How often do you clean your brushes?

[huntmol]

Ok, I'll admit. This thread got me intrigued.

I had always assumed that most guys clean their brushes once in a blue moon, but apparently I'm in the minority!

So, how about it? How often do you clean your brush?

If you've just started wetshaving, then how often do you plan to clean your brush?

*by "clean" I mean a thorough cleaning - borax, vinegar, shampoo, etc*

 

[masonjarjar]

Um, I only have 2 boars. I just make sure I rinse them really well and shake 'em and wipe 'em on a towel a few times. Not sure what else would really be required. If I had a $294904 brush I might feel differently.

 

[Emmett]

If it smells like shave soap, I shampoo it. Then it smells like clean animal hair again. Shave a while. Repeat.

 

[Schwert]

If it smells like shave soap, I soak it in my mug of hot water and lather it up again.

Then it smells like a different shave soap.

Cleaning, why?

 

[huntmol]

If it smells like shave soap, I soak it in my mug of hot water and lather it up again.

Then it smells like a different shave soap.

Cleaning, why?

+1 That's how I feel! Shave soap smells incredible! I love when I've used Harris Marlborough for a while and my brush picks up the scent.

I do think the cleaning issue is more of a hard water thing, though.

 

[Alacrity59]

I clean the handle when the soap scum builds up but I'm in the shaving soap I use every day cleans it well enough group.

 

[BROWNS]

If it smells like shave soap, I shampoo it. Then it smells like clean animal hair again. Shave a while. Repeat.

You must by crazy!! (Joking of course)

I love when my brush smells like my soaps, I was excited when it finally quit smelling like a wet dog. When I start to notice soap scum on the base I'll clean it (which I've only done once in about three months).

 

[_JP_]

The whole idea behind cleaning the brush is that soap scum builds up on the hairs, just like it builds up on your razor and in your sink. Some people find that cleaning the brush improves it's performance.

 

[cooncatbob]

Never.
Why would I need to clean it?
Shaving cream is a cleaner, I rinse my brush wring the water out and give it a good shake then hang it up.

 

[plaidman]

My tap water is quite hard so I find soap scum builds up noticeably in 2-3 weeks. I can go without washing for longer but I find the brush absorbs water more quickly and easily when it's clean.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

The whole idea behind cleaning the brush is that soap scum builds up on the hairs, just like it builds up on your razor and in your sink. Some people find that cleaning the brush improves it's performance.

I've found the opposite, cleaning it means it takes longer to get a decent lather, but maybe I'm just weird ;-) LOL

Tom

 

[kzoo1]

My tap water is quite hard so I find soap scum builds up noticeably in 2-3 weeks. I can go without washing for longer but I find the brush absorbs water more quickly and easily when it's clean.

What about the hair on your head? Is that full of soap scum too?

How do you get your hair clean?

Just kidding (unless you are walking around with a head full of soap scum!)

I'm with the others who believe our brushes get cleaned with every use. I have an old boar brush that I used with gooinacan for many (10+) years, never washed it per se, and never saw a degradation in performance, even after I switched to proper shave soap!

YMMV and WWFY (whatever works for you)

 

[infotech]

When I feel my brushes are operating up to par, or there is a lot of soap build up which turns out to be a couple of times a year, but no set schedule.

 

[infotech]

What about the hair on your head? Is that full of soap scum too?

How do you get your hair clean?

Just kidding (unless you are walking around with a head full of soap scum!)

Funny. I'm laughing here, really I am.

Just kidding

Shave soap/cream is a different animal than shampoo...

 

[plaidman]

What about the hair on your head? Is that full of soap scum too?

How do you get your hair clean?

Just kidding (unless you are walking around with a head full of soap scum!)

I'm with the others who believe our brushes get cleaned with every use. I have an old boar brush that I used with gooinacan for many (10+) years, never washed it per se, and never saw a degradation in performance, even after I switched to proper shave soap!

YMMV and WWFY (whatever works for you)

Haha I imagine I would if I washed with shave soap. =P

Do you have/use hard tap water (you're from Kalamazoo IIRC (or does your name deceive me?), kinda close to me)? Maybe I'm not rinsing the brush enough when I'm done with the shave to get the residue off. I rinse it for a good 30 seconds swirling it on my hand and inverting it so the bristles are facing up, until I don't see any whiteish soap coming off.

Off topic, I spent a few years in the UP for college. "Just south of heaven" is right, yah.

 

[andrew98]

If I feel a brush is developing a soap scum problem I wash it diluted vinegar (per Mantic's recommendation). I'm in the "once in a blue moon" camp, though.

-Andy

 

[Maher]

Never.
Why would I need to clean it?
Shaving cream is a cleaner, I rinse my brush wring the water out and give it a good shake then hang it up.

+1 ditto, I will clean only when I sell the brush

 

[huntmol]

Glad to hear everyone's input! From recent posts I've read, I thought for sure that others cleaned their brushes wayyy more often than I did.

 

[Bit2]

Never.
Why would I need to clean it?
Shaving cream is a cleaner, I rinse my brush wring the water out and give it a good shake then hang it up.

Listen to the guy who MAKES brushes, he knows.

John