Thread: Any of you used shave stuff buyers worry..

...about disease? As a health professional I would. Diseases like hepatitis B can live for 7 days on a counter top let alone used razors, brushes (these could house bacteria for much longer), mugs, or strops with blood remnants or bacteria on them. I'm betting the overwhelming majority of used shave items are not truly sterilized. Not trying to be an alarmist and I can't prove anyone has ever contracted a disease from used shaving items. However, all the ingredients are potentially there, especially blood remnants. I would love to browse through flea markets for used shaving stuff but I have to admit I'm hesitant to do so.
The only reason I bring this up is to give all forum participants here a heads up and to say "be careful out there". The most likely dangerous disease you could come in contact with is hepatitis B which, for some people, is not too big of a deal but for others...well, lets just say many of them are not with us anymore. And if you would happen to nick or cut yourself with a razor that someone else shaved with just a few days ago bacteria or pathogens of any kind could easily be transmitted to you.
Perhaps Dr. Moss or another knowledgeable forum participant could comment more expertly on this and maybe offer some suggestions on how shaving accessories could be sterilized or at least disinfected. I know many Ebay items are advertised as "sterilized" when in actuality they are disinfected and there's a huge difference between the two. And I'd bet that many items are neither sterilized nor disinfected regardless of the way they're advertised. Maybe I'm being a bit of a "Chicken Little" about this and I'm not trying to "rain on anyone's parade". But it does give me reason for concern. Comments?

Tom

You bring up a good point. All of the used DE razors I have purchased have been submitted to a good scrubbing, then to a 15-20 minute rolling boil bath, then steeped in alcohol for a half hour. Any of the straights that I have bought used have been wiped down with alcohol, and sprayed with Clippercide.

RT

Used str8s I buy get scrubed and polished, then dipped in Barbicide. Boiling would damage the scales. I give blood (whole blood, plasma and platelets) on a regular basis so I watch risks to my health. I'm also a "Panel cell" donor. They use enzymes in my blood to help match organ donors to recipients to reduce rejection.

What is clippercide? How is it used? Who sells it and how much is it?

I only have 2 comments:

1: I worry about parents "disinfecting" their kids too much giving them less resistance to bacteria ...
2: I worry about Doctors and medical people messing up as this has killed far more people over the years than an individual using a used razor which might have any bacteria on it.

Dunk it in 90% alcohol if you are that insecure..

Hoekie

edit: was not awake, removed typos

Originally Posted by HoekmanX

I only have 2 comments:

1: I worry about parents "disinfecting" their kids too much giving them less resistance to bacteria ...
2: I worry about Doctors and medical people messing up as this has killed far more people over the years than an individual using a used razor which micht have a bacteria on it.

Dunk it in 90% alcohol if you are that insecure..

Hoekie

I have to say I agree with HoekmanX. I realize there is a theoretical possibility of contracting any number of illnesses from a used razor but I think it is GROSSLY overexagerated. I think we have become an overly cautious society. I have things running around in my body that my doctors have not been able to identify. Although I haven't delved into the exciting world of used shaving items, I would have no qualms about using them if some minor precautions like the ones mentioned by rtaylor and wopman' were taken.

Louis

Originally Posted by HoekmanX

I only have 2 comments:
1: I worry about parents "disinfecting" their kids too much giving them less resistance to bacteria ...

Well, the AMA and CDC seem to agree with you. The overuse of antibiotics has led us to crisis in many areas where resistant strains of bacteria like MRSA are running rampant and taking lives. Doctors are now prescribing fewer of these drugs.

Still, with razors and such it seems wise to use one of the products mentioned prior to first contact with your strop or skin.

I am not a Doctor.

Originally Posted by RAM

What is clippercide? How is it used? Who sells it and how much is it?

Clippercide is made by the manufacturer's of Barbicide, but it comes in a spray can. I paid about $7 bucks for my cann at Sally's Beauty Supply, and it should last well over a year. I also spray my straights after each use. Search on Google for other suppliers.

RT

Well, nice desinfecting bath makes 1/3 bleach, 1/3 alcohol, 1/3 water. I read this here. dunk the razor for couple of minutes there and you are safe. Just watch the scales. And ofcourse, use some common sence. I spray 96% ethanol alcohol before each use, after stropping.

Nenad

Originally Posted by straightman

I know many Ebay items are advertised as "sterilized" when in actuality they are disinfected and there's a huge difference between the two. And I'd bet that many items are neither sterilized nor disinfected regardless of the way they're advertised. Maybe I'm being a bit of a "Chicken Little" about this and I'm not trying to "rain on anyone's parade". But it does give me reason for concern. Comments?

As far as I know, this issue was addressed a long time ago. Long before our time. Barbicide has been in use for ages and takes care of this problem. Razors, scissors combs, just about anything barbers use gets soaked in it, and it kills anything living. it complies with all health codes through out the country. You may have heard that str8 shaving has run into ptoblems with health codes. That was because of strops and brushes; razors and scissors and such have always been handled effectively by Barbicide.

Anything I buy, I subject to a good cleaning, and I finish up with a good soaking spray with Clippercide. This is an aerosol made by the Barbicide people and it too kills anything living, including specifically hepatitis. It is made for electric clippers and also includes a lubricant. So my razors end up lubed and disinfected.