Thread: Rinsing a brush when done shaving

It's intersting to see how opinions differ on such a relatively straight forward matter, turning it into not such a straight forward matter! It's one of the reasons that make this forum so addictive and such interesting reading.

Personally, I rinse my brushes out in hot water, squeeze the remaining soap out rinse again. I then shake out the water and sort of strop them on a towel to dry them. They then stand upright ready for next time. I don't use a stand to hang them.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's yucky to me. It's like never rinsing your dishes out after you eat.

I rinse until every speck of soap is out and then some.

I agree.
If we don't rinse our shaving brush then let's don't rinse our tooth brush or don't rinse our bath sponge !


Absolutely unacceptable for me,is a basic hygiene rule !

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Pixel, I swear I saw something move in that second brush,,,,

Maggots John,they add to the shaving Experiance

Soap is easy to get out of boar brushes, badgers, especially with a big knot are harder. I rinse mine in the sink, then open the shower door just enough to insert my arm and shake the dickens out of the brush. Usually this does the trick, if not, rinse and repeat. Been doing this for years, with no detriment to my brushes.

When I rinse out my brush I rinse it out under running warm water to get rid of most of the soap. Then I fill the cup with water and swirl it around a lil bit. I then rinse it out under running water. Shake it a few times, then pat/ rub on a towel...... Maybe shake it one more time for good measure.....then place it back on it's stand to air dry. Works for me thus far.

I spoke to a brush maker with more than 30 years experience. "Brush maker" as in "makes his own knots". He told me to always carefully rinse my brushes after use. We are talking about high quality badger hair brushes here, mind you, not easily replaceable $5 Chinese import knots which probably are not worth the bother in the first place.

Step one: Never drive lather into the core of the knot. Some people swear by "mushing" or "pumping", but if you have to resort to either action while using a badger brush, you either bought a sub-standard quality knot, or your lather making process is faulty. Lather ought to be built with the tips of the brush, and the tips only. After all, "lathering" is "agitating a detergent in water", and that requires adding oxygen. Which does not happen if your lather is mostly in the core of the knot. Additionally, completely removing soap residue from the core of the knot is far more difficult than removing it from the tips only.

Step two: Use water that is as hot as your hands can handle it, no more. Badger hair consists of protein which will denaturate if exposed to heat. Rinse the brush under running water by (if you are right handed) holding its handle in your right hand, and its knot in your left. Gently twist the handle while fanning open one part of the knot at a time. Repeat.

Step three: Hold your left hand under running water, and massage the rest of (if any) the soap from the brush by swirling the brush in your palm. Repeat.

High quality badger brushes are known to have survived more than twenty years of daily use by following the above instructions. And yes, that seems like a very Germanic way of doing things (and it is), but personally, I tend to trust engineers when it comes to questions of materials science.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Soap is easy to get out of boar brushes, badgers, especially with a big knot are harder. I rinse mine in the sink, then open the shower door just enough to insert my arm and shake the dickens out of the brush. Usually this does the trick, if not, rinse and repeat. Been doing this for years, with no detriment to my brushes.

Me too. My new brush came with a plastic stand and when it's gone i'll just stand mine upright and let it dry like that. Also I keep hearing about knot size. next time i'm at my friend how know more about this than me i'm going to ask him about the knot sizes. I've only delt with 3 brushes in my life so it will be interest.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Soap is easy to get out of boar brushes, badgers, especially with a big knot are harder.

I would beg to differ. The bigger the brush, the easier it is to clean. Because the tips are longer, thus minimising the risk of, or need for, driving lather into the core of the brush. The one below is the easiest to clean of all my brushes. And yes, it is slightly bigger than most brushes.

Last week I cleaned my brush for the first time in a year.
I rinse after every shave but never thought to soak it in vinegar water etc.
Its now a different brush, I thought it had backbone but that was just old shaving cream coating the bristles .
Now its super soft and fluffy

Originally Posted by JOB15

Last week I cleaned my brush for the first time in a year.
I rinse after every shave but never thought to soak it in vinegar water etc.
Its now a different brush, I thought it had backbone but that was just old shaving cream coating the bristles .
Now its super soft and fluffy

Does that rank like vinegar or what?