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  1. #21
    Senior Member blabbermouth niftyshaving's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BladeRunner001 View Post
    ...snip...
    but over time, tends to form deposits on the scalp (due to soap reacting with excess minerals in hard water to form insoluble calcium and magnesium salts, which need to be cleaned out once in awhile). Borax (technically calcium bicarbonate) allows for exchange of the Ca and Mg with Na ions, making this more soluble and easy to rinse off.
    Additional info....
    "Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound,"

    So while not calcium bicarbonate the point is correct that the sodium
    replaces Ca and Mg making the soap scum soluble/ mobile and
    the Ca and Mg boron compounds are more soluble so they
    all rinse down the drain.

    Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and common table
    salt can also help mobilize the soap related deposits.

    Prevention is important.... rinse well, shake to near dry and
    then air dry.

  2. #22
    Str8 & Loving It BladeRunner001's Avatar
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    My bad...I the time I wrote it, I was thinking Baking Soda (rather than Borax)...

    Quote Originally Posted by niftyshaving View Post
    Additional info....
    "Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound,"

    So while not calcium bicarbonate the point is correct that the sodium
    replaces Ca and Mg making the soap scum soluble/ mobile and
    the Ca and Mg boron compounds are more soluble so they
    all rinse down the drain.

    Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and common table
    salt can also help mobilize the soap related deposits.

    Prevention is important.... rinse well, shake to near dry and
    then air dry.

  3. #23
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    I've often times thought about why some guys seem to have so much trouble with their brushes getting all gunked up. I've wondered whether its because of hard water issues or a lack of cleaning or they make their lather too concentrated or a combination of those things. I rotate between 5 brushes but 2 are pretty new so for years I have used the same 3 and I've never had a build up problem. I'm pretty fanatical about rinsing my brushes after use and shaking the excess water out.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  4. #24
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    I have had the same brush for thirty years and I have never washed it. I just rinse it, shake it into the tub and hang it upside down. It looks and performs great. I use shaving soap and water when I use it I don't see how it could get dirty. Am I missing something?
    Kurt

  5. #25
    Senior Member leadduck's Avatar
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    Never...............

  6. #26
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    I don't wash mine either. I bought one at Hoffritz For Cutlery in the early '70s and used it exclusively for over thirty years. After about 30 years the knot fell out and I siliconed it back in. Still have it and use it once in awhile. Anyhow, I washed a couple of second hand brushes I bought off of the bay but I've never washed any others. Not against it, just never felt the need.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  7. #27
    what Dad calls me nun2sharp's Avatar
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    I figure if its dirty, it's dirty with soap. I will rinse out the old soap just prior to the next shave. A used or brand new brush may be a different story.
    It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled. Twain

  8. #28
    Well Shaved Gentleman... jhenry's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RaiderShaver View Post
    I was curious if you are supposed to clean your shaving brush every now and then. I saw some brush cleaning tablets at classicshaving.com and it got me wondering. So does anyone clean there brush? If so, how and how often? Does it improve the quality of the shave any?
    I clean my brushes every month by immersing them in a bathroom sink of warm water and hair shampoo.
    "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Mark Twain

  9. #29
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    I have never really cleaned any of my brushes. I just thoroughly rinse them, flick out the water and hang them. Occasionally I rub the wet brush on an alum block to kill any bacteria and make sure it is well rinsed prior to using it again.

    Regards,
    Neil

  10. #30
    Senior Member blabbermouth niftyshaving's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thebigspendur View Post
    I've often times thought about why some guys seem to have so much trouble with their brushes getting all gunked up. I've wondered whether its because of hard water issues or a lack of cleaning or they make their lather too concentrated or a combination of those things. I rotate between 5 brushes but 2 are pretty new so for years I have used the same 3 and I've never had a build up problem. I'm pretty fanatical about rinsing my brushes after use and shaking the excess water out.
    I am with you and suspect that a lot of this is just being fussy but not all.

    A good shave brush will last decades. Simply using it keeps it clean
    for me.

    .....But like kitchen sponges -- if you rinse them out after you use
    them they last ten times longer than if you don't rinse them out.

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