Tips for Cleaning Razor Cases

[Pioneer]

Hey all, looking for any good tips for cleaning vintage razor cases: Most specifically I'm wondering about the 1) insides 2)outsides 3)trim of razor cases? For the inside, I use making tape to pick up any loose debris - any other ways to clean that interior? For the outside, I've been afraid to use anything more than a wet rag - is ordinary dish soap harmful or do you use something like Armor All? For the metal trim, is it ok to use Maas on it? Any tips would surly help - maybe we could even create a sticky? - thanks in advance.

 

[gearchow]

For felt lined cases, I tend towards gently blowing debris out with just the pressure I can generate from my lungs. Tape may lift off the felt, which I will fix if necessary with small dabs of cyanoacrylate (super glue).

Also shaking - I had a small key fall out of a case. I guess it was placed there as a safe place.

-jim

 

[Pioneer]

How about the outside-
Anyone ever try Armor All on the outside? Or is it just mild detergent? Maybe a leather cleaner on some old cases...

 

[gearchow]

I wouldn't use Armor All, but a damp cloth lightly used and maybe if you desire, some nice clear wax. I've used shoe wax in the past, but I can well imagine that there is a better type.

I think the best preservation is just keeping the collectible in a nice environment.

-jim

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks for your input, gearchow. I'm going to go ahead and try a little mild detergent and forgo Armour All. I blew 'em out a little and making taped them just a touch. Might try to polish the trim - or not. I guess the less you touch them, the better.

No one else had any advice to share??

 

[Maul555]

I too am interested in this... I am about to receive a vintage GEM felt lined leather case... i was thinking about taking a damp micro fiber cloth and dabbing the felt innards with it... i am not sure of the leather outside though... any input would be appreciated.

On the plastic case for my SS I just soaked it in chemicals and scrubbed with a brush, no big deal.

 

[ghostknife]

For all my cleaning of felt and velvet lined cases I used a small ~1" wide clean/new paint brush I had lying around, it worked great. Swish it around in there liberally, left, right, round in circles and it never damaged anything, got all the dust and crud right out of there, I also use a damp q-tip if there was a stain or mark just to pluck up the fibres a bit and try to remove any in-ground dirt. Heres the before and after on a #58.

Also I found a lot of the case insides just lift out which makes the cleaning easier, they might have been stuck in there a while but gently does it and you'll feel if it is loose or not.

On the outsides I used a leather restore/protect spray I had, doesn't seem to have done any harm so far. On the vinyl or plastic cases I used that 303 Aerospace protectant I had for the car, it cleans and seems to do a pretty good job with no adverse result I can find (so far).

Hope that helps .

EDIT: oh yeah on the plastic cases I use Meguires plastic polish products, it's supposed to be for your car dash but hey it works, removes marks and scratches and everything, be careful though some of those old plastic cases are very brittle and excess pressure WILL crack them more.

 

[luvmysuper]

I've found that saddle soap works quite well for the exterior of leather and vinyl / leatherette type cases.

A slightly damp Q tip works pretty well at picking up stuff in the felt lined case interior creases, seams and corners where just blowing them out doesn't work.

Flitz polish works quite well on the polystyrene cases.

 

[gearchow]

For all my cleaning of felt and velvet lined cases I used a small ~1" wide clean/new paint brush I had lying around, it worked great. Swish it around in there liberally, left, right, round in circles and it never damaged anything, got all the dust and crud right out of there,

For cleaning inside plastic cases, I will use an old shaving brush, soap and warm water to get into all the nooks and crannies.

I've found that saddle soap works quite well for the exterior of leather and vinyl / leatherette type cases.

A slightly damp Q tip works pretty well at picking up stuff in the felt lined case interior creases, seams and corners where just blowing them out doesn't work.

Flitz polish works quite well on the polystyrene cases.

+1 on the saddle soap, but I don't have that many nice (intact) leather cases. Most of them I think that the next time I touch one of those is the time they will go - POOF - into dust.

I'll have to try polish on the polystyrene ones (I use flitz). Is hazing something that you can polish off or is it (like I've been thinking it is) something changed within the plastic itself?

-jim

 

[ghostknife]

I'll have to try polish on the polystyrene ones (I use flitz). Is hazing something that you can polish off or is it (like I've been thinking it is) something changed within the plastic itself?

-jim

Mostly I've found it polishes up OK, the hazing is like oxidation on the surface of the plastic (I think), I've also used Aussie version like flitz and that works well too, the plastic polish is more for scratches/marks

 

[gearchow]

Mostly I've found it polishes up OK, the hazing is like oxidation on the surface of the plastic (I think), I've also used Aussie version like flitz and that works well too, the plastic polish is more for scratches/marks

BTW, I forgot to say Super nice #58 case. Doesn't have a touch of the measles.

-jim

 

[drandall]

for leather, there are few things better than lexol. it's extremely mild and when followed up with the leather conditioner, it's a real leather restoration kit

 

[Pioneer]

These are all great tips, thanks to everyone. Lucky for me I've got some Lexol to try (use it on my shoes).

 

[maxman]

I recently started using Meguires PlastX plastic polish.
It works very well. It hasn't got the yellow hazing out of the plastic, but it does an amazing job on getting out the old dirt and making it look shiny.
before that, I used Flitz.