So, I buy these razors. I’m not thinking about if they are going to rust or not. It doesn’t even cross my mind. The only thing that crosses my mind is when they are going to get dull and how much are they going to cost when I go to purchase them again. Also, if I should try a different brand or not. But then one day I walk in the bathroom and rust begins to form on my razor. I was like “what the hell” but then I began to think “how do you keep razors from rusting?”
I searched the internet for answers and asked fellow shavers in my social circle for advice. Here is what I came up with.
The basic thing to do is to keep your blades from moisture at all costs. Obliviously you’re shaving and you’ll have to rinse off the blade after every pass. But once you’re done shaving, I keep them dry as much as possible. Razor blades have to be properly cared for in order to prevent rusting. Rust can form whenever water starts to sit on the metal. This causes the metal to oxidize. Then when it rusts, the blade can dull a lot quicker. Dull blades equal nicks and cuts or you won’t be able to shave at all.
Read More:
- Tired of dealing with rusty blades, then get rid of shaving althogether. Try out these shaving alternatives.
- Cleaning the dirt from your razor can help decrease the rustiness
Step 1
Wash your blade off, especially after every pass with the blade. Do this for all the blades, whether you have a straight razor, safety razor, or cartridge razor. Doing this removes the dead skin cells, hair, and shaving cream.
For a straight razor, you can gently pat it with a dry rag to remove any moisture. A safety razor, remove the blade, and dry it off the same way. With a cartridge razor, I lay it down on the dry rag, and let the water drip down, or ill gently pat it dry. Another way to dry it off is to sit it by a fan or window with air blowing.
Step 2
You want to store your razor somewhere other than the bathroom. Don’t leave it in the shower neither. Leaving it there is just you basically giving it a fast track to rusting. The reason why the bathroom isn’t a good place is because of the excess humidity in the bathroom.
You ever took a shower, that humidity fogs up your mirror, a lot of steam flowing around. It’s not like you’re taking a shower every hour or two, but still, you get the idea. Or you’ll leave it by your bathroom sink, and water splashes all over. So, you should store it inside a drawer or shelf that is located outside of the bathroom. Basically, do your best to keep it away from any moisture.
Step 3
You can drop some camellia, baby oil, or mineral oil on your blades with a rag or cutip. I like to do this after every use to just add another layer of protection. You want to make sure before applying any of these oils that the blade is completely dry.
The oils help prevent oxidization from happening. Another thing you can do, is to actually leave the blade in a small amount of oil. I’ll take a small cup or container. Put some oil in it and leave my razor in there. As long the oil is covering the blades, then its fine. I do this from time to time with my cartridge razors.
Can you use a razor with rust on it?
No, you shouldn’t. The rusty surface is maybe difficult to clean. And then it would house infectious bacteria, then you’ll get nick and ticks while shaving. The bacteria can transfer over into the cuts.
I’ve heard plenty of times that shaving with a rusty razor puts you at risk of getting tetanus. But tetanus isn’t caused by rust or some rusty metal. The cause of this is a bacterial infection called clostridium tetani.
There is a reason why you may associate tetanus with rust. Maybe because rusty pieces of metal or steel to be either sharp (easy to get into the body). I wouldn’t get too worked up about getting tetanus from a rusty razor. Since the chances of you contacting tetanus via a rusty razor would be small. But still not a great idea to use a rusty razor.
How should you store your razor to prevent rust?
Someplace that has no moisture. I would recommend outside the bathroom. It can be in your bedroom or set aside a little counter outside your bathroom. If you have a container or drawer in your bathroom that humidity and moisture aren’t able to get into then you should store it there. I have a little small travel bag that is used to store mines. I place it in there once I’m done shaving and pat it dry.
If you have a cartridge razor, you can remove the cartridge and store the razor in a container filled with oil.
How long does it take for a razor to rust?
It can start to rust from 6months to up to a year. Given more time it’ll rust until it is no longer recognizable as a razor blade. The amount of time the razor will rust can be increased by how you handle it. So, leaving it around moisture. Then you can expect to see rust a lot quicker.
What happens when you use a dirty rusty razor?
If you’re able to shave with a rusty razor and have no other option at the moment. Then go ahead. The problem isn’t that you’re shaving with a rusty razor the problem lies with shaving with a rusty dirty razor. When you use a dirty razor, you can damage your chances of getting a smooth close shave. Also increase the risk of causing skin irritation, razor burn, and razor bumps. The bottom line is you don’t use a dirty razor or a rusty one.
Well, did you know an even though your blade may be rusty? It can trigger dangerous infectious bacteria if you were to cut yourself with it.
Remove rust from a safety razor?
First off, safety razor blades are plated with the best materials, so its uncommon to see them rust. But there are some made from bade stainless steel. Which can be susceptible to rusting. So, if you ever come across those blades, I hope this can help.
Approach 1:
- Take part your razor, soak the parts with water and vinegar after you’ve mixed them.
- Throw in a couple of teaspoons of baking soda. This will form a chemical reaction and a bubble will form. And this will work its way into the rust.
- Let it soak for a maximum time of two hours. No longer than that.
- Use a toothbrush and scrub the rust affected parts
- Take a microfiber cloth and wipe the razor down. The cloth should be stained with rust. Continue wiping it down until the rust is gone.
- Now rinse it off with water
- Check to see if any rust is left behind. Continue to the next step
Approach 2:
- Take a bowl, put salt in it, throw in some vinegar and mix together. Mix till you have a paste.
- Use your toothbrush, take the brush and paste then scrub off the rust from the razor. Use only a little bit of pressure when doing so.
- Wipe the razor pieces down using a microfiber cloth
- Rinse them off, allowing them to dry
Extra Tips
Always keep it in a good ventilated area. Keep it away from places that tend to be wet or moist such as the sink or shower.
Keep away from steam since it provides moisture and can help produce rust
When you clean off the rust, be thorough with it. Try to get every bit of rust off even if you cannot. Try your best. Not cleaning it off properly can bring the rust back.
In today’s society, it’s out with the old in with the new. Things are being thrown out when they no longer serve any use (as they should) but this shouldn’t be the case for your safety razor. With proper care, it can last a lifetime.