Have you ever heard of this??

A while back I was having some issues with my neck (some bumps I couldn't get to go away).  Thought ingrowns, turned out not.  Thought pimples, turned out not.  Had a biopsy by a dermatologist, couldn't figure out what they were.  Eventually he put me on some cream and they have disappeared and not returned at all, but it was during these visits that he told me something I have never in all my years of shaving the hair on my face heard...

Soak your blade in bleach after each shave.

To this day, I still have not followed this advice, but I find myself wondering often about it.  Mainly for fear that these bumps will reappear on my neck, but also because I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard anything like this...Ever...

Well, have you?

I've heard about using diluted bleach on some fungus based skin rashes but not rinsing the blade or razor. You may look into or ask your Dr about using Barbicide, it was designed specifically for the barber trade to sterilize razors & combs.

I've heard about using diluted bleach on some fungus based skin rashes but not rinsing the blade or razor. You may look into or ask your Dr about using Barbicide, it was designed specifically for the barber trade to sterilize razors & combs.

I had also considered using the barbicide, or asking about it since I usually have a lot of it around the house.  You usually see barbers pull it out of the barbicide, rinse it and go straight to the customer too.  I'd think it would be gentler then bleach.  He did say dilute it also.

Just wondering how common this was really.

Clinton, about 40 years ago, when I was shaving with whatever the wonder cartridge of the time was, I was having skin problems.  My doctor recommended that I soak the razor in alcohol.  Not wanting to do that, I got into the habit of taking a cotton ball with witch hazel and gently going over the blade.  My thought was that the alcohol in the witch hazel would kill any bacteria on the blade.  I also did this the next day when beginning my shave.  It was at this time that I started using witch hazel as a daily ritual when shaving.  After all of this time, and now with SE and DE blades, that wipe down of the blades and following up my shave with a witch hazel splash seems to have worked, even when using a blade for a week.

Clinton, about 40 years ago, when I was shaving with whatever the wonder cartridge of the time was, I was having skin problems.  My doctor recommended that I soak the razor in alcohol.  Not wanting to do that, I got into the habit of taking a cotton ball with witch hazel and gently going over the blade.  My thought was that the alcohol in the witch hazel would kill any bacteria on the blade.  I also did this the next day when beginning my shave.  It was at this time that I started using witch hazel as a daily ritual when shaving.  After all of this time, and now with SE and DE blades, that wipe down of the blades and following up my shave with a witch hazel splash seems to have worked, even when using a blade for a week.

Awesome Freddy, thanks for the tip.  I use Witch Hazel after every shave, so maybe I'll try that.  Much less hassle then dealing with Barbicide, or Bleach...

Clinton, about 40 years ago, when I was shaving with whatever the wonder cartridge of the time was, I was having skin problems.  My doctor recommended that I soak the razor in alcohol.  Not wanting to do that, I got into the habit of taking a cotton ball with witch hazel and gently going over the blade.  My thought was that the alcohol in the witch hazel would kill any bacteria on the blade.  I also did this the next day when beginning my shave.  It was at this time that I started using witch hazel as a daily ritual when shaving.  After all of this time, and now with SE and DE blades, that wipe down of the blades and following up my shave with a witch hazel splash seems to have worked, even when using a blade for a week.

Awesome Freddy, thanks for the tip.  I use Witch Hazel after every shave, so maybe I'll try that.  Much less hassle then dealing with Barbicide, or Bleach...

For this, though, I wouldn't recommend alcohol-free witch hazel.  It's the combination of both that you want.  For an inexpensive alternative to Dickinson's try Target's or Wal-Mart's witch hazel.  Like Dickinson's both contain 14% alcohol but cost a fraction of the price.  While there are no guarantees, I hope this works for you.

I know it's a tad wateful, but why not just use a fresh blade every shave? That's what my xerm recommended when he found out I used a DE.

I know it's a tad wateful, but why not just use a fresh blade every shave?  That's what my xerm recommended when he found out I used a DE.

That is definitely another option, CRAusmus. My uncle, who is 89 years old and has been using a Gillette Fatboy since they came out, told me he once got a very bad infection and from that time on always changed his blade daily. In all fairness, I don't know how he maintained the razor and blade up to the point of his infection.

Whatever you decide for maintenance, Clinton, l would be curious to know about it.  

I know it's a tad wateful, but why not just use a fresh blade every shave?  That's what my xerm recommended when he found out I used a DE.

That assumes that the factory sanitizes the blade and packaging before it gets to you. They don't. Even with a new blade for every shave one would still need to sanitize it.

The only blade that I know of that comes closest to a sanitized blade would be the Personna Med Preps. But all they get are additional washing steps. There could be other blades, but I don't know of them.

I know it's a tad wateful, but why not just use a fresh blade every shave?  That's what my xerm recommended when he found out I used a DE.

That assumes that the factory sanitizes the blade and packaging before it gets to you. They don't. Even with a new blade for every shave one would still need to sanitize it.

The only blade that I know of that comes closest to a sanitized blade would be the Personna Med Preps. But all they get are additional washing steps. There could be other blades, but I don't know of them.

Well,l that's sort of scary!