Thread: How I'm Sterilizing My Razors

Originally Posted by carazor

According to the CDC it is not proven that Hepatitis C, nor HIV, is killed by bleach.

This is a good read:

CDC DVH - Hepatitis C FAQs for the Public

According to this from the US CDC http://www.cdc.gov/idu/facts/disinfection.pdf there is evidence it kills HIV and they also recommend it's use in preventing Hep C transmission, referencing your own link.

Originally Posted by MickRussell

According to this from the US CDC http://www.cdc.gov/idu/facts/disinfection.pdf there is evidence it kills HIV and they also recommend it's use in preventing Hep C transmission, referencing your own link.

Evidence, but not proven. The point of the article is that bleach be used as a back up when a new needle can't be obtained by an addict. I think the issue here is bleach is readily available and seems to slow the spread of disease, so it's better than nothing, given an addict's propensity to use an IV drug at any cost.

Back to the subject at hand, HepC is not proven to be killed by bleach. I believe Barbacide is proven to kill HepC, HepB, and HIV by the FDA?

A good article on tetanus:

Tetanus Disease Questions and Answers

Unpleasant stuff. I keep my tetanus vaccinations up to date for that reason.

Tetunas
How often do I need to get a tetanus vaccination?

Everybody needs an initial course of three doses of the vaccine, to teach the immune system to recognise the tetanus toxin.
Booster doses are then needed to help keep the body’s memory active. In Australia, children are vaccinated at:

2, 4, and 6 months,
4 years,
and 15-17 years.

Tetanus and diphtheria boosters are no longer recommended every 10 years provided the person has documented evidence that they have completed a full primary course of three injections and at least two booster doses, but a booster dose at 50 years is recommended.

If a person gets a wound that is considered more dangerous than usual, they may need another booster if they have not had one in the last five years.
Diseases and Vaccines - vaccination.org.au

Hepatitis C treatment breakthrough - March 2011
Researchers have found that a combination drug without interferon is even more effective, curing some patients of the disease within two weeks in a recent trial.
Hepatitis C treatment breakthrough

Not that i want to get Hep C but it looks like we are a step closer to a cure, maybe in 10 year we wont have to worry about sterilization.

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I will throw this out there too...

I actually only clean my blades with isopropyl alcohol. I and i probably should be more careful but at the same time but I'm not too worried either.

Postage to Australia takes over a month and that time is enough to kill most bugs.
Alcohol will kill some extra.
I always hone my blades when i get them this removing metal where there may be contamination.
And finally before i shave i run them under hot water and use them with a soapy lather.

I know that wont kill every bug\virus but i don't feel unsafe either. Am i doing enough, i don't know.. But.. In the end we could throw 1000 articles on peroxide, alcohol, time, steam or hot water etc and there will always be pros and cons on each. One article will support it and another will go against it. You find me an article that bleach doesn't work i will find one where it dose. You find me an article that alcohol does work and will find one where it doesn't.

I think every individual needs to find there own method. Who's works better is decided by who has written the data. Data can be manipulated to either end of the scale so as long as your happy with your method then stick with it. If you think its not safe, change it to what you believe is appropriate.

Hows this for a question.... Out of the 24592 members on here, has anyone got an infection\virus from a blade they received?

I would be surprised if anyone has, but.... If they have received a virus and or infection from their method, what was their method and maybe that should be crossed off the list or put on a list for what 'not' to do.

I posted the following from a previous page, and have only just seen that it was preempted by the past post:

You would think that if the risks were substantial, someone on this board, where buying and using old razors is commonplace, would have reported being infected by something. I can't remember that anyone has, though.

Originally Posted by Caledonian

I posted the following from a previous page, and have only just seen that it was preempted by the past post:

You would think that if the risks were substantial, someone on this board, where buying and using old razors is commonplace, would have reported being infected by something. I can't remember that anyone has, though.

The latency period for an infected person with hepatitis can be 10-20 years before they become symptomatic. It's estimated that 40% of HepC carriers don't eve know they have it.

I found this article that states that the hep c virus doesn't live for long out side of the body.

Originally Posted by hepatitis.about.com

The hepatitis C virus, or HCV, can live outside the body for up to 4 days. However, many experts think it usually survives up to 16 hours at room temperature.

How Long Can Hepatitis Virus Live - Hepatitis Virus Can Live Outside the Body

If this is true then the average person wouldn't have to worry much about getting an infection from a razor due to post time alone.

But, If a procedure to sterilize you blades makes you feel safe, do it. and if you still don't feel safe add to it or change it or find one that dose make you feel safe.

From reading through this thread everyone has their own procedure and many have none. And as far as I'm aware, no one has caught an infection from their razors on SRP.

I dont know all the chemical breakdowns but i know from experience working with hospitals that for items that are rust prone as well as items that can be damaged by heat they use ethylene oxide gas. I also know an old school barber that still uses old fashion straight razors, and in his shop he uses a ethylene oxide system instead of a autoclave. He decided on this system as it dose not hurt the intricate scales of his razors. This guy is a 70 year old Italian barber that learned the trade when he was 8 years old.

Originally Posted by Brighty83

I found this article that states that the hep c virus doesn't live for long out side of the body.


How Long Can Hepatitis Virus Live - Hepatitis Virus Can Live Outside the Body

If this is true then the average person wouldn't have to worry much about getting an infection from a razor due to post time alone.

But, If a procedure to sterilize you blades makes you feel safe, do it. and if you still don't feel safe add to it or change it or find one that dose make you feel safe.

From reading through this thread everyone has their own procedure and many have none. And as far as I'm aware, no one has caught an infection from their razors on SRP.

While establishing that your figures are backed up by a source as reputable as the US government's Center for Disease Control, a wildly pessimistic figure for the longevity of the Hepatitis C virus has been edited out.

CDC DVH - Hepatitis C FAQs for the Public

Infection is blood to blood, not virus to blood. That isn't to say that the longevity of the virus can't be longer, in liquid blood products or the inside of an injection needle, where things can remain liquid a long time. But the rule of thumb is that liquids are dangerous, but the risk declines drastically as soon as they dry. There is very little risk in being cut by what is probably the cleanest and finest polished metal surface we commonly see, weeks after anbody else has used it. Anyway, my point was that if there were much risk of being infected by something with a long incubation period, we would surely see infections by other diseases with a short one.

Of course ordinary hygiene is important with anything that can break the skin. But molysmophobia is an irrational fear of infection.