Thread: drying a brush

Bit like most others I guess. I give my brush a good rinse under the hot tap (hot enough to bare my hands under that is). Then give it a good couple of shakes followed by a 'foof' as Stubear put it. This usually gets it nicely dry. After that I just rest it on top of the soap dish of my shaving scuttle.

I always like to sniff my brushes after drying, I love the nice clean fresh smell of badger. Also it tells me if they've not been dried properly before.

I know this sounds nit picky, but I think I have found a better way to rinse. I used to run water in my shave bowl, and swirl the brush, just like I was making lather.
I have begun 'pumping' the brush in the water. It takes alot less time to get all the soap out.

I rinse mine under the hot water, having small children around the house I have turned the hot water system to the lowest setting, so hot is only around 55C.
I make sure it has a good strong flush out with the hot, then one quick shake into the sink, then flush again, then two quick shakes before a swirl or two in the hand and hang it back up.


Mick

Rinse it clean, then whip it until no more drops come out, then set it bristles up to dry.

Originally Posted by MickR

I rinse mine under the hot water, having small children around the house I have turned the hot water system to the lowest setting, so hot is only around 55C.

Mick

Have you considered the potential bacteria growt in your heater as result of that low temp?
Dont know if regular heating once in a while helps or it be better to install safer taps

Originally Posted by janivar123

Have you considered the potential bacteria growt in your heater as result of that low temp?
Dont know if regular heating once in a while helps or it be better to install safer taps

To be honest mate I never gave it a thought! I just set it at the lowest permissable temp that the heater would allow me too. I expected that it would be a safe heat both for the kids and for the water heater to do its job properly.
I'm going to go down and crank it up overnight now just to be on the safe side.
Thanks for the heads up.


Mick

I will rinse mine untill there is no more lather, shake it , then squeeze the reamaning water out the stand it up to air dry

I rinse in hot water at least 2 times, squeeze out the lather, and shake the brush 3 or 4 times to get the rest of the water out. Capillary action will draw the water from the knot if I put the brush on its flat handle. I used to hang the brush, but it is safer in my house not being hung upside down. And I will comb the brush in order to untangle the bristles. This works well for me with both badger and boar hair.

I don't think I saw this above so will post it ...

I do the rinse thing in my sink with clean warm water, and I rinse by holding the brush between my two palms (not fingers), and alternatingly "pushing" with one palm, and "pulling" with the other to create a centrifugal force effect while in the water. I check the brush by lightly squeezing (NOT pulling) the brush tips ... if there is still lather in the brush, I repeat.

Once rinsed, I repeat the same "centrifugal method" in the open air (either in the shower or over the tub so as not to spray water everywhere). I think this gets rid of 90% of the water before I hang to dry. I don't like slinging or flicking the brush as I think that may contribute to the loose hairs ... at least moreso than the centrifugal method. I've been doing it this way for over a year, and haven't noticed a single lost hair from either my Dovo or Thater.

Anyone else use the "centrifugal method"? My dad used to do this with paint brushes, and I figured it would work with soap brushes.

P.S. Thanks for the confession above re: sniffing the brush afterwards ... I was a closet sniffer, but now I feel I can come out on this!

i usually just give it a run under the faucet the a quick flick into the shower then stand it up to dry. sometimes i dont even bother to rinse it at all and just throw it back in the mug with the lather, this is usually when im either late or just feeling lazy, its just a cheap knot from the golden nib and a home made handle so im not really worried about ruining it at all.

-dan-