Using vintage brushes...

Ok...this may sound strange...but hear me out. I love vintage shaving gear. Like many on TSD I have a passion for Gillettes, GEMS, Autostrops, etc. I just can't bring myself to buy vintage shaving brushes from "the wild". Call me a sissy if you like, but my worry with vintage brushes is "cooties". Sorry to use such a technical term, so let me define. I consulted the "knower of all things" (Google) and "cootie" is defined as: "a children's term for an imaginary germ". I do know from operating rooms that hair is the one item that can not be sterilized. If you find a hair in a sterile packet you have to run the instruments through the process again...minus the hair. And, so...my logic...(ok...give me some leeway here) is that while we can sterilize a Gillette razor with a dip in alcohol, we can't sterilize a brush because the bristles may carry germs. Maybe this is a stretch...but I draw the analogy of buying a used toothbrush at an antique store...and using it to brush your teeth.

Am I the only germaphobe who feels this way? I have passed by many a fine vintage brush in an antique store. I just can't bring myself to buy (and use) one. I can, however, see buying a vintage brush to refurbish with a new knot.

Signed,

 

I have several vintage brushes that I use. I just washed them with antibacterial hand soap then used as normal. Zero issues.

 

Sterilization is not required. Only sanitization. You can sanitize things with lots of chemicals that are safe for brushes. Quick dunk in a mild alcohol solution for instance. But honestly there is nothing living in an old brush that isn't also living on your skin.

 

I'm with you regarding the general ick factor of using vintage brushes, although I do love restoring and reknotting the handles. If anything, the process of cutting down and removing a few vintage knots has increased my germaphobia about using them.

 

I'm not real big on dwelling on such matters. but the vintage brushes I've ran across probably haven't seen use in twenty years or so. from what I remember, pathogens have a lifespan of hours, maybe days. I think decades of non-use would be a pretty good defense.
+ the wash in antibacterial soap
I think I'd be more afraid of dust bunnies.
besides you could look at vintage brushes as handle donors. replace the knot you've got a new brush.

 

+1-My only vintage brush that does not have a new knot is my 31 year old Old Spice boar brush. It is great!

 

That is a fine looking OS brush....looks to be in good condition. No cooties in sight!

 

Oxygenated cleaner mixed with Borax should loosen up dirt and eliminate cooties.

I don't mind vintage handles but I do like new knots.

 

I clean my vintage brushes with antibacterial soap. Never had any issues.

 

The only vintage brush I have had a knot so mangled that I replaced it with a new knot. I have the "heebie-jeebies" about old brushes, too

 

I don't think there's anything a good cleaning can't take care of, unless you're talking about pre 1920 horsehair brushes. Once we entered the "sterilized" era, millions of men used shaving brushes they kept sitting around for years, I'm not aware of any ill effects.

 

Close your eyes...you'll never know.

 

I can understand your fears. I really can. When's the last time we saw on the news that someone caught jinglinglings <---- I made that up..from using an old 1950's shaving brush that they bought at a yard sale and didn't sterilize it? Never...

 

Very attractive-both the brush and mug

 

I have had problems with some vintage brushes having bad knots that either shed, or are not thick enough to pick enough soap to make a nice lather. I did pick up a Everready 600 from the pass around box that is the best vintage brush I have tried. It doesn't shed, it is a synthetic, and it can whip up a great lather.

 

Personally I don't think that would bother me. Having said that, I'm not a collector of vintage brushes.

 

I douse mine in vinegar, rinse, then do a good washing in Dawn antibacterial. Then let it sit for 10-15 minutes and rinse it well. I then use a good hair conditioner(don't tell the wife), and let it sit for anyone 10-15 minutes. Rinse, then air dry. If the knot hasn't fallen out by then, it's ready to use.

 

I've only bought one vintage brush but it was never used it's nice it's the one you see here it was made in Austria

 

I have and use more than one vintage brush. I am very fond of my Rubberset 400 and just cleaned it with warm soapy water and proceeded to use it. I can't imagine anything that could kill me living on a vintage brush that hasn't been used for years. My cleaning is more to remove dust than anything else. I rinse them until the water comes out clean.