A safety razor is a serious shaving tool. You cherish that. The rock-solid tool also needs TLC. You will receive a lot of love in return. In the form of particularly comfortable shaves. Until the length of years.
However, a safety razor also needs regular maintenance to enjoy it for a long time. Because if you take good care of your tools, they can last a lifetime.
Why is maintenance necessary?
Even if you use a decent safety razor, even a Rolls Royce Black Badge Wraith needs maintenance. The same also applies to your double edge blade razor.
Without maintenance, oils and shaving soap accumulate between the shaving head and the double-sided blade. These residues can also settle in the screw thread, which can cause it to corrode. And this is of course at the expense of its long-term performance. Especially if you break thread…
With a safety razor with a butterfly closure, it can no longer close or open properly due to excess dirt. As a result, the double edge blade can get too much space and you can get shaving wounds. Even if your safety razor is made of stainless steel, if you don't maintain it properly, the coating and the metal can be affected. The right cleaning routine will stop or at least slow down this process.
When is maintenance required?
You should actually rinse the shaver completely every week and polish it with a soft cloth. For example, when you replace the double edge blade, that is immediately a great opportunity.
It also depends on how often you shave, what type of 'hard' water flows from the tap and the percentage of minerals present in the tap water. This all affects the condition of your safety razor.
Cleanse daily after shaving
This concerns the regular and routine cleaning after shaving. This allows you to optically clean your razor so that your razor continues to look sleek. By rinsing your blade with lukewarm water every time after use, you ensure that most shaving soap, oil and hairs disappear from and out of your razor.
You rub/pat your safety razor and the blade dry and hang it in the razor holder .
Periodic cleaning
A weekly/monthly/annual cleaning is again more thorough. You take the safety razor apart and make sure you clean the parts more deeply. We will come back to this routine in a moment.
Cleanse after shaving
After your shave, you rinse the safety razor under the tap. Lukewarm water is sufficient. Then gently pat dry with a towel or tea towel. Then hang the shaver upside down in the holder.
Rinse after use
Of course you rinse the safety razor completely after shaving so that the soap residue and hairs between the shaving head and the razor have disappeared. Then it can stick as little as possible and it is ready for use again the next morning.
Dry after use
It is important that you dry the razor well after rinsing it. This means that lime, minerals or other residue are less likely to bite into the metal. By the way, also dab the blade so that it remains free of dirt. This way your shaving device remains at full war strength.
Periodic maintenance
You can also include your safety razor in a monthly, semi-annual, or annual schedule. Just like you do with your motorcycle or car if it has made a fixed number of kilometers again. To be able to rely on it, periodic maintenance is therefore a requirement.
What do you need?
You need to take a little more time for the periodic maintenance of a safety razor. In terms of materials, you do not need any intense chemistry to maintain your safety razor perfectly, but only:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Soft toothbrush
- Soft cloth
- Water
The frequency of maintenance also depends on what type of water flows from your tap. If you soon see a white, powdery coating or accumulation appear on your razor, you will have to clean it more regularly.
With the so-called hard water, it is advisable not to carry out the cleaning monthly, but for example every 2 weeks. If you rinse the safety razor well after every shave and pat it dry, it will take you less time and effort to thoroughly clean the razor.
Just keep a close eye on the body of the shaver. When the first attack is detected, it is immediately time to take action.
How does it work?
To thoroughly clean your safety razor, take it apart so that you can easily reach all parts. Fill your sink with warm water and a little soapy water. Use a soft washcloth and gently rub each part thoroughly.
You can use a soft toothbrush for the hard-to-reach places. If necessary, you can also use a toothpick or a cotton swab so that you really reach every spot. When you're done, place the parts on a towel to dry.
Note: Do not use hard cloths when drying the razor. This is because you can damage the coating of your safety razor. Keep it gently.
Deep cleaning
In any case, it is good to thoroughly clean your safety razor once a year . Even if you use the above cleaning tips, it can't hurt to maintain the shaver extra by deep cleaning. What do you need for that?
- White wine or apple cider vinegar
- baking soda
- Maintenance oil
How do you proceed?
Briefly place your safety razor in a bath with a diluted solution of white wine vinegar and lukewarm water. A little bit of vinegar (!) – a coffee mug with a few drops. 10% vinegar and 90% water. Not too long. At most 10 minutes to fifteen minutes.
Watch out if you have a razor with a chrome coating. This can corrode if you soak it in such a bath for longer than 8 minutes. The concentration of vinegar can also be better reduced to a maximum of 5% vinegar in 95% water.
If vinegar is not enough for a complete cleaning, you could also use a little baking soda in warm water to clean the shaver. Then it becomes a kind of paste-like substance with which you can clean the safety razor with a soft toothbrush.
After this service, rinse the parts with lukewarm water and allow the metal to dry thoroughly
Note: Always be careful when using corrosive agents such as vinegar with stainless steel. Preferably this in as thin a composition as possible because if you use too much vinegar, the metal can be affected quickly. Otherwise, start with another stainless steel part first, which you happen to have lying around to test with first.
Maintenance tips
Use maintenance oil
When the cleaned safety razor is dry, it is very wise to provide the screw thread and the screw thread of the shaving head with the correct oil.
For example, use Muhle maintenance oil to spray the screw thread and the hinged parts, such as with a butterfly closure. Then the device will operate smoothly again. Of course you also extend the life of your beloved razor.
Do not store in humid areas
Even though a safety razor is water resistant, it is advisable not to park this razor in a damp bathroom day and night. Moisture can also affect stainless steel or the coating of your razor in the long term. You will also get an attack sooner. Which you don't want.
Would you like to know how to avoid the most common shaving mistakes ? Please take a look at the attached article. Always useful.
Always dry your razor
As we wrote, make sure you rinse the safety razor after every shave and dry it carefully. This prevents deposits from acting on the metal or the coating. Let it be a simple part of your shaving routine.
Store your razor in a razor holder
An indispensable part for your razor and shaving brush is a razor holder . Only if you park your shaver upside down in this way can it also dry properly inside and float safely in its garage .
You don't lose sight of it, don't let your sharp friend swing and you also protect the double edge blade. By the way, read ' All about double edge blades' in the attached article.
Finally
If you want to enjoy your safety razor for as long as possible, it is important that you cherish it. If you clean the shaver thoroughly every time after a shave, you will have to use a deep cleaning less often.
For example, when changing the Double Edge razor blade, you can rinse the razor well and clean it with a soft brush. If you also include this in your razor regimen, you will enjoy it for years to come!
Tip: Feel free to check our razor parts and maintenance page . Very handy if you only need to replace a specific part and don't have to buy a whole instrument right away.
If you still have questions, we would love to hear from you!
Lots of clean success.
Your friends, The Alpha Men.