Shaving involves a lot of hot soapy water, that's good enough for me.
How do I sterilize a razor?
- Thread starter icedoverfire
- Start date
I clean mine in Scrubbing Bubbles, and then soak it in Barbicide every time I change my blade.
are we talking about sterilizing a used razor that you've bought? If so, an autoclave would be the best way, but who has access to one, other than medical professionals? For the rest of us, Barbicide Plus is the way to go. Mere alcohol will not kill many viruses, including HIV or tuberculosis, nor will simply boiling the razor. Barbicide Plus will. I scrub the razor with a toothbrush and dish soap then soft scrub to remove any grit, then soak in BP, which is a tuberculocidal, virucidal, fungicidal, and germicidal agent and has a rust inhibitor in it as well. I rinse it well in hot water and let it thoroughly dry before using it. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only safe way to sterilize a used razor at home.
Glutaraldehyde kills just about everything if you are a germaphobe. Might be pricey though.
I just use the hot water-toothbrush-Q-tip method to clean - then soak in rubbing alcohol for about 10 mins. This should CLEAN the razor enough to use. I have boiled one or two in the past, but not any more.
+1.. and the obvious buff down with a dry cloth to prevent rust, then again I use a straight made of carbon steel
Sorry, Craig, but the way you've stated this is just not true. Firstly, tuberculosis is not a virus, it's a bacterium. Secondly, HIV does not survive well outside the body; once the envelope is completely dessicated the virus is no longer replication competent. So, by the time a razor finds its way from an antique store or e-bay to your home, HIV is already dead, and therefore does not need to be killed, just washed off.
A bag in the autoclave is not too unusual really.
I'm not sure if there's another thread on this topic but would a good procedure for sterilizing a razor be:
Sterilizing is not the same as sanitizing, as simple as that, and the OP did ask how to "Sterilize" a razor.
Duh. If you mean "instrument bag", say so. If you say "baggie" someone is going to think you mean... baggie.
- Thread starter
- #29
A lot of good answers in this thread, which I'm sure will be useful to others in situations different from mine.
In my own case, I apologize for being vague at the start of this thread. The razor in question is a Merkur 34C HD. I want to know how to sterilize it in case I wish to sell in in the future if I get another razor.
To my knowledge, a Merkur 34C HD does not have any sort of finish on it, so I believe boiling isn't out of the question (although as stated, boiling WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED for razors with a finish). I brought up using a pressure cooker because from doing some lab work during this break, my supervisor would use a pressure cooker to sterilize some compounds we used (he didn't have the money or necessity for an autoclave.... long story), so I figured that the same sort of pressure cooking method could be applied to sterilize a razor. A rinse with Scrubbing Bubbles and/or Barbicide or Marvycide and/or Alcohol is not out of the question. Of course, having access to an autoclave would be the best possible method of sterilizing a razor.
- ice
In my own case, I apologize for being vague at the start of this thread. The razor in question is a Merkur 34C HD. I want to know how to sterilize it in case I wish to sell in in the future if I get another razor.
To my knowledge, a Merkur 34C HD does not have any sort of finish on it, so I believe boiling isn't out of the question (although as stated, boiling WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED for razors with a finish). I brought up using a pressure cooker because from doing some lab work during this break, my supervisor would use a pressure cooker to sterilize some compounds we used (he didn't have the money or necessity for an autoclave.... long story), so I figured that the same sort of pressure cooking method could be applied to sterilize a razor. A rinse with Scrubbing Bubbles and/or Barbicide or Marvycide and/or Alcohol is not out of the question. Of course, having access to an autoclave would be the best possible method of sterilizing a razor.
- ice
First off, you don't need to sterilize it, unless you're in a Clean Room wearing gloves and a mask and immediately transfer the razor to a hermetically sealed bag.
The second you touch the razor or lay it down on a surface, it's not sterile anymore.
What you need to do is clean it. Nasties don't live IN metal, they live ON it. Wash them off the surfaces and you're good to go - Scrubbing Bubbles or gentle cleanser to break up soap scum, and hot water to rinse it all awya.
The second you touch the razor or lay it down on a surface, it's not sterile anymore.
What you need to do is clean it. Nasties don't live IN metal, they live ON it. Wash them off the surfaces and you're good to go - Scrubbing Bubbles or gentle cleanser to break up soap scum, and hot water to rinse it all awya.
A pressure cooker is good enough on it's own - it's the same as an autoclave used for surgical tools and alike. It'll kill anything, scrub off any grime and give it a good blast with one of them and you'll be fine
When I buy a used razor, I go through the following process;
24 hour soak in scrubbing bubbles
2 hour boil in CLR
Soak in Barbicide for 2 days
Scrub with toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol and MAAS for at least 60 minutes
48 hours in the Autoclave
Another 1 hour boil in CLR and Vinegar
Just to be safe, I hit it with a Propane Torch with a full Rosette Tip.
I've done this with the 376 Razors I bought.
I now have 2 razors in my collection, but they don't seem to shave worth a darn.
Or you could just wash it with soap and water, soak it in scrubbing bubbles and concentrate on shaving.
24 hour soak in scrubbing bubbles
2 hour boil in CLR
Soak in Barbicide for 2 days
Scrub with toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol and MAAS for at least 60 minutes
48 hours in the Autoclave
Another 1 hour boil in CLR and Vinegar
Just to be safe, I hit it with a Propane Torch with a full Rosette Tip.
I've done this with the 376 Razors I bought.
I now have 2 razors in my collection, but they don't seem to shave worth a darn.
Or you could just wash it with soap and water, soak it in scrubbing bubbles and concentrate on shaving.
Simple answer: you don't. Best way to "sanitize" razors is to use antibacterial soap (quaternary ammonium) and water. I even question that this would be of much help if the razor has not been used in a long time and it is not rusted, which you probably would not want to use on your face anyway.
Al raz.
Al raz.
Actually the Merkur has a chrome finish (and a pretty fragile and poorly applied one at that.) According to Merkur, simply using tap water in some areas is enough to damage their garbage finish. Do a search, someone had a Merkur's finish start to erode and Merkur blamed their tap water, rather than a plating defect for the finish coming off...
Do not over-use Barbacide. Stick with ten minutes or less, diluted according to directions. This stuff will permanently stain (and sometimes remove) nickel finish. Trust me on this one. I know whereof I speak. More is less.
I soak mine in Lysol for 10-15 minutes, rinse off, then soak/wash in warm water with dish detergent for 10-15 minutes and some cleaning with an old toothbrush. That's it.
I spray my razors with scrubbing bubbles and allow them to set for about ten minutes. Then I used a toothbrush and go over it thoroughly, while the scrubbing bubbles is still on it.
I wash them off with tap water, spray again, and let it sit for another ten minutes.
Then I let them soak in 70% isopropyl for about twenty minutes.
I do this when I first get them and about once a month.
After each shave, I just rinse the razor with hot water and then pour some more alcohol over it and put it back in the toothbrush holder.
I wash them off with tap water, spray again, and let it sit for another ten minutes.
Then I let them soak in 70% isopropyl for about twenty minutes.
I do this when I first get them and about once a month.
After each shave, I just rinse the razor with hot water and then pour some more alcohol over it and put it back in the toothbrush holder.
If you know someone who's a tattoo artist - they usually have an autoclave. (or at least we hope they do).
I find this level of germophobia to be, quite frankly, amazing.
And I'm an infectious diseases subspecialist with 22 years experience taking care of people with serious, horrible, life-threatening infections.
I wash with dish soap and water, then spray on some scrubbing bubbles, after a couple of minutes scrub with a toothbrush. Then I rinse it and dry it off. Finally, I wash with 70% isopropyl and let it air dry.
Then, I shave with it.
Remember, it's the razor blade that cuts the hairs, not the razor-blade HOLDER, which is what a razor really is.
And I'm an infectious diseases subspecialist with 22 years experience taking care of people with serious, horrible, life-threatening infections.
I wash with dish soap and water, then spray on some scrubbing bubbles, after a couple of minutes scrub with a toothbrush. Then I rinse it and dry it off. Finally, I wash with 70% isopropyl and let it air dry.
Then, I shave with it.
Remember, it's the razor blade that cuts the hairs, not the razor-blade HOLDER, which is what a razor really is.
+1 here
