Thread: Cleaning and maintaining a shaving brush

If you thoroughly rinse the brush after every use and shake out excess water and allow it to air dry you should never have to do anything further. The only caveat there is if you have seriously bad water quality. Then you might need some of the treatment discussed.

I have a badger hair brush I've used for 5 years now and all I've done with it is rinse with hot tap water after use, shake out excess water, gently brush remaining water out on towel then hang bristles down to dry. Have never cleaned with anything and its doing just fine.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Treat them as you would your own hair.
Every 3 months the brushes in my rotation get the best conditioner on the market,,, Paul Mitchell, certain Pantene's,, now I'm using the Pantene Keratin Repair, my badgers seem to like this.

I can't treat my brush as I do my own hair. I really don't know where my hair is. Hair will turn one way or the other. either it will turn gray or turn loose. Mine did the later.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you thoroughly rinse the brush after every use and shake out excess water and allow it to air dry you should never have to do anything further. The only caveat there is if you have seriously bad water quality. Then you might need some of the treatment discussed.

Yes, bad water is the culprit. I had to start using distilled water for shaving and rinsing my brush. If I dont, the calcium and lime in my water make my brush "crusty" after only a couple of uses. Water quality is probably the number one variable on how frequently it is required to clean. If I went 5 years with rinsing in my tap water, my brush would be a single 26mm wide bristle lol

Not everyone needs to clean their brush, or feels it needs to be cleaned. If you are worried about oil build up from pre-shave oil or super fatted shaving soaps or hard water deposit the following will work:

Clean and sanitize a shaving brush

There are many reasons to clean up a brush. No matter how well you clean your brush after shaving, there will be soap residue that stays down deep on the knot and minute hard water deposits building up in the bristles. Cleaning your knots will remove the accumulated soap scum and hard water deposits. Many people report that their brushes are softer and lather better after a good cleaning.

1.Strip the oils from the bristles. You bodies natural oils can slowly build up on the bristles (this is particularly true if you use a pre-shave oil). This makes it difficult for the bristles to absorb water. Using some hand or dish soap work up a good lather with your brush. If this is a second hand brush and you want to be extra vigilant against germs, make sure to use an antimicrobial soap. Let this sit for a good ten minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

2.Clean and sanitize the knot. This can be accomplished by using either vinegar or borax.

◦Using a vinegar solution: Find a small container (something big enough for a brush and a cup of liquid) and place the brush and plain white vinegar in the container. Make sure the knot is fully covered. Let the brush soak for ten minutes and then agitate the brush. Let it soak for 10 more minutes.

◦Using borax: Make up a paste using borax powder and water. Work the paste into the bristles and down into the knot of the brush. Let the brush sit for 24 hrs.

◦You can also use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water or a cup of water with a large tablespoon of borax. Agitate as per the vinegar directions.

3.Rinse extremely well and let dry.

4.Enjoy your revitalized shaving brush!

I give it a thorough rinse after use, letting water run down the breach for half a minute. Squeeze and shake and then let dry. If a brush is underperforming, I'll soak in a mild Dawn solution for about five minutes, rinse, shampoo, rinse and then dry.

Some folks use glycerin solution instead of shampoo but I've found some of my brushes to soften too much when glycerin is used. YMMV.

Alex7,

For me, I clean my brushes (Badger & Boar) about every six months - (I like to use over-fatted soaps, so the bristles get kind of 'greasy' after a while).

I use Johnsons Baby Shampoo to clean. I add a dollop (about a teaspoons worth) into my lather bowl, and make 'lather' with the Baby Shampoo, using water that has ca. 5% vinegar in it, taking care that the knot is full of the 'lather'. I then leave the brush for ca. 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.

Do I need to do this that often - probably not

I have been doing this cleaning regimen for six years, and my brushes still look pristine, so it looks like it is not harming them

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

Some of my brushes are pushing 15 years and I never wash them other than a very thorough rinsing after use and they all look brand new and have no scent on them at all.

I think a lot of this brush washing is similar to strop treatments. The less you do the better.

I found pumping the brush in water up and down as opposed to holding under faucet works better. For me anyways. Other than that I have used shampoo and a 1-6 ratio of vinegar water before with good results. I think the key here is use very very little and rinse well.

I agree with MattCB and Steel - when my silvertip brushes start underperforming, or I remember to, I'll wash them in dish soap and then give them the vinegar treatment. Never had any issues with it and my brushes end up feeling like new afterwards.