Sanitizing old safety razors?

[tylerevansokay]

Hello! I've recently found 2 old single edge safety razors that really are quite nice... I'd love to use them occasionally if I could, but I know I need to sanitize and clean them first.
What are the general steps/procedures to such a thing? I've searched old threads but couldn't find anything with enough detail to suffice. Help, please! THANKS FOLKS!!

 

[Wil Tam]

**

You can always boil some water then place your blades in it then use some alcohol or buy some Marvy Sanitizers

 

[RJCNTX]

When I purchased a vintage Gillette double edge safety razor I placed entire razor in boiling water for several minutes. I also used an old tooth brush and q tips with a bleach water solution to rub it down further. This was on the razor itself as I purchased new blades of course.

you could also check out www.shavemyface.com for additional information.

 

[DeaconKC]

Okay, I am a sucker for old razors and here is what I do. First, spray with Scrubbing Bubbles and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush, this will get it very clean, then soak in Barbicide, you can get this at any beauty supply. This is what barbers/beauticians use to clean their combs and razors. Boiling can damage some older finishes or scales. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[tylerevansokay]

Is there any trick to shaving with an angled razor as opposed to a straight top double edge razor? I'm a bit nervous!

 

[Anachronism]

get it autoclaved

Or just use a modern razor...I doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference looking at your face

 

[MEDIUMMYND]

Spray with any household limescale remover and then place in boiling water for a few minuets or run through the dishwasher.

 

[DeaconKC]

Drop in over at http://www.badgerandblade.com I don't use a straight, so I can't answer, but it's a good bunch over there and you will see a lot of familiar faces from here.

 

[Legal Concepts]

pressure cook it, in a pressure cooker in boiling water 10 psi for a hour.

Nothing alive will survive.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

The boiling water is probably plenty enough. The pressure cooker just gets the water to a higher temperature (water won't go higher than 212 in an open pan), which is the whole idea behind the autoclave. It's pressurized and the water get hotter and heats the item even more to kill even the most persistant germs and bacteria.

As for modern razors versus vintage straight and double-edge razors - you probably could see the difference between a face shaved with a modern razor and a vintage razor. Even if you couldn't see it, you would DEFINITELY feel the difference. It's a much closer, smoother cut, and a more long-lasting shave.

 

[Randy]

Drop in over at http://www.badgerandblade.com I don't use a straight, so I can't answer, but it's a good bunch over there and you will see a lot of familiar faces from here.

+1

This is a fantastic source of information on this topic. There are other forums as well, but this is the one that I am most familiar with, and know personally to be a good source of information.

- Randy