Brush Cleaning

I just cleaned all of my shaving brushes. I clean them every 6 months to remove dirt, oils, and soap residue. A number of my brushes are of vintage age, and I think the cleaning may extend their useful life. I use either MAC Brush Cleaner or Neutrogena Anti-Residue Formula Shampoo with tepid water, scrubbing the brush on my palm to build up a 'lather' before a tepid tap water rinse and a final soaking rinse. About every couple years I apply a hair conditioner.

Do you clean your brushes?

I do, a soak in Johnsons baby shampoo, followed by a palm lather and a thorough rinse and they are like new again.

I use baby shampoo because if you can use it on a baby then it will be ok for a badger brush!

I clean my brushes every 6 months or so. I use shampoo as you listed or soak in a mixture of Dawn dish detergent and warm water.

I clean my brushes every 6 months or so.  I use shampoo as you listed or soak in a mixture of Dawn dish detergent and warm water.

Pretty much same method! Got to take care of those badger devils

I clean my brushes now.

I have been using the brush cleaning soap that Superior Shave sells.

Before getting that in January I pretty much only used shaving soap. Since using the brush soap my shaving brushes are amazingly revitalized. Well the older ones at least.

I have hard water. I think part of the issue I had that made the transformation so impressive for me with my older, well used brushes was that they were suffering from mineral deposits as well as some soap build up. Aside from having hard water without a water softener I'm also a confessed tallow soap and vintage hard soap fanatic. The tallow and hard water probably made my problems worse than normal for the amount of time my brushes were used.

I have used it on brand new and also second hand brushes. So far I haven't seen any need to use it more than once on most of brushes.

It comes in a tub like hard shaving soap and has a paper label around the outside with gold filigree design. The name escapes me, I believe it's something German that basically means brush soap.

Made me a believer.

I clean my brushes every 6 months or so.  I use shampoo as you listed or soak in a mixture of Dawn dish detergent and warm water.

Pretty much same method!  Got to take care of those badger devils

So true. The little badger devils let you know when they require a good scrubbing.

It is amazing how much better the brushes perform when maintained.

Only when I use them for a shave. I have never cleaned any of my brushes in six years. It must be our super soft water that keeps them clean.

Yes, Zartgefühl. I've used it, sparingly so far, but it works really well. I also recently noticed some soap scum build-up embedded in the engraved script on one brush, but regular liquid hand soap and a firm toothbrush used gently took care of that.

. . . I have been using the brush cleaning soap that Superior Shave sells. . .

After every shave.
I hold the brush under very warm running water and then swirl and pump it in clean water in my lather bowl. This also cleans the bowl.
I repeat this last action until the water remains perfectly clear. Usually 2 to 3 times. I then squeeze without pulling or twisting and shake it till no moisture comes out.
I then remove all the soap scum from the handle with a microfibre cloth and do figure eight's on a terrycloth towel until it blossoms out. I then hang it hairs down in its rack.
I never put it in an enclosed container as that might encourage mould. It is dry in about 2 hours.
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Mickey

We have very hard well water, so soap scum build up and mineral deposits are bound to happen. I don't have a specific schedule and usually clean the brushes when I notice a drop in performance or notice some build up. I normally use Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo just like churchilllafemme. I did pick up a tin of the brush cleaning soap from TSS at one point. I'm not sure I've ever used it.