Thread: Sterilizing blades

Originally Posted by HardCase

Barbacide works great just follow the directions. I usually just pour an additional rocks glass of makers mark for my razors to sit in while I'm having one myself

I'm too stingy to share like that...

They will only talk to me if I share

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

Im just curious has anyone considered the use of Iodophor / Betadine as a blade disinfectant? I've see open wounds painted with this stuff so it cant be too bad for you and it's bacteriacidal / virucidal properties are well known. I'm sure you would not want to get it on the scales of a razor as surely it would stain. Any thoughts?

Then you have to worry about betadine staining and the clean up of that stuff...There are many elegant solutions that are overkill. I suppose we could also check in to having them irradiated, but why when a simple barbicide bath or alcohol spray works just fine?

Amazes me the hoops people jump thru wanting to sterilize blades when soap and water is all you need.
Than you get all the posts from people wondering why the get water spots and rust on their blades.

The main reason i asked about iodophor is because i have gallons of it lying around that i use for my other hobby home brewing beer, it is used to sanitize all my brew ware. I was just wondering if i could get some razor sanitizing out of it and save a few bucks not having to buy barbacide.

Usually, I'll use soap and water to remove the oil/renwax off the blade, then wipe generously with rubbing alcohol (70% ethanol, not peroxide) to disinfect, then rinse with water to remove the white film left by the rubbing alcohol. Then dry. That's all you should need. Barbicide/Marvicide should also be more than enough.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

What I do on a continuing basis is I've taken a tall narrow jar (like from olives), fill with mostly 92% rubbing alcohol and a tbs and a half of mineral oil., shake it up before each use and carefully dip the razor I had just used, rinsed off and dried in, and then with my finger distribute a bit of the oil film up to the pivot area. I can't remember which SRP member wrote about it first, but I've had no problem with my razors since I started using this method.

That was me, but it was not to sterilize as it would be of little use for that. Its purpose was to remove water and to leave oil behind. It worked fine for me for years and I recommended it to others right until I had to move to the farm to take care of my father. That treatment in combination with the water there produced spotty corrosion, so I stopped recommending it. I believe it was Pinklather who had a similar problem.

You could just dip the blade in methylated spirit then wipe off be very careful not to get any on your scales though or it could be good night, on saying that I never bother storage honing a shaving with good personal hygiene is the only thing you need to worry about.

Originally Posted by badg3r

I'm too stingy to share like that...

I do the same with Hendrick's gin. They don't really use more than a drop and I drink it after they've soaked for a few minutes. I take them out first.

I'm with pixlefixed,
My Ebay and antique store finds are washed and sanded with fine grit wet/dry paper with Dawn dishwashing detergent for lubrication and cleansing. The original finish inside and out is history and any bacteria or disease was washed away as well.
Part of the process in honing involves a good wipe, if not three or four, before inspection after each session. This process is repeated probably a dozen times or more and then happens again with the chromium oxide and again after the stropping on leather.
My face gets an after shave treatment that has alcohol in it.
I really don't feel the need to be concerned about sterization for my personal use.