Brush Cleaning.
- Thread starter mje9
- Start date
Opinions vary. Some probably rarely if ever clean a shaving brush. Most including myself just rinse well and let dry after each shave. Occasionally if I see some soap build up that rinsing doesn't clear I will give it a good cleaning. I just use some good shampoo or a little dish soap. Check out the Wiki for a proven method:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/How_to_Clean_a_Shaving_Brush
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/How_to_Clean_a_Shaving_Brush
its soap it cleans, just rinse out well and let dry with bristles hanging down-- never let the knot/handle itself soak in water, just submerge it and shake around in the water , i always fill my sink and give it a good submerged swish and shake off and then rub on a towel then hang to dry
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- Thread starter
- #5
apple cider or white distilled vinegar?
shavewiki, which was linked in post 3, shows white distilled vinegar.
i didn't notice the pic...good thing I used white.
Other than when new I don't really clean my brushes. When new I use tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner to make sure its clean. Then I just give a good rinse in hot, then cold water. I've never had a problem doing this. I also have really soft water.
Alot depends on your water hardness. I have really bad water, and need to clean my brush from time to time. My Truefitt and Hill actually starts to feel scritchy and dries clumpy when it needs a clean. Last shave, I noticed my Vie Long wasn't loading well, and I have a suspicion it needs a clean too.
To clean, lather the brush with dish soap or shampoo, rinse, then soak in white vinegar (I don't dilute) for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse until it doesn't stink of vinegar.
To clean, lather the brush with dish soap or shampoo, rinse, then soak in white vinegar (I don't dilute) for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse until it doesn't stink of vinegar.
+1 on the hard water issue. I have seen a few brushes now that have been damaged by someone having hard water and not cleaning their brush. Be careful with the "it touches soap it doesn't need to be cleaned," attitude because that's definitely not true at all. The soap will leave deposits over time and will need to be removed from the knot. The link posted earlier is a great way to clean a brush, and I use it all the time with good results. The white vinegar doesn't make it smell too bad, and one lather with a good fragranced soap should take care of that.
Really, the vinegar will rinse out with plain water. It's like deliming a coffee pot and then running 4-5 pots of clear water through it to get rid of the vinegar. But you are right, one lather with something with some scent will do it.
When soaking the brush, does it hurt for a wooden handled brush to be soaked with part of the wood submerged? I would think that wouldn't be good for the handle. And if not, how do you get the hard water build-up that is near the base of the knot? I have very hard water and almost all wooden handled brushes.
I dont' know, but that fear is why I haven't bought any wood handles.
When I was new and using creams with my well water I was left with a lot more residue and cleaned them regularly using the Dawn and vinegar soaks. I find that soaps, especially glycerin soaps, don't leave as much residue. I now use the Dawn/vinegar clean maybe once a year. Every couple of months I may lather up a brush on a Neutrogena face bar to do a quick clean. It seems to work just as good as the other method and takes less than a minute since the soap is already in the bathroom.
I use an old soft toothbrush in an upwards motion around the base. I only notice that kind of buildup with creams.
I use an old soft toothbrush in an upwards motion around the base. I only notice that kind of buildup with creams.
most of the commercial wood handles and smart wood handle makers stabilize the wood, (impregnate the wood with acrylic glue or the like) i have had such a wood handle for 17 plus years and the epoxy gave out before the wood did, but it was the way it was not to say others will last that long or longer, an acrylic may crack for what ever reason or last for years, honestly get the brush you like, and care for it
