Thread: Wiping the blade or rinsing it

Hello everyone,

Quick question: is there a "right way" to wipe the lather off the blade while shaving. Is it possible to dull the blade if you aren't careful and is it ok to wipe it off a regular towel or is it better to use a special type of cloth.

As I've read the forum,it may be better to wipe than rinse in order to avoid water that wouldn't dry well or hitting the sink and the undesirable consequences it'll lead to. Is there a fundamental reason why rinsing would be better than wiping?

Thanks for help! After a month of reading the forum, my first straight shave will be tomorrow. Wish me luck!

I usually wipe the lather off with the towel I am wearing around my waist after the shower, I use a slow strop stroke(spine leading) do the flip and repeat on the other side, be careful, you can ruin a towel if your not careful! I do this to prevent ding my edge on the faucet as well as preventing rust and spots, don't forget, there is a thigh under that towel.

Good Luck!

Thanks! well, at this point, i care more about the blade than the towel since I have 0 honing skill, but I an get a new towel Can you dull the blade by wiping incorrectly as you would with bad stropping?

I saw in a video once (Chimensch's 30th Anniversary Shaving Video - Badger & Blade) a guy using a sponge. Cheaper than a towel, and very safe for the razor. I've been using one since.

Originally Posted by wdwrx

I saw in a video once (Chimensch's 30th Anniversary Shaving Video - Badger & Blade) a guy using a sponge. Cheaper than a towel, and very safe for the razor. I've been using one since.

+1 on the sponge, been using it after watching Chimensch video, no more hitting the faucet!!!!!!!

... my only worry is that SWMBO will use it to actually clean something...



oh wait... she don't clean!

(jk'ing)

Originally Posted by wdwrx

I saw in a video once (Chimensch's 30th Anniversary Shaving Video - Badger & Blade) a guy using a sponge. Cheaper than a towel, and very safe for the razor. I've been using one since.

You and me both!

I use the sponge too after seeing his video. It works good wiping the face swarf off the blade and it keeps the blade away from chrome. Once you start dropping some coin on your razors, you want to protect those babies.

I use a wash cloth either dry or wet to wipe cream and whiskers off the blade. I wash the blade off after I'm done to make sure bacteria is free of the blade. Prefer keeping everything as clean as possible and also watch out for the blade edge near the faucet.

The wash cloth is constantly washed and my blade is never without oil when not in use.

Originally Posted by Danseph

Thanks! well, at this point, i care more about the blade than the towel since I have 0 honing skill, but I an get a new towel Can you dull the blade by wiping incorrectly as you would with bad stropping?

Yes any time you improperly use the blade, excess wear occurs, but either stropping or a barbers hone and stropping should take care of it. Chimensch's video is excellent, I wish everyone would watch it. I would still rather use a cloth or towel, simply because these items will go through the washing machine.