Thread: What do you guys do with your DE blades between shaves?

I rinse the it then open the razor clean off the blade and razor head, take out the blade and flip the blade over. Put everything back together and store in in a hanging holder.

Amazing how many ways the blades and razors are cleaned and stored.

I don't do nuthin, but rinse and shake and lay on the counter.

I just give it and my brush a rinse and put it in my bathroom bag if I am travailing or hang it on the rack if I'm home.

Originally Posted by Man

I have started using the advice from Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving and it has worked well for me. He simply suggests rinsing the razor in hot water and setting it on its side to dry. If using a carbon-steel blade, hard water, have acne or razor bumps, rinse the razor head in 91% or higher rubbing alcohol. He says there's no need to remove the blade or even loosen the razor's grip on the blade.

The 91% rubbing alcohol helps with acne?

Originally Posted by fredly

The 91% rubbing alcohol helps with acne?

My experience was that the Razor spreads the Acne and therefore the alcohol kills any transference bacteria on the blade.

Don't be embarrassed to ask the question, it's one of those questions that get asked a LOT.

As I rotate 6 straights and 1 DE, with the DE reserved for Saturday, and Saturday being a day I not often shave, I take the blade out, dry it and put it back in the waxed paper. I then wrap the outer wrapper (the printed one) back on the blade, but inside out. I then put in in a small bowl on the desk in my bedroom where they all live. That way, I know when I use it again that it's been used once already.

I only use them twice, as I'm a consumerist capitalist wasteful pig....

I have used DE for years, and reserve my straights for special occasions and the weekends. I replace blades after every fifth shave, or sooner depending on how much the tugs. After if get done with my shave I take apart my DE, soak my razors in rubbing alcohol to disinfect them. While the blade is disinfecting I rinse out the razor with steaming hot water, pat dry and inspect for hair, soap, etc. Spot clean what needs to be cleaned. Dry again and hang razor in stand with head open. I will then remove the razor blade from the alcohol and strop. Once I make sure that the blade is clean, and dry I take a hair out of my fiance's comb and do a hanging hair test. If it passes I will put the blade back in the razor, but not close it. Next day, pick up DE, close the head and get ready for the shave. Sure my method takes time, but I am still using razors that my grandfather bought in the 50s and 60s, and this is how he taught me to take care of them.

I don't do anything except rinse with hottest tap water and dry razor head with towel. I don't take it apart, don't remove blade and don't flip blade (I've tried and detect no difference). Using Edwin Jagger 89A with Wilkinson blades - German made. I have a heavy beard, but get at 4-8 weeks out of a blade before getting a new one - depends on particular blade. I've had a few blades last 12 weeks. I use DE razor when I'm in a hurry - few times a week - and use it to finish up neck most days where I can't get real smooth with straight. I did pick up a device to strop DE blades at antique mall - looks like a fishing reel sort of. You insert blade and crank handle and it rubs against rubber (?) rollers and it flips the blade over so doing both edges. It doesn't seem to work very well with stainless steel blades, maybe too hard. I never tried it with carbon steel DE blades, but suspect it could possibly work on them with softer steel. Pretty cool little device in theory. I forget the name of it.

I leave the blade in it & rinse the razor with hot water. I also wet one end of a Q-Tip and clean under the head, then dry it with the other end of the Q-Tip. I only remove the blade when it's time to change it, at which time I give the inside a good cleaning.

Remove blade. Blow off droplets. Babyoil fingertips and squeegy blade away. Reload.
Place razor in large pyramid from Dr. G. Patrick Flanagan's "razor sharpining kit(circa 1974)"