If you buy a used brush what is the best way to make sure it is as clean as it can be?
Just wash it, disinfectant or how?
Thanks
Just wash it, disinfectant or how?
Thanks
Used Brush - Disinfect?
- Thread starter roughasabadger
- Start date
I received an old brush in the post this morning and right now it is sitting in a mug of Barbicide.
Be careful about boiling brushes, it can often ruin them.
Be careful about boiling brushes, it can often ruin them.
I too have been wondering about this. If I recall correctly, I have read that soaking the brush in Borax cleans off the debris. I have also read that soaking the brush in a diluted white vinegar solution is good for killing bacteria etc. I have also read that Barbicide is too harsh fro brushes, but that Marvicide is OK.
What do others think about this? Thanks for the help.
What do others think about this? Thanks for the help.
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Personally, I just do a very thorough washing with soap and water, then let it sit to sun dry.
I have LOTS of used brushes and don't have any problems.
Then again, I'm not a squeamish kind of guy.
Most of the boil it, burn it, autoclave it, soak it in alcohol, barbicide, bleach, vinegar and then wash it in borax kind of folks are a bit paranoid in my opinion.
But, that's just my perspective.
I have LOTS of used brushes and don't have any problems.
Then again, I'm not a squeamish kind of guy.
Most of the boil it, burn it, autoclave it, soak it in alcohol, barbicide, bleach, vinegar and then wash it in borax kind of folks are a bit paranoid in my opinion.
But, that's just my perspective.
+1 The UV light from the sun will kill germs.
You stand a better chance of getting sick after 5 minutes touching things in a grocery store.
I'm going to stand on the slightly-squeamish side of Phil's opinion here, and say it's probably a good idea to disinfect your own, single-owner brushes once in a while in a nice, diluted vinegar or borax bath. Say, every 6 months? You're essentially creating a Hilton Suite for bacteria in your shave brush, so it's not crazy (IMO) to clean it every once in a while. With that in mind, I typically do the same for second-hand brushes I received. Quick wash with some Dawn dish soap, a quick soak in a Borax bath, and then a decent soak in some MWF lather.
I'm fairly certain, however, that boiling, soaking in pure alcohol/barbicide/bleach etc is just a good way to ruin a brush. DILUTED vinegar (maybe a couple splashes in 2 cups of water) or borax (couple teaspoons in 2 cups of water) is all I've ever used, and I got that tip from Uncle Mantic59.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks guys. I wouldn't say I was squeamish either but I think I'll go along with soak brigade just for good measure.
My wife is a microbiologist. No, she's not tiny or anything. Anyway, she influences some of these opinions (admittedly not without bias).
I'll have to say I'm a bit more in Phil's camp.
My dog eats food out of my mouth.
If I drop edibles on the floor, I employ the 3-minute rule.
I don't get sick any more often than my more squeamish friends, perhaps less.
Well, never can underestimate the role of luck!
But I figure that contacting a brush used by someone else can't be worse than touching their skin.
- Bill
My dog eats food out of my mouth.
If I drop edibles on the floor, I employ the 3-minute rule.
I don't get sick any more often than my more squeamish friends, perhaps less.
Well, never can underestimate the role of luck!
But I figure that contacting a brush used by someone else can't be worse than touching their skin.
- Bill
next time you get a vintage brush or razor, why don't you have your wife take a culture and see what grows out. might be interesting to see if any pathogens grow.
sounds like you and george carlin came from the same neighborhood:
"so personally, i never take any special precautions against germs. i don't shy away from people who sneeze and cough, i don't wipe off the toilet seat, and if i drop food on the floor, i pick it up and eat it. even if i'm at a sidewalk cafe. in calcutta. the poor section. on new year's eve during a soccer riot...."
While I do agree that if you buy a used brush it probably should be cleaned and disinfected, I would not go over board either. As far as my own personal brush goes, I've used one for 28 years up until a few weeks ago when I rebuilt my old one. All I ever did in that time span was to wash it out with water when I was finished shaving and let it air dry. I never sterilized it or disinfected it, and I have never had any problems. Who knows....... Maybe that's why I am the way I am 
i think the main reason for the borax and/or vinegar is to remove residual soap scum that might shorten the longevity of the brush. there are nice videos of this on em's place website: http://www.shaveinfo.com/videos/brush_cleaning.htm
