Thread: How I'm Sterilizing My Razors

I understand the idea of caution--but I have to question your pattern.

1 hour of treatment with a wide spectrum anti-bacterial anti-viral seems reasonable. Adding 2 weeks in a (presumably sterile? presumably single use?) sealed container to ensure things are dead...okay. But then ANOTHER 1 hour treatment of the same disinfectant means, to me, that you aren't actually being rational. You're being paranoid. Why are you assuming that anything that survived the previous treatment would *not* survive the second?

As for the risks involved in razors...everything has risks. Some risks are more immediate than others, some risks are more avoidable than others, but every human behavior has some element of risk. So the question is, how much time and effort is acceptable in the reduction of risk? The only real answer is the amount of peace of mind the action gives you...because peace of mind is the only measurable result of your actions.

So I think your actions are extreme and difficult to justify, but if they make it easier for your to deal with the facts of human mortality, then more power to you.

Me, I think a short alcohol soak and a wash with triclosan gives enough peace of mind to go on with my shaving.

I happen to agree with Jim. And I also happen to know where my razors have been and who has used them. It makes sense to thoroughly sterilize a razor that may have been used recently by someone outside your family, by persons unknown, but otherwise, in normal conditions, your methodology makes no sense whatsoever, that is unless, as Jim so eloquently says, "if they make it easier for you to deal with the facts of human mortality, then more power to you."

Originally Posted by JimR

I understand the idea of caution--but I have to question your pattern.

1 hour of treatment with a wide spectrum anti-bacterial anti-viral seems reasonable. Adding 2 weeks in a (presumably sterile? presumably single use?) sealed container to ensure things are dead...okay. But then ANOTHER 1 hour treatment of the same disinfectant means, to me, that you aren't actually being rational. You're being paranoid. Why are you assuming that anything that survived the previous treatment would *not* survive the second?

As for the risks involved in razors...everything has risks. Some risks are more immediate than others, some risks are more avoidable than others, but every human behavior has some element of risk. So the question is, how much time and effort is acceptable in the reduction of risk? The only real answer is the amount of peace of mind the action gives you...because peace of mind is the only measurable result of your actions.

So I think your actions are extreme and difficult to justify, but if they make it easier for your to deal with the facts of human mortality, then more power to you.

Me, I think a short alcohol soak and a wash with triclosan gives enough peace of mind to go on with my shaving.

Well lets see....About 1 minute to put it in Barbacide, 1 minute to rinse it, times 2. About 4 minutes of my life per razor that I buy. I can live with that. This is worth being paranoid about.

Alcohol

Originally Posted by diffen.com

Alcohols - high-concentration can effectively inactivate viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Chemicals present usually ethanol or isopropanol. It is safe and inexpensive to use in household environment, care has to be taken around inflammable items.

Disinfect vs Sterilize - Difference and Comparison | Diffen

Dettol\Chloroxylenol

Originally Posted by ajol.info

The presence of organic matter resulted in a slight loss of activity, thus, raising the required inhibitory concentration of Dettol and Morigard on the gram-positive organisms to 1 in 40. When all organisms were exposed to recommended dilutions of disinfectants for 10, 30, 60 and 90 minutes on a glass tile at room temperature, dettol and morigard inhibited all organisms, including P aeruginosa at, a minimum contact time of 10 minutes while Tiscol inhibited only gram positives at 30 minutes but could not inhibit gram negative organisms even at 90 minutes.

http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jnica/article/view/10719




Here is a good article on Sterilization and Disinfection it runs through the effects of hot water vs steam and chemical etc.

Can I just spray the blades down with lysol?
I've only got 3 razors but all have seen some sanding.
And I was always taught that soap and water will kill 99% of nasty things out there so I figured shave soap would count.

Anyone know how razor steel reacts to hydrogen peroxide?

I know tuberculosis is another one that alcohol isn't very effective on.

Originally Posted by carazor

Disclaimer: This is my process and I share for informational and awareness purposes only. I am not a doctor, nor expert in disease control. Just offering some common sense suggestions. It is up to you to define your process.

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.

As a Mod I am going to point this out, do you note the difference in your first statement, and the second here????

Keep in mind that everyone is able to do what they think is necessary to give each person their own piece of mind.

So lets all keep this on topic, and let's just try listing what each of us does, and everyone can make their own decisions on how far each person decides to take this...

Back to Cleanliness

Now as a restorer, I am going to warn all of you about using very harsh cleaners etc: around the scales on most razors... bare steel blades can of course be boiled as that little amount of heat will not hurt them...

I can also tell you that if the scales are on it I doubt you can get it sterile there are too many nooks and crannies in the pivot that you are not going to get to easily or by just soaking ...

I am a big fan of soap/comet and hot water myself, and clean every razor before I start working on them, first to clean them for my piece of mind and second to see what I have to work with better...

Originally Posted by TheZ

Anyone know how razor steel reacts to hydrogen peroxide?

I have read a few times that peroxide is not good for razors. Apparently it is corrosive.

Sterilization - Straight Razor Place Wiki
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...alcohol-5.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...ization-2.html

Originally Posted by gssixgun

As a Mod I am going to point this out, do you note the difference in your first statement, and the second here????

Keep in mind that everyone is able to do what they think is necessary to give each person their own piece of mind.

So lets all keep this on topic, and let's just try listing what each of us does, and everyone can make their own decisions on how far each person decides to take this...

Back to Cleanliness

I'm not a doctor, my wife is, these are my views, not necessarily hers. I'm not an expert in disease control, I was trained as a chemical engineer, so I'm aware enough to appreciate the risks.

The point of this post is not to define what's right or wrong, or whether it's one dip in Barbacide or 2, or the chemical formula for Lysol, etc. The point is awareness and discussion. Beginners (and others) read this stuff, buy used razors, and should be aware that in doing so they could be exposing themselves to things that are viral i.e. hepatitis. It's good to be a little paranoid with your health. I'm glad this post has had so many views and responses. Let's keep the discussion going.