old razor strop--how can i clean it?

[kansascutthroat]

hi guys--
i came into an old razor strop from a barber that cut my hair as a boy over 50 years ago. the leather is excellent but the canvas is very dirty. anyone know how i can clean the canvas and what or if i should dress it with something after cleaning? also, he gave me an old henkles no. 15 razor in excellent shape--still shave ready. i noticed that when you check the sharpness with your thumb, the metal has a slight ring to it?? none of my other straights do this. the blade is super thin all the way back to the rear edge. something unusual maybe?
thanks for any help!!!

 

[gugi]

if you want to clean it just wash it and scrub it with whatever detergent you have. the canvas parts are often treated with abrasive of some sort, and you'll loos that.
over time it'll become black again, that's steel and iron oxide particles from the razors.

 

[SavantStrike]

The ring to the razor sounds like it's either a full hollow or an extra hollow razor.

I've never washed a canvas strop, but gugi knows what the heck he's talking about so listen to him, my 2 cents aren't worth as much as his .

 

[zippo]

Ah! the thumb nail test ,the best way to stuff an edge if there ever was one
A razor will be shave ready when you run it over the top of the hair in your arm and take the tips of the hair off, it you keep checking it on your thumb nail you will keep dulling it and therefore never get it shave ready
Kind regards Peter