Question about cleaning a brush

[Quixotica]

I've read several articles on cleaning a shaving brush, but there's one question I had that didn't seem to ever specifically get answered in any of them (at least that I saw).

If I have a knot that's set to a lower loft, should I be concerned about cleaning the hair that's inside the handle? Is there a specific way to clean this part of the knot, or will that clean out along with the rest of it during the normal cleaning process?

 

[Omak]

No answer for you, sorry. I am interested to hear the response though.

I imagine there will be a few responses that say you don't have to clean the brush, some people have brushes for 20 years and never cleaned them. So I'd venture to guess that it doesn't so much matter. But if you're looking to clean the brush it matters to you.

 

[heybatter]

Yes, I believe that it is important to clean close to the knot, but more as a daily process. The knot is where lather can dry more easily and possibly lead to brittle and broken hairs. I make it a point to push in close to the know when cleaning the brush after shaving, to get as much lather out as possible. As far as maintenance-type cleaning, I don't do anything specifically to the knot during this, I am hoping that the vinegar bath is doing what it needs to do to dissolve leftover lather and soap particles, etc....

 

[TonyJ]

I shave with two passes. After lathering face last time before grabbing the razor I clean the bowl with fresh water. Squeezing brush under running tap water to get rid of the lather. Filling the bowl with clean water and soaking the brush. Then shaving last pass and at the end I will give a brush a final quick soak under running water again. Squeeze, towel dry the handle and hang dry. In 4 years any of my brushes have not collected any kind of soap/cream mist over the handle. I remember some youtube shaving videos where can easily seen black brushes where handles are starting to turn more like a white due to improper cleaning. I don't focus to clean inside the handle. Once a year I give my brushes a shampoo cleaning and conditioner treatment.