Thread: Soap Residue?

So far, my new shaving experience has exposed be to two hard soaps - a Col. Conk, and a Kent in a wooden bowl that I added to my KB4 order from auravita.com (many thanks to the forgotten poster who shared this location - love this brush).

I'm still learning how to build a decent lather from these - I'm trying some of the different tricks mentioned previously, including pre-soaking the soap and varying soap/water ratio. But that's another thread.

My question is soap residue. I'm seeing build-up on my razor (my Dad's Schick Krona - he's still shocked to hear me say I'm enjoying this razor (with Crystal blades) more than any cartridge razor) - kind of a white film. I'm also seeing a residue in my sink.

Since I'm still going back & forth between the soaps, I'm just guessing, but I think the residue is coming from the Kent soap. Does anyone have any experience/comments with this?

Dont pre soak the Col Conks as it is a glycerine soap and will melt away to nothing in short order!

My "pre-soaking" consists of dribbling a bit of hot water on it (about half a teaspoon) a few minutes prior to applying the brush. I should perhaps mention I'm storing the soap in a small coffee mug that is an almost perfect fit. Is this too much?

Originally Posted by Thumper

My "pre-soaking" consists of dribbling a bit of hot water on it (about half a teaspoon) a few minutes prior to applying the brush. I should perhaps mention I'm storing the soap in a small coffee mug that is an almost perfect fit. Is this too much?

I don't do it at all with Col Conk but a 1/2 teaspoon doesn't sound harmful!

I get rid of the soap residue with barbicide, for my straights after I finish my last pass I hang them over the side of a barbicide jar to sanitize and clean them after each shave while I'm cleaning up. With my DE I just put the entire thing inside of the barbicide jar after my last shave with a blade. Cleans off the white residue no problems, no scrubbing and it sanitizes too.

I wipe the blade after rinsing and see no residue...

Soap scum is soap combined with minerals from hard water. Try some RainX or car wax on your sink to get the water to bead up.

Here's what I do to get rid of residue: put it in an ultrasonic cleaner once in a while. Failing that, a 1 tsp borax to 2 cup hot water mixture to soak will also get rid of the residue.

Mark

Our water is very hard and the scum really bakes on to the blade. It's tricky to wipe carefully -and- forcefully, while not damaging the edge or cutting myself!