Thread: Does wiping the razor between a washcloth dull the blade?

As long as you keep a slight stropping motion with the blade and don't apply too much pressure, I wouldn't worry too much. I never rinse my blades.

i always rinse my blades,in fact on my shavettes it clearly says not to wipe the blades,but i always dry my straight razor in the way you described

I just use a stropping motion on the cloth. personally I wouldn't be pressing on the edge any.

I generally rinse but if that doesn't get it all, I use a stropping motion on washcloth or sponge.

I lay the razor spine first on the cloth and then pinch it between my fingers not too close to the edge and just run back an forth on it with not too much pressure and staying away from the very edge. haven't had any probs doing that, thats usually for polishing with autosol though. when shaving I just do the stropping motion on the towel like the other guys say.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I just use a stropping motion on the cloth. personally I wouldn't be pressing on the edge any.

I think this is good enough to be repeated. I also try to discourage people from rinsing their blades for two reasons. Rust issues and blade dings from contact with the faucet.

An old barber recommended me never to use a cloth on the blade, but only paper. The blade could catch in the cloth and chip.
In fact sometimes you can have microchips in the edge that easily catch the cloth fibers. Though a stropping motion could be safe enough.