How do you go about doing this? What process and cleaners do you use? I've never felt good about using a used razor. Thanks.
A used razor is one thing...a used razor blade is something else.
In reality, no blood born pathogen can survive being dried up on a razor for fifty years, let alone a week.
Scrub the razor with soap and water. Use babasol or wipe with alcohol if it makes you feel more secure.
Spores can survive a long time, but they are easily washed off the razor, so who cares?Well, actually, bacterial endospores have survived considerably longer than that. A few thousand times longer, at least. C. Botulinum spores for example, can survive years, if not decades, if not centuries, and still be viable. We simply don't know how long many endospores can survive and be reactivated. We do know, absolutely, that spores have been reactivated after more than ten millenia. And reliable reports of spores retaining viability after more than 3 million years. Yes, you read that right. Maybe a lot more. But the statistical likelihood of acquiring a serious infection from a vintage razor (straight razors somewhat excepted) is, I'll go on record saying, small. Not zero, so disinfect away. But small. Really small.
Scrubbing bubbles w/no bleach wait a minute or two and a light scrub with a very soft brush; then hot water and soak in Dawn (depends on how gummed up and/or dirty) and another light scrub. Hot rinse and soft towel dry. Problem solved.
The first step toward getting passed the aversion to using old razors is to realize that with the exception of SR, the razor doesn't do any cutting...the blade does. The razor is the tool used to hold the cutting edge (which does make our name for them a bit of a misnomer). Once you can separate the two it becomes easier to make a rational jump to cleaning and using your own razors.How do you go about doing this? What process and cleaners do you use? I've never felt good about using a used razor. Thanks.
I probably can't add to or improve upon the resources listed above...view and enjoy!A whole Universe of reading in the forums:
A guide to cleaning and disinfecting razors (with steps)
Now that I have some time on my hands, I think it's a good idea to make a presentation of my own cleaning and disinfecting process. At some point, we will all finally try a vintage or a modern used razor. To feel safe enough to use it and say confidently it's ready, you have to follow a process...www.badgerandblade.com
Can anyone check my plan for cleaning vintage safety razor?
Here are my plans 1. Dish soap and clean with water. 2. Dip in heated water (not boiling). 3. Apply polish and clean with water 4. Using med kit alcohol cloth and clean with warm water. Since I am in Thailand these are only the item that I can find. Polishing Med alcohol kitwww.badgerandblade.com
When to sanitize your razor.
After each shave I wash my razor with a mild soap and a soft toothbrush, dry it and store it. I am the only user of my razors. Any reason to periodically or occasionally sanitize the razors with barbicide?www.badgerandblade.com
Recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing a vintage razor
As some of you might know, I recently acquired my Grandfather's Old Type Ball End. I'm quite happy to finally have this razor as it took me several years of persistence to get it. So what would you recommend for cleaning and sanitizing it? I want to use it, but it's pretty scummy. However, it's...www.badgerandblade.com
sanitizing
Has anybody sanitized their razors etc, in a pressure cooker? :w00t: Wouldn't that be close to an autoclave off steroids? :blush:www.badgerandblade.com
Misinformation on Barbicide
I've been reading some past posts on questions people asked of Barbicide and using it to clean their razors. First off, unless you're really germaphobic, Barbicide is overkill. It's a hospital-grade disinfectant. First off, Barbicide's first ingredient is.... TADA! Isopropyl Alcohol. Sound...www.badgerandblade.com
The much shorter version: soap, warm water, brush, then soak in a chemical disinfectant du jour of your choice. Or not.
Didn't know, "Barbasol" made a disinfectant... I do know Barbicide you should only leave your items in the solution for the required 10 minutes.A quick scrub with dish soap and a toothbrush to remove any solid grime or buildup followed by 15 min in Barbasol mixed as directed. Rinse. Done.
People's fears about using used razors are not science based so any discussion is soon rendered pointless.Wash it off with dish soap and water, scrubbing with a very soft toothbrush.
Wipe it down with 70% alcohol and allow it to air dry.
As somebody upthread mentioned, you are not actually shaving with the razor, but with a clean blade that you will supply.
Contrary to popular belief, neither viruses nor bacteria nor even spores need to be killed; any that actually survived can be washed off the razor.
Old razors are not dangerous from an infectious diseases perspective. And I know it angers some people and I'm not saying this to brag or anything, but I am an infectious diseases subspecialist with 30+ years of experience. I have a bunch of old razors and don't worry at all about using them once they have been cleaned.