Thread: Cleaning...

Enjoying my first week of shaving with a straight razor! I was able to shave my entire face and not draw blood! I have some razor burn but the neutrogena post shave cream I am trying seems to be working well.

Anyway, My question for everyone is, how should I clean and put the razor away until my next shave? (I am on an every other day shave schedule since I can get away with a little stubble at work.)

the most important thing you can do is keep your razor dry when you are not using it. i also like to strop 20 or so laps after shaving to make sure nothing is left on the edge. some people rub mineral oil on the blade to protect it, but i have found that just drying and stroping works for me

Here is what others have told me: Wipe it dry and store it in a dry palce. Simplistic, I know but it works.

I usually let it sit open and dry for a bit while i brush my teeth or whatever i need to do.

Then i strop 20 linen/20 leather and wipe the blade down with mineral oil.

You probably dont have to do the mineral oil step if you are not in a humid environment, but i am paranoid and it doesnt hurt.


Also. Make sure you dry between the scales too. Just fold up a piece of toilet paper and slide it between.

I dry it as best I can, blow on it especially near the pins, then do 30 laps on canvas, 30 laps on leather and store it open, out of the way in my bedroom. Drying then storing my razor is part of my " wind down " routine from shaving.

Thanks all. Does anyone put alcohol on the blade? Or use some sort of disinfecting? Not that I used to do this with my old Mach 3 or anything...

I dry my razors, close them up and put them back in the case.

I think the only reason I've heard for anyone to use alcohol is as a disinfectant on a "new-to-me" used razor. If you were to use alcohol, then make sure that you use oil afterwards.

I don't know about razor steel, but firearms must have a light coat (wipe on, wipe off) when storing, or rust will form very quickly. All of my razors have some oxidation on them already, and they haven't been getting any worse. All I do is wipe them dry and put them away. (Though I am planning on finding a space for them in the bedroom and not the bathroom.)
J.

Just wipe it down and get all the soap scum off of it. Keep the wiping off the edge of the blade and leave that to stropping (canvass/leather post shave). Be sure to clean up ALL of the blade including the tang and clean up the inside of the scales as well.

If stored less than a week, no special treatment. After more than as week, I guess you may consider using a light oil coating on it to preserve it.

If you have a small bathroom that gets all steamy, then store your razors/strop elsewhere as the humidity will have long term adverse effects on your razors/strop.

Pabster

Originally Posted by jfreaksho

All of my razors have some oxidation on them already, and they haven't been getting any worse.

Have you considered using a reverse humidor loaded with Silica Gel?