When I started out with the straight and stropping I would hold the linen and strop then the leather and strop. now this was the old barbers strops that were 2-2 1/2 inch wide. now that I have the new SRD English bridle strop with rings on the end for holding without thinking I would hold both at the same time when I stropped. I have done this since 2013. Now I would get an ok shave and the razor was sharp but here lately I would hold just one at a time and I have found that I get a much better shave. it seems like the blade is a bit more shape. now this just might be my imagination but that's what it seems to me. I still rub the leather good with my hand it seems to warm up the leather and might put a little oil from my hand in the leather. I am getting a little dark beginning to show on the linen now and I seem to remember the old barbers using lather on the linen to clean it. has anyone tried this and if now what do you do to get rid of the dark spots on the linen from stropping.