Thread: Question about sterilization

So I have a WD sight unseen razor on its way to me right now. I know he disinfects them with bleach and alcohol prior to honing but that only takes care of 99% of pathogens. I would like to sterilize the blade, but am I just being paranoid? Should I "ovenclave" it(gradually of course)? will taking a flame to it damage the edge? And I'm talking about a gentle flame quickly, not taking my MAP torch to it... Anyone else have a WD razor and want to weigh in?

And yes I have read through numerous threads regarding disinfecting and sterlizing razors.

Just wipe it down with some alcohol or something along that lines, or barbacide, your way over thinking this, if its cleaned a disinfected your good to go, those kind of things don't live long outside the body, Tc

yea I figured I was just being paranoid... Probably gonna grab some barbacide since my SO is a licensed cosmetologist and gets everything dirt cheap. Clean it up some more, wipe it down with a thin coat of CLP and place it on a window sill til I start to use it. I got a Parker SR1 and a 12 type blade sampler on the way to me as well so I'm gonna play around with those for a week or two...

BTW I havent read on here of anyone using UV sterilization...any reason? or just noone cares that much

Do you know for a fact that your blade will have been bleached?

If so, I would suggest that you pass on it.

I do not know for a fact, I was just told by Larry that he bleaches and then uses alcohol to disinfect all sight unseen razors prior to honing and shipment. If I dont see it I dont know for fact.

Ok, corrosive bleach on a steel blade is a really bad idea.

Gotta love these posts from the germophiles

thats funny because I could completely care less about germs in almost every aspect of my life and I have a strong immune system because of it. I'm just a little cautious when it comes to cutting myself with a blade that was used by 1 or more other people that I dont know...

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ok, corrosive bleach on a steel blade is a really bad idea.

I'm sure he doesnt let it sit in the bleach for much time and he cleans it immediately afterwards, he seems to do a lot of business from what I hear around this forum and I havent heard anything bad, just recommendations...

But you have to consider how long ago that other person used it. Things, including cooties, do not live long on dry surfaces. I DO disinfect in Barbicide after my shave test and final strop to protect the final user on the off chance that I am carrying something, but you don't have to worry about an old unused blade.
If the blade you are buying ends up being shave tested or stropped after honing, then a pre-honing disinfection is pointless.