Thread: Help! Stains on brand new razor after first shave!

Yikes! I just finished up my first shave and noticed there are already "stains" on my brand new dovo razor. During the shave I would quickly hold the blade of the razor under running water to rinse it off and periodically dried it on a clean towel. After the shave I wiped it off a final time and noticed the stains. What did I do wrong, and how do I fix it?!

Hi again, DJ.

Whether stainless or high carbon, these guys will spot, corrode, and pit if you look at them wrong. The DO require a good rinsing, then a careful wipe on a wet cloth or toilet tissue - to get all the soap scum off - which initiates spotting and rust. Most guys seems to strop after a shave as well as before, and here the strokes on the linen/fabric part helps get any microscopic chunga off the blade. After the wet wipe, a dry wipe, stropping, you can take mineral oil with some vaseline mixed it (to keep it from pooling up and leaving sections uncoated). Others use commercial or traditional oil products such as camilla oil, available at SRD and elsewhere.

To get water spots off, a pencile eraser w/ a dab of metal polish such as Maas or Mother's aluminum wheel polish will get the spot off. If you blades have goldwash on them, these metal polishes will take it off on the first try - so be careful w/ goldwash.

Any of the metal polishes will take off the stains. But, be sure not to get any on the etching because the abrasive will take it off.

Couple questions, your first shave? Did you cut yourself? a hint of blood left on a blade for a minute will stain it bigtime.
Was it Humid? were you perspiring? salt water will do the same in a heartbeat.
Do you use an alum block?
Instant corrosion.

I've had stains like that on my Dovo BQ at the tang and tail.It sat unused for 2 weeks and when I took it out there was a light brown patina on tang and tail.This is what I used to remove it,with no damage to the etching.

MidwayUSA Rust Lead Remover Gun Cleaning Cloth

Since your stains are close to the edge and at the heal I would fold the cloth double or triple on a hard surface and use a stropping motion to take the stains off.

Always rinse your razor under very hot water after use. Then use tissue, toilet paper, paper towel or any other paper product to wipe it down. I don't use any type of towel as the final wipe because although you cannot feel it, there may be moisture on the towel. If the paper product is wet or has any moisture, it is easy to see.

If you can avoid it, don't store your razors in the bathroom either. One of the most humid rooms in the house and the constant change of humidity and temperature can really speed up corrosion. Just remember staining is the start of corrosion.

You should be able to remove those stains without much trouble. Be careful of your fingers and the edge.

After I wipe mine down after a shave (after it's dry), I will use a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol and wipe it down. It seems to get the remaining soap scum/hardwater stains off for me. I had some corrosion on mine and a nice polish cleaned it right up. I don't know if the rubbing alcohol is a do or don't, I did wind up having slight corrosion on mine, I don't know if this was due to the rubbing alcohol, humidity in my house, not being completely dry, or what.

Just don't let it sit on there forever! Take action soon and you should be alright!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Couple questions, your first shave? Did you cut yourself? a hint of blood left on a blade for a minute will stain it bigtime.
Was it Humid? were you perspiring? salt water will do the same in a heartbeat.
Do you use an alum block?
Instant corrosion.

Yes, was my first shave. I didn't intend to do the whole face, but part-way through I realized I was out of disposable razors so I just took the plunge and did the whole face. I cut myself once but that was with the tip of the blade not the heel; no stains there. Wasn't especially humid, but maybe my styptic pencil residue got on the blade.

Originally Posted by pinklather

Hi again, DJ.
To get water spots off, a pencile eraser w/ a dab of metal polish such as Maas or Mother's aluminum wheel polish will get the spot off. If you blades have goldwash on them, these metal polishes will take it off on the first try - so be careful w/ goldwash.

Thanks I'll give that a try.

I used to worry about things like that but don't anymore. As long as it's just some water type spots or mineral spots and it's not rust I just leave it until it starts to bother me (which can take years) and then some simichrome cleans it right up or some cape cod cloths.