Life span of shaving brush

[tiberius]

Every 6 months I soak my badger brushes in a citric acid solution to remove soap scum from deep within the knot, as that's what causes breakage/shedding.

Ah great! I'm just looking for information about how to use citric acid solution to clean brush because vinegar takes up too much space, and I don't really like the smell of it. Thinking of citric acid since it's also a weak acid, but I was not sure if it damages the brush.

What's the concentration you used to clean it? I calculated for similar pH value as vinegar and was gonna try for 1/4~1/2 tsp with 250ml water. It could be helpful to know some sure-to-work value.

Citric acid monohydrate costs USD ~2 for 1kg (~650ml) here and I believe it'll be enough for over 200 uses.

 

[nav]

Ah great! I'm just looking for information about how to use citric acid solution to clean brush because vinegar takes up too much space, and I don't really like the smell of it. Thinking of citric acid since it's also a weak acid, but I was not sure if it damages the brush.

What's the concentration you used to clean it? I calculated for similar pH value as vinegar and was gonna try for 1/4~1/2 tsp with 250ml water. It could be helpful to know some sure-to-work value.

Citric acid monohydrate costs USD ~2 for 1kg (~650ml) here and I believe it'll be enough for over 200 uses.

I didn't like the smell of vinegar on the brush either and switched to citric acid.

I use 1/3rd teaspoon in 150ml water.
I haven't found it to damage the hair in any way.

The borax solution is also about the same. It helps refresh and deodorise badger hair.

 

[Capt. Pat]

Wet shaving for decades and never had a badger brush wear out. I've broken a few handles and lost one or two in various moves but never wear out or even look bad. I don't do anything special besides rinse it out after use, shake the excess water out, and let it dry, hair hanging down.

 

[blethenstrom]

Every 6 months I soak my badger brushes in a citric acid solution to remove soap scum from deep within the knot, as that's what causes breakage/shedding.

I expect my brushes to last decades with this process.

Once in a while, I also do a borax solution soak as that keeps the hair fresh and free of any mildew that may form in the humid monsoon season.

That also neutralizes the alkaline soap residue. I like it!

 

[BigJ]

Some of my brushes are more than a decade old and show little sign of wear!!

 

[PintoPlain]

My cheap boar is still going strong. It's pretty much the only brush I have used (aside from trying a few here and there for a week or so) for well over a decade. If anything, it's only getting better. It has seen off many triple milled pucks, tubes of cremes, croaps, Palmolive sticks and even a stick of arko.

 

[bonbon]

Some of my brushes are more than a decade old and show little sign of wear!!

Brushes can be decades old and look like new if an owner owns many brushes and barely uses them

 

[Hawkeye_90]

Thanks for the in I’ll stop worrying about it now.