Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    2
    Thanked: 0

    Question Sanitation question on vintage razor

    So after straight razor shaving for over a year, I inherited 4 straight razors from my girlfriend's grandfather (yay!). Two of them are in bad condition, 1 of them is a mustache razor I do not plan on using, but the last one seems great. There is some slight discoloration, especially around the metal near the pivot pin, scales, a few on the spine and a very few amount near the edge. I tried shaving some of the hair on my arm to have a quick and dirty shave-ready test and it appears to be good. I've done a lot by just reading things online but this I am having issues finding an answer to.

    The new blade appears to be honed, so I was just planning on stropping it and shaving with it. I'm slightly concerned with how unsanitary it is though, since I do not know the history of this razor, and the fact that its been in a drawer in a basement for the last 50 years. I do not want to spend the money on getting it restored since there is very little to make it look better than it already does.

    What needs to be done to an inherited straight razor to make it sanitary to use?

    Does honing a blade make it sanitary to use?

    Edit: I have a small amount of experience honing the two blades I had already purchased to shave ready condition (after making numerous newbie mistakes).

  2. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Roseville,Kali
    Posts
    10,432
    Thanked: 2027

    Default

    soap and hot water,good to go

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    65
    Thanked: 2

    Default

    I would think a mild bleach solution would do it, but some veterans here may have a better suggestion or warning.

  4. #4
    Contains ingredients Tack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    SE Texas
    Posts
    1,043
    Thanked: 237

    Default

    GOLD..

    You need not worry unduly, simple cleanliness is usually sufficient. I clean them with dish soap and water, taking an old toothbrush to the jumps. If you wish, you can dip the blade only in alcohol or apply hand sanitizer (which is typically 60% ethanol) being careful not to get it on the scales since it will attack some materials. Steel is not very porous so a good cleaning should do the job. I put a drop of Ballistol on the pivot pin since it displaces water but there are many other products that will work just fine.

    rs,
    Tack

    [edit: the bleach idea sounds good too.]
    Last edited by Tack; 03-06-2013 at 01:48 AM. Reason: addition
    I have great faith in fools - self confidence my friends call it.

  5. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth 1OldGI's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    New Port Richey, FL
    Posts
    3,819
    Thanked: 1185
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    Scrubbing Bubbles (yeah, the bathroom cleaner) works wonders as well and will remove 99 and 44/100% of the bacteria
    The older I get, the better I was

  6. #6
    Senior Member JoeLowett's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    718
    Thanked: 142

    Default

    I personally use marvicide which is bssicly the same as barbercide.... The same stuff your barber uses to clean their instruments. I can assure you this is overkill and just plain soap and water / alcohol would do the trick just as well. However as a creature of excess I sprung for the specific product. If you are in to collecting straights a marvicide jar and solution will prob cost around 25$ looks great in your shave den and serves various other purposes. I clean my brushes in the stuff and it get them nice clean and smelling fresh! YMMV
    ......... Making Old Razors Shine N' Shave, Once Again.
    -"Sheffield Style"

  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    2
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Thank you everyone for the quick reply. I figured it was a simple solution since it is never really brought up anywhere. I will make sure it is nice and clean. Thank you all so much.

  8. #8
    32t
    32t is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth 32t's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    50 miles west of randydance
    Posts
    9,573
    Thanked: 1352

    Default

    I would be more worried about mouse turds or cockroach footprints that who used it last! After 50 years in a basement drawer.

    Clean with soap and water, hone and/or strop and go for it.

  9. #9
    Sinner Saved by Grace Datsots's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Corning, CA
    Posts
    598
    Thanked: 133

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by GOLDD3000 View Post
    Thank you everyone for the quick reply. I figured it was a simple solution since it is never really brought up anywhere. I will make sure it is nice and clean. Thank you all so much.
    Actually it has been brought up several times. But since the only bad question is the unasked question keep asking any you can't find yourself.

    Short answer; bleach/oxidizer bad, 5 min soak in alcohol/barbercide/soap good. Also takes care of mouse cuties. Sterilization - Straight Razor Place Wiki

    Long answer; homework.
    Longest virus can [live|survive] outside the human body
    Popsci How long do microbes like bacteria and viruses live on surfaces in the home at normal room temperatures?
    Wikipedia - Virus


    Jonathan

  10. #10
    Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sweden, Gotland, Visby
    Posts
    1,888
    Thanked: 222

    Default

    The really nasty bacteria you won't find on your razor but on you own skin!
    Soap and water can kill more than people think.
    Hur Svenska stålet biter kom låt oss pröfva på.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •