Thread: How to clean a linen strop

Hello all,
I am seeking suggesstiones for cleaning my linen strop, it is getting a little dusty and linty.
I have only used the "white stuff" from the small tubes on it.
TIA for all your help
FredC

I just wipe mine down firmly with a damp wash cloth.

Scott

I got this from Classic Shavings How-to pages and it worked good for me.

Rub linen with lather, then wipe with a clean damp cloth. Let dry for 24 hours.

I did it. the linen din't come out sparkling white, but it did make it look a lot better then it was.

I use one cleaner for the whole strop. Belvoir Tack Cleaner Step 1(you can find it in any decent saddlery). It's cheap and since it's not acidic, it doesn't rot fabrics like stitching or linen itself.

When I was on a strop buying kick awhile back some of the linen parts of the strop were pretty grungy. I tried the more conservative methods like spot cleaning and white strop dressing but in the end I just put them in a tub of warm water with some detergent and let them soak and then scrubbed them with a scrub brush and they all came out like new. Just let them drip dry until they are dry.

I suppose for mysterious reasons putting it in the washing machine by itself and doing multiple cycles with soap is out of the question

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

When I was on a strop buying kick awhile back some of the linen parts of the strop were pretty grungy. I tried the more conservative methods like spot cleaning and white strop dressing but in the end I just put them in a tub of warm water with some detergent and let them soak and then scrubbed them with a scrub brush and they all came out like new. Just let them drip dry until they are dry.

I am still stuck in the strop kick, and I have to say spender is correct. I have done the above, plus much more. I have even used a fairly strong bleach solution when others failed, followed by fresh water soak. CAUTION: this will remove the embossed stamping on the fabric, but makes it look brand new. Some really abused or folded will require ironing. I have never failed to bring the linen side of a strop back to pristine shape...but the leather side..that require some serious work, and some luck.

Originally Posted by Bigseem

I am still stuck in the strop kick, and I have to say spender is correct. I have done the above, plus much more. I have even used a fairly strong bleach solution when others failed, followed by fresh water soak. CAUTION: this will remove the embossed stamping on the fabric, but makes it look brand new. Some really abused or folded will require ironing. I have never failed to bring the linen side of a strop back to pristine shape...but the leather side..that require some serious work, and some luck.

That brings up a question I've had for a while (and especially now that I won 8 Red Imp linen strops offa Ebay ) : It would seem the linen is supposed to be stiff...if you wash it, doesn't it become very limp and supple? How do you restore the stiffness after you've washed it? Also, assuming you've removed any grit contamination, does the linen need to be pearly white? Is it even supposed to be?

If you put it in a washing machine it will come out very clean...and very limp. All of the beeswax/parrafin will be gone.

Just wash it by hand with soapy water and a little bleach, use a scrub brush then let it dry between two towels with a heavy weight on top. Repeat if necessary.