Cleanin' yer DEs the smart way

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by moviemaniac, Mar 30, 2007.

  1. moviemaniac

    moviemaniac Tool Time

    How many of you guys and ladies are trying to clean yer DEs (or other kinds of razors) once a week with hot water, a toothbrush and toothpaste? And how many times do those razors look like brand-new afterwards?

    Well, I've got a suggestion for you. I bought an industrial-grade ultrasonic-cleaner a few weeks back and am in love with it. You can just about clean everything with it. Watches, Keys, Lighters, Rings, Jewellery, glasses, third teeth... and you can also use it to easily clean your DEs.
    Those calcium deposits on the razors are hell to get rid of - even for those ultrasonic cleaners. Where plain water or a drop of dish liquid does it easy for most things, you need something stronger here. I for myself use a few drops from a bottle of bathroom/toilet-cleaner, it's designed for exactly that kind of dirt - but, as always, YMMV.

    I've taken some pictures for you of how well my DEs clean up in about 6 to 7 minutes in the machine.

    Disclaimer: Please note that I don't take any responsibility whatsoever from any damage / loss of coating or any other problems that could arise from following this advise. Brands shown are only what I work with and do not exclude any other brands of cleaner that might work equally well or even better. (As long as you use any brand of industrial grade ultrasonic-cleaner and not that cheap 20$-plastic-stuff you should get great results).

    Please also note that these pictures and this guide are made/written for theshaveden.com and may not be used by anyone else than myself in any different way or any other location.


    Now for the pics:
    Here's a Merkur HD and a Gillette Adjustable ('62) after several shaves each. Don't they look dirty?


    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    A look at the machine:
    [​IMG]

    There you go, don't they look great? Whatever kind of "dirt" may seem to be left on the adjustable is actually the brassing and/or normal wear of an often used razor at the age of 45 years ;)
    Both razors have only been rinsed with fresh water afterwards and were dried in the sunlight - no polishing/wiping :cool:


    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Questions? Suggestions? Post 'em if ya got 'em! :D
     
  2. qhsdoitall

    qhsdoitall Wilbur

    Very nice indeed. Now, if you'll just buy me one of those doohickeys I'll use it. I promise. :D
     
  3. rick

    rick I'll make ya SCream!

    Me?....
    I'm way too cheap to buy a fancy doo-hickey like that one.
    When I change blades:
    1: Maas polish w/ old toothbrush to the entire razor
    2: Hot water rinse
    3: SoftScrub w/ bleach on old toothbrush to entire razor
    4: Hot water rinse

    So far....so good :cool:
     
  4. PottyDoctor

    PottyDoctor Jeff Foxworthy of Shaving

    Like it! Like it! And I just checked eBay for "ultrasonic cleaner" and there were 440 listings from small countertop units to giant industrial units.

    What a great idea. Thanks for the post.
     
  5. qhsdoitall

    qhsdoitall Wilbur

  6. SSLSTudio...

    SSLSTudio... Forum Debugger

    excellent Klaus ill be getting such a machine .
    they are not lying in some sort of liquid are they ? would be a bummer if you have to buy special liquid to work with the machien then its not so cost effective anymore :confused:

    me Like......::
     
  7. moviemaniac

    moviemaniac Tool Time

    Thanks very much, guys :D

    @Rich: I don't think you could find any use for an european cleaner needing a voltage of 230V DC if I bought you one ;)
    The one you pointed out doesn't look bad, but I'm no expert so I'd search online for reviews of that particular machine.

    @Rene: Nope, plain water from the tap works for most cleaning jobs. If the parts are oily I add 2 drops of household dishwashing-liquid or liquid soap and for DEs I add a coupla drops of household toilet cleaner to the water.
    Of course, the companies will tell you that you only get the best results when you use their own brand of cleaning-additive, but that's what every company says to boost their sales... ;)

    @Rick: Sure, works great too. But can you also clean a metal watchband to perfection in only 2 minutes? ;) It would be sheer luxury to only use the cleaner for the DEs, it works great for many hard to clean-thingies. :cool:
     
  8. Smedley

    Smedley New Member

    Really nice. And this avoids that "don't boil the plastic and bakelite" razor problem? Have you tried, or do you know anyone who has tried it? I can't see a problem with plastic handles, but I'm not 100% sure about bakelite and how it would stand up to ultrasonics.
     
  9. PottyDoctor

    PottyDoctor Jeff Foxworthy of Shaving

  10. moviemaniac

    moviemaniac Tool Time

    Plastic/bakelite should work just fine. I used it to clean my Mont Blanc and my Pelikan fountain pens and it worked as it should without any problems.
     
  11. Smedley

    Smedley New Member

    And if it works for fountain pens, it should work for gold-plated razors, which was my next question. :D

    Thanks for the tip, Klaus! I am going to price these things!
     
  12. moviemaniac

    moviemaniac Tool Time

    Yeh're welcome, David! :D
     
  13. _JP_

    _JP_ Searching for a Forum title

    This is the ultrasonic cleaner that I use. Mine is a different brand name but otherwise the exact identical machine. It's big enough to clean 3 DE razors in one batch, or any of the other items mentioned on that link. It's not heated (not really needed in most cases) but gets the job done. And for a much cheaper price!
     
  14. qaswer

    qaswer New Member

    I shall go with "rick" because it can be done 4 easy steps as defined .
     
  15. fritz

    fritz New Member

    I agree, that works Ok for most. But Futurs and Visions have some nooks and crannies that are hard to get a brush into. I use an all-day soak in vinegar to get rid of these hard-water deposits about once a month.

    P. S. : Oh, and yes, the ultrasonic cleaner probably would work just fine with these razors as well. I just wonder at the cost-effectiveness, since I don't really think I have anything else to use the ultrasonic for.
     
  16. _JP_

    _JP_ Searching for a Forum title

    If you follow the link in my previous post, you'll get an idea of the variety of items that one of those gadgets can clean. Then consider that you aren't using some sort of cleaning agent along with the time spent applying it. With the ultrasonic cleaner it's simply run it and rinse. Done.
     
  17. Steve

    Steve New Member

    JP,

    Can it clean chrome plated Merkur razors like the HD? Can it clean a shaving brush?

    Steve
     
  18. moviemaniac

    moviemaniac Tool Time

    Hi Steve,

    see my first post and the pictures - all DEs cleaned up there are chrome-plated ;)
    As far as cleaning shaving brushes are concerned: It does work, yes, but you should only dump the bristles under water and not the whole brush with the handle as you might lose a few hairs otherwise. :D
    The best solution as far as cleaning brushes is concerned, is to soak them in a borax-solution every few months, works very well.

    Oh, and welcome to the shave den! ::
     
  19. Steve

    Steve New Member

    I saw one machine that said you could not clean chrome in it. What product model do you use?
     
  20. Queen of Blades

    Queen of Blades Mistress of Mischief Staff Member

    Moderator Supporting Vendor
    Welcome to The Shave Den, Steve!
     

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