Thread: Sanitizing a used straight razor

I have sanitized DE razors several times.

I have read threads on this topic in this forum but I still have a couple of questions.

My personal choice is barbicide as a sanitizing agent.

1) Has anyone had any issues with using this product?

Secondly

I have heard repeatedly that water getting into the handle is not a good thing. Overtime, it will supposedly ruin a razor.

2) When sanitizing a straight razor, do you exercise caution or is it best to do a one time soak of the entire razor.

My thought is if water commonly permeates throughout a razor through poor technique, then so does all the other germs and fluids you are trying to eliminate.

Any thoughts and experiences would be appreciated.

Take care,
Jason

I use Barbicide when I first get a blade & after any honing is done
I only submerge the steel in the solution as it can stain some scale materials blue

this also stops the problem of water or solution egress into the pivot
not problems

I just use dove bar soap.

I use soap and warm water on blades (no scales) after I have buffed them and before pinning.
Anything that was on the bevel is gone after honing anyway and some metal polish gets rid of anything on the face of the blade.
As you can see, I'm not too anal about it for myself.
For other peoples razors, I give them a good dose of metho to kill any grozzlies

Thanks. I guess I am sort of a germaphobe.

Barbicide...make sure you mix it properly....soak it for 10 minutes and only ten minutes and you're done. It's not supposed to discolor scales, but why take the chance, I just make sure the blade's immersed in the stuff - the one or two times I actually felt a blade needed to actually be disinfected.

I agree with Phrank. Barbicide soak is effective. I then do a quick dip in a mixture of rubbing alcohol and some mineral oil before I put the razor away.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Barbicide...make sure you mix it properly....soak it for 10 minutes and only ten minutes and you're done. It's not supposed to discolor scales, but why take the chance, I just make sure the blade's immersed in the stuff - the one or two times I actually felt a blade needed to actually be disinfected.

I've never had Barbicide effect the scales & I've put bone scales in the solution,,, but it was for a 10 minutes approx. not an hour or 2 soak.

I use Mar-V-Cide Spray Disinfectant. It is cheap & comes in an aerosol can. As far as keeping your razor dry after use, I use the canned air that is used on computers to blow out any exta water in those tight places & dry off with a clean towel. I also use Tuf Glide for a lube which is used by Navy Seals. It also helps dissipate water. You can get it from some vendors such as Classic Shaving or even the manufacturer themselves, Gun Cleaning, Knife Care, Gun Care, Lubrication & Corrosion Protection, Rust Stopper, Oil-Free, Sentry Solutions.

I haven't done any more than wipe any oil off of any of the razors i have used, i have been sent a heap of them to try out by a few members here, and even bought one or two.
I have never even considered sterilising them, though i probably should have as i managed to catch imbetigo from a friends cartridge razor a long time ago.
In saying that i probably wont ever bother.