Thread: can a vintage/used razor be a carrier of a harmfull disease like AIDs etc

Hi Seniors,

Recently I won a vintage Genco Geneva straight razor from bay. A few frnds of mine scaring me that the razor can contain a dangerous disease like AIDS and other harmful diseases.

My question to all seniors that is it possible, if yes, then what to do ??

Please help me.

Regards

Yes, it's entirely possible. All your questions are answered in this article: Sterilization - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

Happy reading.

Robin

What are you going to do with the razor?
If to have a shave, alcohol (95%) will be enough, if to cut veins it's possible to get ill.
IMHO.

I have discussed this with 3 doctors and this is what I was told. Germs don't live on surfaces very long, but some have a longer life span than others. Most germs are killed with just soap and water or sanitizers of some kind. Aids is a weak virus and dies quickly, like within a day. So the only real threat is hepatitis which can live on surfaces where there has been blood contamination for a longer period of time, like a week or 10 days. They all told me that the best protection was to give things time to die. On old razors that no one has used in years and you are sure that no one has cut themselves with, no problems. 0n razors that have been restored and test shaved with, or sent out for sharpening there is more risk. Ask yourself, would you feel comfortable using a tattoo gun that had been used on someone you did not know and then wiped down with alcohol? I am not trying to alarm anyone as this is not a topic that should cause alarm. It is a topic where good information and common sense will make it a no brainer. The routine that I came up with, with the help of my doctors is that I soak my blades down with chlorhexidine( this is a solution used by physicians to sterilize their cold pack surgical instruments) for 20 min., then wipe them down with Clippersol to make sure they don't rust, and then I give them a rest for a couple of weeks before I add them to my rotation. A lot of you guys will probably consider this overkill & maybe it is but I sleep well at night & have enough razors that I can wait 2 weeks for a little piece of mind. Take this for what it's worth it's just the best information I could come up with. My suggestion to everyone is that you get information from your doctor on your next visit, so you can make an informed decision.

Doc, May be, I understood wrong. But what risk with restored razor? I use sandpaper, polish, hones. The microbes can not live inside the metal. After restoration, the razor like new.

Hey, Doc,

It's as they say, really: two doctors, three opinions. Or was that lawyers?

Anyhow, I would really like to encourage everyone to read the Sansnom's article in the Wiki. Thoroughly.

Sterilization - Straight Razor Place Wiki

"Suggested methods to sterilize a razor

Now then, to break it down to a simple regimen that will assuage all the paranoid ones out there I've come up with 2 simple regimens which you can use based on what you have laying around:

Ethyl Alcohol + Hydrogen Peroxide USP
1. Soak in Ethyl Alcohol (70%), 10 mins
2. Soak in Hydrogen Peroxide USP (3%), 10 mins
3. Rinse under extremely hot water.

Active Ammonium Chloride

1. Wipe with Clorox/CVS/(Whatever brand as long as it has the active Ammonium Chloride listed above and EPA registration numbers on the back) Disinfecting wipes, THOROUGHLY, and allow to air dry. If you have a spray, thoroughly spray down the razor, allow to sit for a few minutes (10?) and wipe clean.
2. Rinse under extremely hot water."

Originally Posted by manah

Doc, May be, I understood wrong. But what risk with restored razor? I use sandpaper, polish, hones. The microbes can not live inside the metal. After restoration, the razor like new.

Doc is referencing that most Restorers/Honemiester's test shave the razor...

Best insurance... buy a bottle of Barbicide... I think I paid around 4$ at my local barber's supply store. It's also sold on that... popular auction web site.

exactly thanks Glen!!!!!

Thank u all serniors. more discussion need for the topic. more discussion = more knowledge.

Regards all