Tutorial Clean & De-Stink your shaving brushes

Discussion in 'Tutorials' started by Neolithium, Jan 2, 2013.

  1. HolyRollah

    HolyRollah BaconLord

    Majority of my brushes have never had an offensive odor, but a couple of the boar brushes I acquired had a distinct gamey funk.
     
  2. cubancigar2000

    cubancigar2000 Well-Known Member

    Ok, I don't do boar so maybe that's why
     
  3. cmorris357

    cmorris357 catching flies.........

    Not necessarily
     
  4. mylesc1234

    mylesc1234 Active Member

    Would this also help with breaking in a new brush?
     
  5. Sara-s

    Sara-s This Pun for Hire

    Yes, it would.
     
  6. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Best way to break in a new brush is just use it.
     
  7. chambolle

    chambolle New Member

    If you scroll back through this thread, you will find my earlier post on this whole 'clean and de-stink' program. At least one highly reputable brush maker - Thater - specifically warns NOT to use the cleaning regime that is recommnded way back at the beginning of this thread because it will damage the bristles on badger brushes. Lemme ask you this - would you shampoo your hair with borax? I would hazard a guess not.

    That's good enough for me to take a 'do no harm' approach and decline to follow the borax etc. cleaning plan offered above. Instead, I purchased and use the brush cleaning soap made by Da Vinci, which is formulated to clean and maintain all of their brushes, including badger makeup and shaving brushes. It is mild, it seems to work, it leaves my brushes smelling subtly citrusy, and it doesn't leave me worrying whether I have damaged my expensive Thater, Muhle, Vie-Long, Da Vinci (and so on) brushes in the misguided belief I am caring for them. I also am not convinced that the somewhat offensive aroma of vinegar is going to be an improvement over whatever funky animal scents are inherent in boar, badger, horse and other natural, animal derived brushes.

    Particularly with a brand new brush, I just wouldn't go there. Get some purpose built brush cleaning soap like Da Vinci (and there are others) if you must, or just lather the thing up a few times with a rich, scented soap (howzabout MDC fougere, par example), thoroughly rinse each time, and then get on with it. Your brush may smell a bit like an animal at first because - sacre bleu! - it's made with bristly hair that came off an animal. If that offends, there are a growing number of quite good 'vegan' shaving brushes out there. BTW, they don't smell like carrots, onions, garlic or boiled rutabaga.
     
    178-bplatoon likes this.
  8. mylesc1234

    mylesc1234 Active Member

    Thank you for taking the time to type that reply. I will definitely look into buying some of the mentioned brush cleaning soap.
     
  9. Jim Bennett

    Jim Bennett Member

    Bingo!
     
    SlowRoller47 likes this.
  10. Gerry Canter

    Gerry Canter Member

    Just tried it. It worked great. Thanks.
     
    beemers likes this.
  11. DanElHombre

    DanElHombre Member

    I used this method when I first started wet shaving. My beginners kit included a boar hair brush, and I purchased an additional boar hair brush too. Both Omegas. This worked very well to get the funk out. I never considered needing to periodically clean my brush. Makes sense though. Thanks.
     
  12. Boojum1

    Boojum1 Valet Parking Available Here

    I just now came across your post. :signs011: :happy088:
     
    Douglas Carey likes this.
  13. waddowedonowmo

    waddowedonowmo Well-Known Member

    A lot of information here; thank you for all of this.
     
    Douglas Carey likes this.
  14. Str8Edge

    Str8Edge Active Member

    How well does Dawn work?
     
    Douglas Carey likes this.
  15. Douglas Carey

    Douglas Carey Wildman

    Dawn works great.
     
  16. Str8Edge

    Str8Edge Active Member

    Thx Got a new Badger (my first, always used Boar). Smells not too bad, but...
     
    Douglas Carey likes this.
  17. Alex7

    Alex7 Active Member


    Can I use the same toothbrush that I clean my safety razor with(since my razor and my brush are both tools that I use on my face)?
     
    Douglas Carey likes this.
  18. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Yes.
     
    Douglas Carey likes this.
  19. Hardwood Shavings

    Hardwood Shavings New Member

    This is great! It is always nice once the badger smell is gone from a new brush.
     
  20. dragonhf

    dragonhf Member

    In Sweden they don't sel Borax to private person.
    I think I will go for the baby's champoo and conditioner.
    Or does apple vinegar help, I only have that on at home.
    My Edwin Jagger badger brush stinks, red to do something about it.
     
    Lexicon Devil and Douglas Carey like this.

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