Thread: Another Question on "Sanitation" and/or "Sterilization"

Ordinary household chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite, Clorox) diluted 1 part bleach liquid with 9 parts water is the cheapest most readily available widely effective disinfectant. It is used at much lower concentrations to treat swimming pool water. However, it is important to consider whether it will also adversely affect the razor's blade or scale material. Strong chlorine bleach solution removes or fades color in clothing and can also destroy the structural strength of cloth. It is easy to damage the finish of carbon steel razors. Polished carbon steel knives immediately become discolored upon contact with onion, lemon, and cooked meat juice, and vinegar.

I would wash any type of disinfectant used off my razors as soon as possible after disinfection, even if I thought it to be unlikely to damage the razor and then clean, dry, and protectively coat the razor paying particular attention to the area between the shank and scales around the pivot. I would clean a DE razor in Scrubbing Bubbles after disinfection.

Consultation with persons very experienced with razor restoration should help resolve any questions about a disinfectant selected and its potential for razor damage. Otherwise, I would stick with a short dip of the blade and possibly the scales in Barbicide, unless I had good first hand information available concerning the safety in use of another product on my razors. Barbicide is isopropyl alcohol, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, and sodium nitrite diluted with water. A short bath is all that is needed for disinfection. Leaving most razors in Barbicide or other disinfectants for a long time would probably result in corrosive razor damage. It is important to know how to use a particular product and its limitations to prevent possible razor damage.

To sum it up, before first use, clean newly acquired used razors, briefly disinfect them using an appropriate product, and then restore or maintain them in the usual manner. The cleaning and disinfection is quick, restoration and honing takes more time.

Originally Posted by rimmini

Bleach will destroy all dna/rna on the blade.