Do you take out the blade or leave it in?

[SDJs]

Hi all. It's my habit after shaving to remove the blade from the razor and to quickly clean and dry the lot (putting the blade carefully back into the original paper 'sleeve'), ready for use the next day.
I think I do this because my dad did, and still does, and I copied him, and also because it seems more hygienic. On top of that, I assume keeping the blade dry and clean will keep it sharper for longer.
However, I'm starting to think all this is a little unnecessary as I only use each blade twice. They're so cheap, what's the point of trying to make them last longer, I ask myself. Plus, more handling of the blade means more chance to cut yourself, right? Though I can't remember the last time I did, the handling of a razor blade is something that puts me slightly on edge, like broken glass or something. Call me paranoid if you want.
Plus, of course, I'll save time.

So, I'm thinking about just rinsing the razor and setting it to one side and have done with it

My questions are:

Am I right in thinking that most of you out there do what I do now, or am I in the meticulous minority?
And, do you think I should change my routine and just rinse the razor without removing the blade?

 

[Jtokle]

I do this as well. After my shave is finished and I've rinsed my face and splashed on some witch hazel, I'll take my razor apart and rinse each piece before letting them dry separately. After they're dry, I reassemble it. It's really not necessary since, as you said, blades don't stay in there long enough, but it bothers me just knowing that there are whiskers and soap scum inside of it. I get 3-4 uses out of a blade, which is coincidentally the number of times per week that I shave, so I replace my blade weekly. I just feel better going into a shave knowing that my razor is clean. YMMV, of course. Do whatever makes you happy and don't worry about what others are doing.

 

[alumblock]

With most blades I have seen there is a statement on the packaging about leaving the blade in the razor. There is also a warning about wiping the blade clean, presumably to prolong the life of the blade edge.

Perhaps if you did this you would find that you could get more shaves out of a blade? Just a thought.

 

[Legion]

in the old days (the REALLY old days) Gillette said to remove the blade and dry it after use. This was because the blades were carbon steel, and would rust. I have an instruction leaflet in my 1904 double ring that recommends this.

But these days the blades are stainless, and it is not really an issue. When I do use a safety razor, I just give it a good blast of hot water to get most of the soap and whiskers off, then a shake to mostly dry it, then set it aside until next time. That works fine.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

I take it out, rinse it, and let the razor stay open or apart to dry.

 

[Vickers]

I loosen the razor slightly and run water over the head.

 

[Phillips]

+1

 

[Predict]

I leave the blade in until it's time to change it out. I see no reason to take it out, but to each his own.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I actually just asked this myself the other day here. If you want, I can give you a link to all the times it was asked previously as well. After reading through all the comments on the other threads, it really came down to how OCD are you. With the new blades being SS and coated, there isn't any functional reason to remove it since they usually get tossed after 3-5 shaves. If it's going into a longer term storage/display situation then yeah, don't leave a blade in for that. Otherwise, just give the razor itself a good cleaning when changing blades, rinse well after use, and set it on the stand to dry. Won't degrade the blade itself to any noticeable degree.

 

[LegionPrime]

I take my blade out every time I put a new one in.

 

[ackvil]

It's not necessary to take the blade out after each use as long as you rinse it under hot water. However, I must admit I do take the blade out after each shave, rinse everything under hot water, pat dry, dip the blade and razor head in isopropyl alcohol, and assembly the razor. Totally unnecessary - but then again I'm compulsive.

 

[Vickers]

I put on an anti static clean suit, then Kevlar gloves and face shield. Then I enter my pressurized shave den, disassemble my razor remove the blade, put all items in vacuum sealed bags for transport to a furnace where they are put under hot coals to kill any germs. Then back into new vacuum sealed bags for transport to the cryo freezer to kill any germs that the fire didn't kill. Then they get soaked in alchohol for 45 minutes, then sand blasted, then refinished and reground, then it's time to shave again.........

Coal? Really?

 

[Krogers5791]

I take the blade out when I clean it, But since it is out I place a new one in. I only do this about avery 3 days.

 

[fcdiscus]

I don't think it is a bad habit at all. Stick with it!

 

[ladykate]

If you leave gunk on the blade, it will affect it. Stainless Steel is not stainless. My camping razor is cleaned, wiped, and dried before I put it away. On the few occasions where I didn't do that, the blade was toast within a few days. However, in practice at home, I just wash it and blow it dry with a couple of huffs and let it dry in the stand (for my DE, l loosen the silo doors).

If you are changing blades every few shaves (one poll shows the average to be around 3 shaves) then I don't think it makes any difference at all. Use it, change the blade, use it... repeat as necessary.

With my Feather AC (and clones), I wipe the blade to get the gunk off and let it dry after each shave. I get some amazing life out of them.

 

[TheSC]

I rinse it off with water, shake it off, and blow on it a bit. I give it a nice clean with some alcohol when I change the blade out.

 

[LiveOak]

I take the blade out, fold a dry rag around it to dry it, dry the razor with the rag, and put the blade back in so it's ready for next time.

 

[cdrross]

Whatever works for you is good.
I don't take the blade out. When ever I change the blade (4 - 5 shaves) I do a comprehensive razor cleaning.

 

[Niles]

I usually take the blade out and rinse it off. I keep it out after that since I rotate among using several different razors.

 

[keithmax]

I take the blade out and let it air dry. Before I put it back in the razor I hand strop it. Maybe OCD but the stroping seems to help.