Use a sponge to clean razor

As always at least when your starting off, if something goes wrong, there may be many different sources of the problem. So I'm trying to eliminate variables here.

Before useing a straight, I would fill the sink with water and shake my disposable in the water after a few passes to clean the razor, but for a while after switching to the straight, to avoid possibly hitting the razor on the side of the sink, I would just leave the faucet running to clean the straight after a few passes. Then I saw a video on the internet that shows uses a sponge to clean his straight, which I thought was pretty interesting.

Now I can't tell you why, but in the beginning shaving with the faucet running and the noise of it, sort of disoriented me and after trying to shave with it off theres just something about the sound of shaving, that cutting hair sound that sort of gives you that extra feedback that your executing the shave right. So I'm set on shaving in silence to get that extra sensory reception.

Anyways I could just turn the faucet on and off during the shave to clean my razor or use the more convenient way of a simple wipe over the sponge. Now after the first two shaves using the sponge to clean my razor, I've experienced what might be considered razor burn (face was a little red). So I might have been shaving too rough, using to many passes, not stroping good enouph,........but also there might be a dirty sponge imparting something that I'm immediately transferring to my face.

I clean the sponge every time before I use it and since the beginning I've used a sponge I specifically bought to use as my "razor cleaning sponge." So I was wondering among thoughs that might do this, has there ever been any thoughts, concerns, experineces... in this regard?

i use a sponge to wipe off the blade.... MOST sponges you buy are anti-bacterial.... if you clean it out and wring it out... and put it somewhere that it will dry and not stay wet you shouldn't have a problem.....

honestly the issue with the razor burn is probably the same one i have..... being ham *(heavy pressure) handed and the razor needing to be freshened up a bit.....

Could be a couple things on the razor burn. Many sponges come with built in detergents, particularly to prevent bacteria build up. All of them (unless they're naturals) have some sort of chemical make up, and that could be irritating your face.

Only you can tell if you're technique is to blame.

Personally, I rinse the razor with short spurts of water, or I wipe it with my finger. The water doesn't hurt the edge, and the finger I'm careful enough with that I know it doesn't hurt the edge of the blade either. It is possible, however, that your wiping technique on the sponge is degrading your shaving edge and therefore resulting in razor burn.

Only you can really say.

Peace,
Jim

If your worried about the sponge stop using it and see what happens. You can just wipe the edge on a towel to clean it during and after the shave if your worried about hitting the sink or faucet. Unless you are using some industrial use sponge I doubt that is your issue. You can always buy a natural sponge too. Could be you are dulling the edge on the sponge.

Instead of using the sponge many people use just a normal towel. You can toss it over your shoulder and wipe your blade on it whenever you need. After it's dirty simply throw it in the wash and grab a new towel.

As for the burn there are several potential factors as I see it...
1. Razor Sharpness
2. Technique
3. Soap or Cream used
4. Unknown irritants

it's possible that #4 could be caused by the sponge, the easiest test is to stop using the sponge to see if you still get the irritation. I have always considered sponges a breeding ground for bacteria so I wouldn't recommend using one, that being said if it's a shaving only sponge it's probably not the actual cause (I still wouldn't use one myself lol). I would say the most likely culprit is that your blade needs a little touch up. Second most likely cause would be the soap or cream you use.

Well I starting to lean towards not using a sponge. I mean I wouldn't use a sponge from the kitchen. I already use a razor cleaning specific sponge, but just in case I do go through the motions of cleaning it before I use it. And I was actually thinking that even that was possibly making me get a little irritated. The sponge might have a residue of some cleaning agent and that is irritating my skin. Even if it doesn't do anything that act of cleaning it every time is not worth it.

I like the towel idea, but for reasons I also stopped the sponge method, it might be dulling the blade. I wonder if just a wipe lengthwise, not perpendicular like when shaving, would dull the blade?

I guess its better to just turn the faucet on every so often. That way your also heating up the blade which I've heard is good.

I noticed in Lynn's DVD, he uses a towel to keep wiping off the blade. I heard that wiping the blade can dull it, but I assume Lynn knows better than most of us and he still does it. I use a very soft paper towel or just water, but I worry about hitting the sink when putting the razor under the faucet each time.

I use a rubber cup to clean my razor. Works fine and after shaving i rinse him whit wather.
http://www.razorandbrush.com/bol.jpg

I use the palm of my hand in a semi-stropping motion to clean the blade.

Hey knife

Me I just hit it under the faucet with quick burst. These has multiple effects one it cleans the razor off and two if for some reason you put the blade under the faucet and the lather and hair don't come right off it likely means your lather is to dry. Now as to hitting the faucet with the blade I could see that if you don't give the blade your full attention and we have all at least heard of someone doing it. However to me I am really anal about what I do with the razor from the moment I take it out. So if I am stropping, shaving or rinsing the blade it has my full attention. With that being the case I haven't ever came close to hitting the faucet with any of my razors.

As far as hitting the sink goes, I'm comparing it to when I used to use disposables and how I would fill the sink with water and dip my disposable in the water and shake to take the hair out. I woudn't want to do that with a straight razor.

I see. I actually did that for awhile with my straights didn't have any issues with it but I think that really depends on how deep you sink is. I stopped doing that when I moved and my sink was shallower.

Oh my God, don't talk to me about bad sinks. I have the worst sink in the world for a straight razor shaver. Straight razor shaving requires more conterspace compared to any other single action performed in front of the sink by like a factor of at least 2 and I have no counter. I have a sink on a stick is what I have. One of those fancy monolithic sculpture looking roman column wannabe of a sink. And ist shallow. Its horrable, I have to put my shaving supplies on the toilet.

At some point I bought a razor that the seller had waxed. I noticed that it rinsed much better than any of my other blades. I got some RenWax and waxed my other blades, and now they all rinse very easily under a quick burst of tap water.

I've found that using Camellia oil does the same thing. After every shave and after the blade is thoroughly dry, I apply the oil. Then when I use the razor a week or so later to shave (I rotate my razors), I leave the Camellia on. The soap/cream from the shave rises off easily under a faucet.

Before I used to wipe off the oil, then had to use a sponge to get off the soap. But by leaving it on, I no longer need a sponge. Makes everything just a bit faster! And slicker.

I just use the back of my hand, near the thumb to wipe the blade. Once I'm done, I'll wipe the blade dry (carefully, of course) with a piece of toilet tissue.

I was distracted today, however, and have a nice half-inch cut on my hand now... whoops!

As for red face, were you getting this prior to using the sponge? As others have posted, it could be anti-bacterial chemicals. Otherwise, it could be a slightly dull razor.

EDIT: Duh, wrote razor instead of sponge in there...

Instead of shaking the razor side to side like a disposable to rinse it clean, have you tried up and down (Gently so as not to get water everywhere) under the stream of water? I find that usually gets 90% of it off the first time.

Otherwise I'm getting in the habit of keeping a towel nearby like others have said. Use a gentle touch when wiping it so as not to kill the edge and you're in business.

Pinch the blade between your thumb and index finger and wipe parallel to the blade edge. You won't damage the edge, and will clean the blade. You can then rinse your fingers, OR you can set the spine on a towel before pinching the blade, and everything comes off on the towel. No harm done to the cutting edge.

A burst of water under the faucet will also clean the edge, and the drips of water left on the blade will help keep your face/lather moist as you shave. Just don't hit the faucet. The other day my wife asked a question as I was shaving and I tapped the faucet pulling the razor out. :gaah:

No chip, but it blunted a small spot on the razor. I was nearly done so I finished up with it anyway and then put it with my hones for the next time I honed up a batch.

It's important to be careful with these things. They can cut you, and they can be taken out of shaving order relatively easily. BUT, sometimes I think we go overboard with our caution. Unless you drop it, or knock it against the sink so as to take a chunk out, you'll be fine.

The real focus needs to be on figuring out the irritation and eliminating it.