Sanitizing old Brushes

[Dave Colangelo]

I have been collecting razors for some time and every time I get a new one I like to sanitize it in a bit of barbicide which I am completely comfortable does the job. Recently I have obtained some vintage brushes while razor hunting and I would like to give them a shot. I have no idea where they have been or who has used them so like the razors I would like to sanitize them. How do I do this?

in Barbicide? (I would assume this cant bee good for the bristles)
in boiling water? (also may not be great for the bristles)
in rubbing alcohol?
in just hot water?
a simple water rinse?
UV light (I dont know where I would have access to this though)

Does any one know how the brush makers actually sanitize their stuff?

Regards
Dave

 

[MrLara]

pics of said brushes?

If you still don't feel comfortable using those after you sanitized them. You can always re-knot them, which is usually what people end up doing.

 

[Dave Colangelo]

I actually just finished re-knoted one for my father and it came out great. The brush was my grandfathers then my fathers then mine. By the time it got to me the knot was so dead I could barely use it. I re-knoted it for my father for fathers day and he loved it.




For reference in order from left to right
Semouge Owners club (current), Ever-Ready 100 (the one I just re-knoted for my father(the picture is before doing so)), Made Rite Pure Badger , Every ready PB500 (knot is now cut out to be replaced), Erskine A98

The brush in question is the Made Rite pure badger. It has some of the loft left (just enough to use) but its losing hair and kind of smells funny. The handle is in great shape and Im sure Im gong to re-knot it soon but I would like to clean it off and use as is for now. I think the real issue is that I spoiled my self with the Semouge, its to nice and so soft that when I used my old Edwin Jagger Boar brush it seems terrible considering I used it for so many years.

Regards
Dave

 

[mmack66]

I do a few lathers with shampoo and/or soap before I try vintage shaving brushes, though I have yet to find one that had enough backbone to be usable.

 

[MrLara]

some nice brushes right there sir.

thanks for the pics.