How To Clean Your Safety Razor
Naked Armor
Congrats on your new safety razor, dude!
Now that you’ve taken the plunge and bought yourself a safety razor, you’re on your way to getting a clean and smoother shave that a disposable can’t give you.
Published by Naked Armor
Of course, there will be the usual learning curve on how to use the safety razor, but other than that, you also need to learn how to take care of your safety razor so that it will last a long time. Hopefully, long enough to turn it into a heirloom piece that you can hand down to your future sons.
So now, what we are going to feature in today’s blogpost is how to clean your safety razor.
But before we go into that, let's take a look into the history of the safety razor.
The Evolution of the Safety Razor
The safety razor first came into prominence during the early 1900s. It was called the safety razor because, unlike the straight razor, it had a guard that protected the skin from the edge of the razor blade.
The early designs of the safety razor made it look like a hoe with a detachable guard. When King Camp Gillette managed to get hold of the safety razor, he improved the design by developing a disposable double-edge blade.
The new design became a hit among consumers. It helped that Gillette also pioneered his business model which sold the safety razor cheap but recouped his expenses through the sale of disposable blades. That helped him corner the market and launched the popularity of safety razors for a time until the first disposable razors entered the scene.
When to Clean Your Safety Razor
Most modern safety razors out on the market are made of metal. If you’re using the safety razor constantly for wet shaving, it will accumulate dried soap suds and greasy, dead skin cells over time. Not only is this not hygienic, but this will also cause it to lose its shine.
In vintage razors, these shaving residues may even be the cause of rust inside the razor head. This is because, unlike its modern versions, these razors are not made of rust-resistant chrome.
Rust may also affect razor blades. If these are not dried properly after every use, the constant exposure to moisture can result to rust appearing on the blade. And trust us, you don’t want to shave your face with rust on your blades.
When you notice these signs, then it’s about time to clean your razor.
How Often Should you Clean Your Razor
Our advice though is not to wait until you see the above indications on your razor. If you clean your razor thoroughly after every use, your razor will never reach that point where it’s begging you for your attention-usually, by cutting you up.
However, not everyone has the time to do extra work on cleaning up the razor, especially on a busy Monday morning. So what we always recommend is that you give your safety razor a quick clean every 2-3 uses. The way to do this is to take apart the razor, and wipe off any residue using a hand towel or a rag. Put it then back together and buff it to shine.
How to Maintain Vintage and Modern Safety Razors
But what if you want to clean your razor thoroughly?
You need to know that the cleaning will vary with the kind of safety razor that you have. A vintage safety razor requires a different kind of cleaning than a modern one.
Cleaning a modern safety razor is generally an easy task. One just needs to do it on a regular basis. When maintained regularly, safety razors can last a lifetime, cutting down your costs on shaving.
— D'Rock, Naked Armor Founder
Maintaining the Modern
For modern safety razors, you only need a soft-bristle toothbrush, a rag, some soap and water and then you are set to go.
First, you have to open the razor up so you can remove the blade before you start cleaning. Place the head of the razor under warm running water to soften the dirt and residue. Then take it out of the water and apply a mild anti-bacterial soap on the razor head. Using a toothbrush, gently brush away the shaving cream residue and the hair bits on the razor.
Rinse the razor again. Repeat the procedure; apply the soap again, brush and then rinse it.
If you wish, you can dip the razor in an antiseptic or disinfectant quickly, before wiping it dry. As a final step, Luxury Barber recommends using a blow-dry to remove all the moisture.
The Sharpologist, meanwhile, warns against using abrasive cleaners to clean the safety razor. While the chrome plating common to modern safety razors is durable enough, it is vulnerable to scratching. Abrasive cleaners will easily scratch the razor.
If you need something stronger than water, you can use vinegar. Moisten a rag with distilled vinegar and use it to wipe off the tarnish from the razor. Alternatively, you can mix 1 part vinegar to 3-4 parts of water and use it to give your razor parts a soak bath for one hour.
For the really extreme cases, add baking soda to a small amount of vinegar to make paste. Rub it over the razor part, and use a toothbrush to scrub the razor. Always remember to rinse afterwards.
Caring for the Vintage
Vintage razors come with a patina of age. This becomes more obvious especially if it hasn’t been used for a very long time. This is why restoring them can be a little tricky. If you don’t want to go to all that trouble, there are professional cleaners that can do the job for you. But if you’re up for a challenge and can find fulfillment in restoring them, go for it. Here are some tips, courtesy for the Art of Manliness.
There are two stages in the maintenance of vintage safety razors: cleaning any old gunk off the razor and restoring it to its proper function.
Cleaning off the Age and Neglect
Basically, you will need a nylon or brass brush, some whitening toothpaste and metal polish.
Pre-soak the razor in warm water to loosen and soften the grime. Use the brush to gently scrub it off. Rinse it once and then apply a dab of whitening toothpaste before scrubbing it again.
Wipe the toothpaste off, then use a separate cloth rag to buff it so that it will shine. Some professional cleaners usually buff it using Maas or Flitz metal polish. To clean the tight nooks and corners, use toothpicks or cotton swabs dabbed with metal polish. Finally, put a few drops of dish detergent, scrub it one last time and then wipe dry.
Restoring it to Function
To make it look as good as new, you’ll have to use the same tools that professional cleaners use. These are usually an ultrasonic cleaner and some jeweler’s cleaning solutions. After cleaning it, you need to put it in a tumbler with a proper soft media such as ground walnut shell to give a highly polished mirror finish to your safety razor.
Conclusion
Cleaning a modern safety razor is generally an easy task. One just needs to do it on a regular basis. When maintained regularly, safety razors can last a lifetime, cutting down your costs on shaving.
Here at Naked Armor, our safety razors are top-of-the-line items which not only allow to you save more money but also elevate your shaving experience.
Our Spartacus Sandalwood Safety Razor, for instance, is not just made with chrome plating but with high grade stainless steel endcaps for the perfect face-to-shave ratio and balance. Instead of a cold metal handle, it is fitted with a warm, luxurious handle made of valuable sandalwood.
This safety razor comes with a shave kit to get you started. It includes an all natural shaving soap and badger friendly shaving brush, all wrapped up in an elegant box.
So why get stuck with an ordinary safety razor when you can get one that evokes luxury?
Click Add to Cart now and get the Naked Armor Safety Razor experience.
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