Cleaning a safety razor

Alex7 said:
What's annoying to me is that I get limescale after every shave. I think I have hard water.
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It's probably just a bit soap "scum" some soaps leave a residue. You are using a tool, basic cleaning will keep it pretty much tip top.
You cannot use something and keep it pristine, you keep it looking as handsome as it can be.
Please dont get hung up or anxious about how things look. We all know "to use a razor is to love a razor."
I have been the 1st man or beast to use a 50yrs plus old razor since it left the factory. Bought them on the fly for peanuts or from collectors that just look at them.
In my house they get a barbicide bath for 10mins, a rinse, a blade then used. I can actually hear them say "thank you TC that's what I was made for";)
 
Tony'schin said:
It's probably just a bit soap "scum" some soaps leave a residue. You are using a tool, basic cleaning will keep it pretty much tip top.
You cannot use something and keep it pristine, you keep it looking as handsome as it can be.
Please dont get hung up or anxious about how things look. We all know "to use a razor is to love a razor."
I have been the 1st man or beast to use a 50yrs plus old razor since it left the factory. Bought them on the fly for peanuts or from collectors that just look at them.
In my house they get a barbicide bath for 10mins, a rinse, a blade then used. I can actually hear them say "thank you TC that's what I was made for";)
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I get limescale on the handle, where I don't get so much soap.
 
If the soap scum bothers you, simply take the razor apart, rinse the top cap, base plate and handle in clean water, and simply wipe dry with a soft clean cloth. Then re-assemble the razor.

Don't be tempted to clean the blade - just run it under water, and place it on some tissue paper while you're cleaning the razor parts.

BTW, . . . . Stay away from the vinegar . .
It has no place in the routine cleaning of your razor whatsoever . . . . . It will have a detrimental effect on your razor sooner or later.
 
I rinse with cold water between shaves and shake dry. Usually I rotate razors when I change blade; before I put a razor into storage I give a good rinse with cold water, and use a cotton pad to dry and remove any residue. We are lucky and live in a soft water area. Once I cleaned a Merkur VISION with our hand held steam cleaner, as I was passing that on.

I only use my razors, so there is no need to clean as if they were a surgical instrument. Water and soap are effective cleaners; in many instances a razor should be self-cleaning, where soap and water are used. That's possibly why a good rinse in cold water after should be enough. If you live in a hard water area I'm not sure at what point limescale may become an issue.

I love the notion of YMMV in wet shaving; each to their own. I think someone earlier said don't over think this - that can apply to many areas of wet shaving. I also agree that chemicals should be avoided, unless you are sure those won't damage your razors.

All the best,

Chris
 
Ferry-shave said:
I rinse with cold water between shaves and shake dry. Usually I rotate razors when I change blade; before I put a razor into storage I give a good rinse with cold water, and use a cotton pad to dry and remove any residue. We are lucky and live in a soft water area. Once I cleaned a Merkur VISION with our hand held steam cleaner, as I was passing that on.

I only use my razors, so there is no need to clean as if they were a surgical instrument. Water and soap are effective cleaners; in many instances a razor should be self-cleaning, where soap and water are used. That's possibly why a good rinse in cold water after should be enough. If you live in a hard water area I'm not sure at what point limescale may become an issue.

I love the notion of YMMV in wet shaving; each to their own. I think someone earlier said don't over think this - that can apply to many areas of wet shaving. I also agree that chemicals should be avoided, unless you are sure those won't damage your razors.

All the best,

Chris
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Spot on, Chris

While I appreciate that Alex wants to keep his nice shiny razor shiny, there has to be some practical limits when the job is done to a satisfactory level., and no more effort is required.

I had a chrome finish Merkur Futur, that looked absolutely amazing when clean.
It took no more effort to clean than a regular three piece razor with a quick rinse and dry with a soft face cloth.
 
Use it.
Rinse it.
Dry it with a soft towel.
Find something actually worthwhile to worry about.

Pardon my abruptness; but all this talk of Barbicide, toothpaste and sterilising is shite. The blade cuts you; not the razor. Like others, I've used vintage razors for years. Each time one comes in the post - hot water rinse and dry. Then, see above. My face has yet to fall off with lurgy.
 
I haven't read any of the posts in this thread other than the original question.
A razor is just a bunch of metal.
Every now and then it's worth giving it a brush (I use an old toothbrush) and a dunk in surgical spirit (I have a 1 litre jar that I fill with surgical spirit from Boots.)
Job done...inexpensive and totally antiseptic.
 
Loosen the cap - slosh it around in hot water - rinse and put it back on the stand

Every few shaves I take it apart and spray it with bathroom APC, clean the parts with an old toothbrush, rinse it and reassemble.

I slosh the blade through soapy water and rinse, if it looks really clogged.
 
Alex7 said:
I've also been told to never use vinegar on a safety razor. What do you guys think?
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I think vinegar goes on chips

Really, it's as simple as soapy water and an old toothbrush once in a while, if rinsing and wiping down isn't getting to the nooks and crannies

It's not as if you're cleaning the crown jewels or precious artefacts
 
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