A fews mins in 3% Hypochlorite= no worrys.
No need to boil, stirfry, Microwave etc.

there's a bit of a difference between contact with your skin (a public toilet or even a doorknob for instance) and a razor which has likely come in contact with some blood from the previous user and is very likely to come in contact with some broken skin for you as well.

I'm a big believer in the soap-and-warm water therapy, I'll soak it first, then go with some alcohol and try to avoid the paint.. :)
 
What they're getting at here is the state board expects all shops to be using disposable blades only, it's probably in the shop license law. Barbacide is fine for use on your razors and razor blades in fact it's probably overkill (cringe, waiting for hate mail) for home use if your are the only user. My son sometimes uses some of my razors and all I do is clean them up with soap and water and some scrubbing bubbles.
 
Makes you wonder how humanity ever survived more than a few generations without government regulations to protect us from the terrors of contaminated combs, razors, hairbrushes, etc.? :blink:

Research question : What was the average lifespan prior to the 20th century?
Bonus points : list the 3 major causes of death prior to the 20th century.
 
That post you linked to applies to Barbershops and Nail Salons. My barbershop does not use fixed blade straight razors for this reason.
Instead they use shavette type straights with throw away blade for face shaves and the like, but they are still required to soak the handle and blade holder in Barbicide.

Barbicide is perfectly fine for sanitizing razors in the home. It will kill pretty much anything that may be living on your razors.

+1. Comparing the recommendations at that link and what one needs to do at home is on the same level as asking why your own kitchen isn't sanitized daily to the same standards restaurant kitchens are held to by the Health Dep't.
 
What they're getting at here is the state board expects all shops to be using disposable blades only, it's probably in the shop license law. Barbacide is fine for use on your razors and razor blades in fact it's probably overkill (cringe, waiting for hate mail) for home use if your are the only user. My son sometimes uses some of my razors and all I do is clean them up with soap and water and some scrubbing bubbles.

I would be really worried if my son used my razor.. at 2, he's probably not quite ready to handle it safely :)

I have used my dad's razors as a teenager when I was just starting out - and wouldn't have any hesitation in doing so again and I probably wouldn't bother with more than just a quick rinse under the tap.. but, much as I respect the gentlemen of the BST, the thought of using a razor bought off the bst without a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is worrisome.
 
I would be really worried if my son used my razor.. at 2, he's probably not quite ready to handle it safely :)

I have used my dad's razors as a teenager when I was just starting out - and wouldn't have any hesitation in doing so again and I probably wouldn't bother with more than just a quick rinse under the tap.. but, much as I respect the gentlemen of the BST, the thought of using a razor bought off the bst without a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is worrisome.

I'm with you. In my experience we tend to over disinfect though, but everyone has their own comfort level. I like soap and water and hate those alcohol based hand rubs that everyone touts. You have to do what you're comfortable with. Awhile back one of our members cultured his gear and some gear he'd just received from flea bay and if memory serves it didn't grow anything of note.
 
so I was looking at threads to see how I could best clean and disinfect a few razors that I have bought off the bst, and barbicide kept coming up so I searched for sources here in Ottawa but came across this:

http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/residents/health/inspections/personal_service/barbicide_en.html

the whole page is an interesting read and certainly addresses a lot of misconceptions I had (eg. spray and wipe) but interestingly it states:

“Barbicide” cannot be used to disinfect any part of a shaving razor or blade that contacts the skin (critical items such as blades for shaving are single-use items which must be disposed of in a sharps container immediately after use). The handle and cradle, which hold the blade, must be cleaned and disinfected as a semi-critical item between uses.
Thats quite the shock since everybody here seems to recommend barbicide and I was planning to dunk the razors in barbicide. I can't autoclave them, but what else do you use to disinfect razors and what would you recommend?

I think you may be misreading the page.

The City of Ottawa Public Health Dept is not saying that Barbicide is not a disinfectant.

They are mandating that it not be used to disinfect items that come in contact with the skin.

Big difference.
 
...
... blade that contacts the skin (critical items such as blades for shaving are single-use items which must be disposed of in a sharps container immediately after use. ...

not trying to topic or thread hijack, but I point out an interesting statement in your quote... since I use a sharps container strictly for de blades... and get some "don't use" comments on it...

my guess on your whole original quote is that this section is not focused so much on barbicide exactly (even though it does call it out), but not disposing of critical single use items... vs semi-critical equipment.

edit:
i agree with Mr. Scruffy, but while i was distracted his post showed up!! good determination Mr. Scruffy!!
 
but, much as I respect the gentlemen of the BST, the thought of using a razor bought off the bst without a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is worrisome.

Remember, ookies live ON the metal, not IN it, and 99.whatever percent of such creatures have a very short lifespan in the open air. Once you've removed all foreign substances from the surface of a razor, it should be clean enough to eat off of. All you really need is soap and hot water plus scrubbing bubbles or alcohol/barbicide to dislodge and kill anything left over.
 
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