What does a badger brush smell of when clean but wet and rinsed?

[Cheapogit]

I bought a Tweezerman (new) some months ago which I posted about at the time, was Oniony, and really dirty (brown water) when I gave it a shampoo wash when I got it home.

Since then it has been used regularly (but I don't have a list that I rotate through, my choice is quite random (but only have 4 to choose from (a.t.m.), so it is regular in use).

Now it performs well, and when in use it is fine, but when rinsed out and on it's stand drying off it still has a slight, but noticable smell of funk, it's not very strong and not really a problem, and when it's dry it goes away and smells of the last soap I used with it, but just out of interest I was wondering if it was normal. (it's currently my only pure badger brush, the rest are either boar or mixes of boar/badger, so I have nothing to compare it to.).

 

[beginish]

If you have a funky smell this many months in, I would be concerned that you have some residue at the base that is not getting rinsed out. You should consider giving it a brief vinegar soak and re-wash with mild dish soap. My well used badgers have no smell at all after the scent from the soap or cream has disappeared.

I follow the method laid out in this thread.

 

[Cheapogit]

How concerned...? It's been washed (with shampoo, as opposed to just with shaving use) since then, once or twice (just to clear soap build up)... But, is it something to really be worried about...? Because it doesn't really affect my use of it. As I say, whilst in use and once dry, it's fine.

 

[Mick]

Should have no scent.

IF you have hard water or water with a high mineral content use diluted vinegar 1 tlb per 2 cups of water

IF your water is soft or "city" water or filtered use borax diluted in water (same dilution as above).

10 min MAX soak with agitation every 30 sec or so then rinse thoroughly and let dry completely

 

[Viseguy]

Should have no scent.

IF you have hard water or water with a high mineral content use diluted vinegar 1 tlb per 2 cups of water

IF your water is soft or "city" water or filtered use borax diluted in water (same dilution as above).

10 min MAX soak with agitation every 30 sec or so then rinse thoroughly and let dry completely

Do as the man says. It shouldn't smell.

 

[erehwesle]

I was wondering about this too. My new basic Badger brush from whipped dog kind of smells like, well a badger. I just got black, not a silvertip, and am only on my second shave. Plus I don't really mind the smell, only the shaving soap and aftershave come out on my skin, and I kind of thought a badger brush would smell badgerish.

I am worried I am not getting it clean. I soak the brush in the sink with hot clean water preshave, and rinse it well with hot, then cool water after. For the time being it dries out sitting on its butt end next to my mug.

Best,
T

 

[Galhatz]

It is normal for Tweezerman, not for any other decent brush.
WSP black Badger lost the smell very quickly and it might be still at that price. It is WAY better brush. Any Omega boar would be better and they cost under $20. Whippeddog also offers excellent brushes for cheap
The Tweezerman was my first Badger product. Vastly overpriced for what it is.

 

[Cheapogit]

It is normal for Tweezerman, not for any other decent brush.

Well that's ok then...

The Tweezerman was my first Badger product. Vastly overpriced for what it is.

I actually don't mind it... it may well be a bit overpriced, but I do find it performs quite well and it's lost very little of it's hair.

(But, my opinion of it may be due to having a bit of an affinity to it, because it was also my first pure badger brush!! )

As to the cleaning... just an update; last night I gave it a real deep clean using shampoo and an old formula proraso bowl and wilkinsons blue bowl soap... so lots of parabens, strong scents and other stuff that'll give it a good disinfecting and deodourising... and I think that it has seemed to help a little... I'll give it another one when it's fully dried off and then see how it goes... (Don't ask me why...but, I'd prefer to avoid using vinegars and washing-up liquids...).

 

[tomcj2]

WhippedDog includes a small packet of OxiClean with every brush or knot that they sell with the following instructions:

ANIMAL ODOR
Badger hair has a strong animal odor when first wet. You can remove much of the odor before your inital use by washing thoroughly in shampoo. Exposure to sunlight helps. You can also try one or both of the methods described below. After several uses the odor will decrease and disappear.

ODOR REMOVAL
Method#1 Soak the brush in Oxi Clean laundry stain remover, or equivalent product, for 2 or 3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly in running water. Repeat 3 more times. Then shampoo well for several minutes, rinse and dry.
Method#2 Spray hair with Lysol several times, allowing brush to dry between treatments.

 

[sychodelix]

If it helps that's good, but I would not avoid the vinegar. As long as it is properly diluted and the brush soaked and agitated no more than 10 minutes (5 would probably be enough),there will be no adverse effects and it cleans far better than just soap. Afterwards, rinse it well and wash it with a little shampoo and conditioner.

Note that these are all recommended treatment for human hair as well, so you should have no qualms about them

 

[kmlavoy]

I am worried I am not getting it clean. I soak the brush in the sink with hot clean water preshave, and rinse it well with hot, then cool water after. For the time being it dries out sitting on its butt end next to my mug.


T

Try and get a brush stand ASAP. They need to drain and the acrylic stands are only a couple bucks.

 

[takeshi]

What does a badger brush smell of when clean but wet and rinsed?

A faint smell of the soap/cream it's being used with.

Try and get a brush stand ASAP.

They need to drain

No, they do not. This is a common topic here. They need to dry but it has not been proving that a stand provides any significant benefit to drying.

 

[Cheapogit]

Well... I gave it the vinegar process today, and I have to say I'm not thrilled with the result, it's not really done much (better that than damage it, anyway), but I'll give it one more pass with it to see if it improves, although, I have to admit it has taken some of the white soap residue away, but still has some remaining... anyway... I'll leave it a day or so and 'process' it again.

 

[brother cavefish]

funk is fine, it was a dead animal with oils and musk

 

[Cheapogit]

funk is fine, it was a dead animal with oils and musk

Well, as I said, I wasn't really worried, it was just that people often mentioned about it supposed to smell of nothing (or at most the product that was last used), so it was more curiosity as to why it is (still) quite funky than anything else, and now has become a bit of a experiment to see if I can get it cleared... (But If I can't without a large number of processes, I'm not particularly bothered).

 

[tjg5181]

I myself have a Tweezerman (out of only 3 brushes) so it is used heavily in my rotation. When I first got it, I had the same issue as yourself (dirty brown/black rinse to it) At first it smelt of "badger" but quickly lost that scent the more I used it. Now as it is wet/drying it has the faint scent of the soaps/creams I've used. I've been very happy surprisingly with the Tweezerman brush. I ordered it on Amazon for only $9 with free shipping via prime, so at that price I'd find it hard to complain

 

[brother cavefish]

Well, as I said, I wasn't really worried, it was just that people often mentioned about it supposed to smell of nothing (or at most the product that was last used), so it was more curiosity as to why it is (still) quite funky than anything else, and now has become a bit of a experiment to see if I can get it cleared... (But If I can't without a large number of processes, I'm not particularly bothered).

personally i dig it, and i am actually surprised it last as long as it does, i would have figured a couple soap ups and bam----

 

[brother cavefish]

I myself have a Tweezerman (out of only 3 brushes) so it is used heavily in my rotation. When I first got it, I had the same issue as yourself (dirty brown/black rinse to it) At first it smelt of "badger" but quickly lost that scent the more I used it. Now as it is wet/drying it has the faint scent of the soaps/creams I've used. I've been very happy surprisingly with the Tweezerman brush. I ordered it on Amazon for only $9 with free shipping via prime, so at that price I'd find it hard to complain

i got my kid one of these, sweet little badger brush