Str8ts: Health Hazard?

[RayG]

I got a small nick shaving my upper lip today, and I started thinking about this.

How do you clean your razor after you get a nick or otherwise draw blood? Do you do anything differently, or just rinse with hot faucet water as you do after shaving?

How do you clean the used razor you bought through the BST or ebay?

HIV is less of a concern, since the virus really does not survive that long outside of the host. Hepatitis C is more durable, and more concerning. Many Americans with Hep C contracted the infection by sharing needles for IV drug use, or simply by using used hypodermic syringes and needles. More often than not, these were "sterilized" using modalities available at home. Same thing with tattoo parlors years ago, before the scare from these infections led to more attention to health concerns.

When I buy, say a used DE razor, I boil it for a certain amount of time, and that is usually sufficient. Alcohol alone is not. Then again, that's the DE razor. I don't think I'd be comfortable with a used DE blade (assuming it is still sharp, hypothetically), which really would have come in contact with blood, rather than the razor itself.

Unfortunately, most straights cannot be boiled, since the scales will get destroyed. Autoclaving and hospital grade disinfectants like Cidex are not really generally available. Other than that, the kill rate on the Hep C virus is not 100%.

4.1M people in the US today are positive for Hepatitis C. Most are in the 40-49 y.o. age group. Many more are undiagnosed.

Just in case, you may say you've been doing this for years, and have had no problem. Or don't know any who've had one. Remember, the latency of Hep C infection is 20 years.

Don't mean to stir the pot, but just thought I'd throw this in, and see what others' think, and do.