Thread: How I'm Sterilizing My Razors

Originally Posted by carazor

Hepatitis B is the more resilient one. And according to some sources can live at least 7 days outside the host. Remember, these are only the RNA stains that are know. There could be Hep F, G, etc that are mutated or even other RNA viral materials that are not currently known. Think about SARS, that was an RNA virus that was discovered in 2004. Viral things can be pretty scary.

From the CDC:

How long does the Hepatitis C virus survive outside the body?
The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days.

tis better to be safe or sorry?...

HCV is transmitted primarily through large or repeated percutaneous (i.e., passage through the skin) exposures to infectious blood, such as
Injection drug use (currently the most common means of HCV transmission in three United States)
Receipt of donated blood, blood products, and organs (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992)
Needlestick injuries in health care settings
Birth to an HCV-infected mother

HCV can also be spread infrequently through
Sex with an HCV-infected person (an inefficient means of transmission)
Sharing personal items contaminated with infectious blood, such as razors or toothbrushes (also inefficient vectors of transmission)
Other health care procedures that involve invasive procedures, such as injections (usually recognized in the context of outbreaks)

Originally Posted by KrazieSj

No. Some things like Hep C can survive for months on surfaces and require some pretty hefty stuff to kill it. Soaking it in Hydrogen peroxide (3% or higher) for 15 minutes will kill anything off that's on there.

We have PerCept wipes for our prehospital sanitation.

No

Originally Posted by carazor

Hepatitis B is the more resilient one. And according to some sources can live at least 7 days outside the host. Remember, these are only the RNA stains that are know. There could be Hep F, G, etc that are mutated or even other RNA viral materials that are not currently known. Think about SARS, that was an RNA virus that was discovered in 2004. Viral things can be pretty scary.

From the CDC:

How long does the Hepatitis C virus survive outside the body?
The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days.

Correct per medical education.. There are Hep A, B, C, D, E,and G. No F.

All that being said, if you are restoring a razors, the gringding and polishing will remove anything on the blade. Dont share blades. Do clean old scales.
Remember.... If it's wet and not your's, don't touch it!!!
Paul

Originally Posted by carazor

From the CDC:

How long does the Hepatitis C virus survive outside the body?
The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days.

This must be the single best reason to have a large rotation of straight razors. Mine is currently about 2 months, but perhaps I should increase it a little, just to be safe

Overly paranoid if you ask me! I hone and use any new or old razor the same day I receive it..

Originally Posted by Blix

Overly paranoid if you ask me! I hone and use any new or old razor the same day I receive it..

My wife is a surgeon. She tells me all the time, 'men are macho, till they come see me....'

My graduate work was in chemical engineering and biochemistry. You might say we understand the risks in my household. The little extra prevention required to be safe greatly outweighs the risk of being wrong. If you don't believe me, visit the hospital and talk to a liver transplant patient who contracted hepC in some easily preventable way.

I think anyone who hones razors for others should have an autoclave. They cost $400.

Originally Posted by carazor

My wife is a surgeon. She tells me all the time, 'men are macho, till they come see me....'

My graduate work was in chemical engineering and biochemistry. You might say we understand the risks in my household. The little extra prevention required to be safe greatly outweighs the risk of being wrong. If you don't believe me, visit the hospital and talk to a liver transplant patient who contracted hepC in some easily preventable way.

I think anyone who hones razors for others should have an autoclave. They cost $400.

I see you, but I still think it's way over the top.

Q-fever. Can survive up to 5 years in direct sunlight in dust. Extraordinarily resiliant little bastid that one and ridiculously infectious when airborne.

On the original topic, I do agree it's wise to be cautious with other people's razors. Paranoia might be effective but once it's sterile, it's sterile. If your routine works for you and you're happy, good. There's no need to change anything if you're happy with how it works.

I use Clippercide on my blade and follow the directions about letting it set for 10min. I chose this, because it came highly suggested on some other sites, upon researching, prior to buying my blade. Is there something better I should be using?

Originally Posted by brandon215

I use Clippercide on my blade and follow the directions about letting it set for 10min. I chose this, because it came highly suggested on some other sites, upon researching, prior to buying my blade. Is there something better I should be using?

As long as you are the only person using the razor you are fine
with Clippercide or Barbicide. Follow the directions....

Day in and day out most of use soap and water..... BTW: shave soap is soap.

A new to you antique razor that gets sanded, rinsed,
polished etc will be in good shape because abrasion
removes surface contamination and lets it rinse
down the drain. Even abrasives like MAAS or Simichrome
remove enough from a polished surface to improve things.

Crusty rusty blades should make you nervous.

Sunlight combined with wall clock time is also good...

Originally Posted by carazor

I think anyone who hones razors for others should have an autoclave. They cost $400.

Autoclave would not be very kind to some razor scales.