Thread: blade antiseptic

When I first got started with a straight razon over 30 years ago, I started with a 60 dollar one and use water to clean it. Wrong, wrong, thats a no, no, steel rusts (even stainless steel rusts) and if you think about it, the edge is so thin.... don't know how many microns, but its so thin that the rust will form on that edge during your shave. I don't even use alcohol on my 100 dollar blade, stroping it will remove anything on there. Now if your a barber thats different, all the barbers here in florida use replaceable blades, but for home use I don't see the point unless your shaving your friends.

Always use soap on you face and refesh the soap if it drys, I know soap drys quickly in places where the climate is dry or in the winter. You want the blade to move as soon as it comes in contact with your skin other wise it will draw blood (cute) I've never cut myself yet in and thats mainly because of the lenght of the blade and surface pressure on your skin.

I'm guessing there might be some water in with your soap. If not, that's going to be a fairly uncomfortable shave. Sure you want to prevent corrosion but there is a point of diminishing returns that certainly is crossed if you avoid all water contact on your blade.

This concern for cleanliness makes me wonder about food items. Most food if it is boiled or fried long enough is probably safe to eat, but how about something like a cold sandwich? Or a carrot stick. Is that peanut butter really hygenic, aseptic, and bug free? If I take some alcohol infused beverage with my sandwich, am I safe? How much alcohol is enough? And where can I get 100 proof beer?

Can I bleach and dry the cornflakes or must they be eaten right after the dunk? How long does pasteurizing last for milk?

This worry is turning my hair gray. Wait a minute...that started before the recent bug scare. Ah, well, it's always something ...and those somethings get into everything.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I'm guessing there might be some water in with your soap. If not, that's going to be a fairly uncomfortable shave. Sure you want to prevent corrosion but there is a point of diminishing returns that certainly is crossed if you avoid all water contact on your blade.

Yes of course there's water in the soap, but the soap does not rust the blade. You strop before and after shaving and if your only using the razor on yourself I don't beleive there is a need for sterilization.