Will alcohol remove the numbers from an adjustable razor? Will using Scrubbing Bubbles regularly to get rid of soap scum damage a razor?
Alcohol should not remove the numbers on a adjustable. Warm soapy water is all you should need for an old razor IMO. Just keep changing it out if needed.
I clean my "finds" with scrubbing bubbles, then run them through the dishwasher. After that I'm like Mark, just regular soap and water and a toothbrush.
I prefer a splash of selzer with my alcohol….never acquired a taste for scrubbing bubbles. They tickle my nose. I've done multiple soaks with scrubbing bubbles on most of my DE razors with no deleterious effect. I have heard where dishwasher detergent can do nasty things to finishes, so be wary.
I don't understand how razors get so grungy. A man's gotta take care of his tools. I have a cheap electric toothbrush that I use to clean razors. I have even been known to put a little toothpaste on it and brush them. However, warm Dawn and water mixture works well, too.
I recently sprayed Scrubbing Bubbles on a razor, intending to let it sit a couple minutes, and then promptly forgot all about it until I saw it the next day, about 18 hours later. No harm done.
I also use an old very soft toothbrush on my Gillette adjustables to get into all of the nooks and crannies that they have. I use a little Dawn with it and then rinse and dry. I also spray some isopropyl alcohol on them to displace any leftover water. I then hang the razor with the doors open on my VDH stand. It may be overkill but I want them to look as good as I got them for a long time. Also there is a thread on repainting the numbers, and I used the paint and rub method to great success on my Gillette "Black Beauty".
Whatever you do DO NOT leave them in alcohol to soak for any length of time. I did that with two of my dad's old razors and ended up having to send them to Razor Emporium to get re-plated because of it.
Scrubbing Bubbles-GOOD killer soap scum remover with stellar germicidal properties. Bleach (dishwasher tabs/liquid) NOT GOOD. Can react with certain metals and finishes. Smells bad. Alcohol- quick dip only sanitizer. But that's just me.
I'm not worried about germs. I use the same razor for a week, and when I clean it up, dish soap and a toothbrush won't remove the soap scum. I've been dipping it in alcohol for a minute or two as a preventative.
Sorry, I assumed this was for a recent procurement and not a daily driver. Tooth paste is a fine abrasive and should not damage plating.
I give my razors a scrubbing bubbles treatment every so often just for that. Soap, especially saponified animal fats leave a lot of residue on surfaces. Scrubbing bubbles removes soap scum very well.
I give a gentle wash and dry after every use on mine. Just a tiny dab of the hand soap pump to break up the shave soap residue then dry off with a soft towel and put it away shiny.
I ran the nickel batch of razors I got a few weeks ago through the dishwasher (not the Super Adjustable or plastic ones). They came out perfectly spotless.
