Thread: Should I clean used strop?

I picked up this Illinois razor strop #9266 today for $15 at an antique store. it is my first strop so I didn't want to pay a lot. Strop seems to be in good shape no cuts or nicks. The canvas(?) side seems dirty and has fold marks in it. Should I clean the strop? I read not to from some people. What should I do with the fabric side?

Also is this a decent strop? Seems nice. It's horse hide.

Normally one doesn't need to clean one's strop, but in this case for a second hand strop I'd wipe it down with a slightly damp cloth. I'd also try and clean the fabric a little as it looks quite dirty. I have a daily use Dovo strop that hangs in the bathroom on the towel rail. My wife uses hair spray so it became covered in the hair spray junk. I actually washed it (horrific, I know) but it came out fine.

I've gotten a few vintage strops with dirty and rumpled linens. I always washed them in Woolite, in a bucket of cold water, with a scrub brush. Let them air dry on a flat surface. I even put one in the washer with a load of clothes and that one came out alright too. Nice strop. I don't usually clean the leather but if necessary there are products on the market specifically for cleaning and preserving fine leather. Off the top of my head I don't know which to recommend. Unless it definitely needs cleaning I'd leave well enough alone.

I have a saddle that is at least twice the age of that strop and I used water to clean it all the time. Not buckets and hose but a damp cloth or sponge won't hurt a thing. Dry with a towel and lay it out straight and flat to finish drying. I then use liquid glycerin and some use saddle soap. There are different kinds of saddle soap and avoid that with waxes in it.

The linen you can clean how ever you want just lay it flat to dry so it doesn't wrinkle. You can get that white again. I have washed (scrubbed) used bleach on a couple of mine but that will take any makers marks off in a heartbeat.

Strop cleaned up rather nicely. I soaked it in some woolite a few times then in plain water. Leather I just wiped with a damp cloth

Boy, that Woolite did a great job on the linen!

Yeah I was really happy with the outcome

Originally Posted by Travispitt

Strop cleaned up rather nicely. I soaked it in some woolite a few times then in plain water. Leather I just wiped with a damp cloth

That looks great!

Normally some hot water and detergent and a scrub brush with some elbow grease will bring a linen strop to like new condition no matter how dirty it is.

Get some bick leather cleaner. It's quality stuff, does a great job and is very gentle on leather.

I wouldn't be comparing a saddle to a strop. The leather is totally different. Saddle leather is really tough stuff that takes pretty much any abuse and laughs at it. A strop is way more delicate.

That really worked well. Thanks for the update.

Originally Posted by Travispitt

Strop cleaned up rather nicely. I soaked it in some woolite a few times then in plain water. Leather I just wiped with a damp cloth