I seem to have gotten progressively worse at keeping my Ralf Aust properly stropped and shave ready. By that, I mean that while I used to be able to keep it very good for at least a few months before needing a hone touchup (I don't hone myself), I now cant seem to get a proper edge. Is it possible my poor care of strop could make it that ineffective? I have an Illinois 821 I bought on Amazon for about $30 a couple years ago. I confess to not treating it very well, only recently applying some Neatsfoot oil. May be too late.

But, is this likely? Do poorly conditioned or maintained strops perform poorly such that I can't get a shave ready blade on an otherwise honed straight? Or is it more likely my technique has changed over time and that I now just suck at stropping without realizing what I do differently?

I need help, that's for sure.