Thread: Used strops

I am sure this has been asked, but hey it never hurts to ask right?

What are your guys opinion on buying used strops? Granted that the leather is good and not cracked, but just well aged with that dark color on it. Also the linen being aged.

Nothing wrong with a used strop, BUT....

Keep in mind that strops being porous natural materials can potentially harbor human pathogens - spores, bacteria, possibly viruses, and other crud from the previous user(s). These could be transfered to your razor just before it goes to your face.

A good cleaning and sanitation is advisable.

Scott

What woudl you use to clean and sanitize the leather and linen? like tea tree oil?

Originally Posted by Akady

What woudl you use to clean and sanitize the leather and linen? like tea tree oil?

I'm no expert at this, but I'd suggest cleaning the leather with saddle soap (?) followed by an anti-bacterial/ viral spray (something like Lysol, unscented of course) is the best I can think of. Also, to be sure, sufficient moist heat would kill everything on the strop, but would probabbly damage the leather, so I can't recommend heat. The usual treatment with strop dressing would follow.

As for the linen, it's generally best NOT to soak a genuine linen strop as this will cause it to swell and possibly deform. A light cleaning with lather applied to the surface and then scraped off is recommended. Wrapping the linen strop in a layer of damp towel then ironing the strop through the towel until the towel is nearly dry will probably produce enough moist heat to kill most pathogens. An application of the Lysol (or similar product) would then be a good idea.


Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

Nothing wrong with a used strop, BUT....

Keep in mind that strops being porous natural materials can potentially harbor human pathogens - spores, bacteria, possibly viruses, and other crud from the previous user(s). These could be transfered to your razor just before it goes to your face.

A good cleaning and sanitation is advisable.

Scott

Very interesting. I would never have thought of that. Thanks!

How long do those things live on a surface like leather?

Originally Posted by kelbro

Very interesting. I would never have thought of that. Thanks!

How long do those things live on a surface like leather?

Probably not long, as tannins used in the tanning process are anti-microbial.

Not to say it isn't a good idea to clean and sanitize an old strop you just nicked from ebay.

Of historical interest, during the 1880's, it is mentioned in Ronald Barlow's book on barbershop history, a Parisian doctor named Remlinger began examining the local barber's communal alum block, and then the barber's razor strop, and discovered both were infested with pathogenic organisms. Not long after this, "Sanitary" barbershops began to flourish in both the U.S. and Europe due to the public outrage from reports of barbershops spreading disease.

So maybe the tannins in the leather do have some anti-microbial effect, but to what extent I'm not sure.

Also, bacterial endospores (usually anaerobic bacteria such as B. anthracis and C. tetani) can survive for years under very harsh conditions.

Scott