Cleaning Soap Scum

I'm going to throw this question out to the Razor forum because
it pertains more to day-to-day maintenance and cleaning rather
than restoration:

I have a razor that tends to accumulate what appears to be soap
scum (perhaps mixed with skin particles) near the edge, but not
encroaching on the edge of the blade. I would surmise that daily
stropping keeps the edge and the nearby area clean.

This tends to be quite a chore to clean off, and I have yet to det-
ermine an easy way to do so. I have some common household
cleaners, but I was wondering what you guys do (if anything)
to clean your razors?

- Scott

My first thought is your soap is too thick. If you use water to rinse off your blade it should rinse off or if you use a towel to wipe it off it should still come right off. I find when the soap doesn't rinse right off it tells me I need to use some more water with my soap unless of course your using goo from a can that stuff turns to concrete rite quick. Oh yes your question. You can soak the blade in some scrubbing bubbles or some mild soap solution that should soften it or just scrape it off very carefully.

"Micro-fiber" towels are freaks of science they're so versatile and amazing. I keep one in the bathroom and use it to wipe the Sterol off my blades before I strop. I also use one to wipe the final rinse water off the blades before reapplying the Sterol for storage (as absorbent if not more so than chamois).

Before Maas/Flitz on old razors.......dry micro-fiber towel to see what condition the blade is really in. Amazing things these towels.

They're pretty cheap too. When marketed to housewives in the home catalogs, they're double or higher priced. I have found them to be reasonable HERE.
(Great place for buffing supplies as well BTW).

Excellent for cleaning eyeglasses, bathroom mirrors, whatever ya got. If your hands are dry/chapped, it gives you the willies to touch them though.

Chris L

Tilex worked for me when I was cleaning up some old DE's with years of crud built up on them, just spray some on and let it soak; after a few minutes it should wipe right off.

Chief

Quote:

---

My first thought is your soap is too thick.

---

The soap/cream tends to rinse off nice and cleanly as far as I
can see, and I would say that I make my lather on the wetter
side in general. The buildup that I see tends to happen slowly
over several weeks, and mostly on this razor which has a satin
finish rather than polished.

- Scott

Is it a bad thing to wipe off your blade with a towel after you're done shaving? I have hard water and the only way to get the blade nice and shiny is to wipe it down. . .

Thanks

I always rinse then wipe my razor down on a dry towel, then strop lightly for two or three lapps on the towel to make sure the edge is dry. Then I just put it away.