Thread: sanitzing used shaving brushes

Does anyone have suggestions for a cheap way to sanitize a used shaving brush? Will rubbing alcohol work ? The type of hair would be super badger.

Thanks to all for the great advice.

I'm sure someone with more experience in the brush department than me will chime in but if I recall correctly you should be ok with just washing it with a mild detergent. I'd be worried about alcohol damaging the hair. The type of brush might help with an answer as well.

i'd go with 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water.. soak for 10 minutes and dry on a sunny window sill.

Personally, I wouldn't use a used brush but that's just me. I guess an anti bacterial soap would do the job. A good washing and soaking in it should get out as much as you are going to get out. I wouldn't use anything stronger than what you would be willing to put on your head.

For washing any brush I use 20 Mule Team Borax, that seems to strip off all the old soap scum even from your own brushes...
After that I use my regular shampoo and conditioner in the shower

I haven't had a bad reaction to any of this yet... But Like TBS I don't really go for used brushes

20 Mule Team Borax, great idea. Thank you.

Well my shaving brush was my late great grandfather and when my gram (his daughter) gave it to me i washed it with shampoo like 3 times to get it good and clean and the the hairs softened up, its not that i was worred about using gramps old brush its just i wanted to make sure it was good and clean before i used it. Use dial soap (its antibacterial) swirl ur brush on the soap cake and then use ur hand to work the lather into the hairs, rinse and repeat .do this untill you feel ur brush is clean.

http://http://www.shaveinfo.com/vide...h_cleaning.htm

Taken from emsplace. Hope it helps.

+1 on the borax. BTW, I've bought a few used ..... lets call them "pre-owned" brushes from forum members on one forum or another. I probably wouldn't buy one from ebay, an antique shop or flea market but it would depend.

+1 to the Borax...Great stuff. There's a vid on the internet somewhere of a Woman cleaning a shaving brush with Borax. You can also use Barbacide if you were so inclined.
It comes in handy, and if you get the old fashioned glass jar with metal lid, it looks kinda cool too....