Maintaining Your Gear
How to make a brush last for years and a razor last for decades. Drying, blade rotation, soap storage.
Razors
A DE razor has no consumables except the blade. A well-made razor can last for decades. Brass Gillettes from the 1940s are still in daily use.
After every shave: rinse hot water through the head with the blade still in. Shake off. Stand on a towel to dry.
Once a week: take the head apart (three-piece pulls into top cap, base plate, handle). Brush soap residue out with an old toothbrush. Rinse. Dry. Reassemble.
Once a year: some shavers put a tiny dab of light mineral oil on the handle threads. Wipe off any excess so none reaches the blade, and follow your razor maker’s instructions if they differ. Reassemble. Done.
What kills razors: leaving water trapped in the threads or under a stuck blade. Corrosion starts in those crevices and works outward.
Blades
Blades are the consumable. Track them.
Most shavers get around three to five shaves per blade, some get six or seven, and the Badger & Blade wiki puts the range at two to seven. It depends on the blade, your razor and your beard. Judge by feel: when it tugs or drags, change it.
Write the date you opened the blade on the back of the wrapper. When it starts dragging, it’s done. Fresh blades cut so easily you’ll forget they’re there.
Disposing: A blade bank is best. A sturdy plastic or metal container with a lid and a small slot also works. Drop used blades in. When it’s nearly full, tape the slot shut, label it as sharps, and ask your local waste authority what to do: some scrap-metal recyclers take full ones, many curbside programs do not, and some places want them in the household trash. Don’t leave loose blades in trash bags.
Brushes
Brushes are where most beginners lose money, by treating them carelessly.
Daily: rinse warm water through the knot until the water runs clear. Squeeze gently from base to tip. Shake once. Stand bristles-down in a stand or against a wall.
Weekly (if you can): leave the brush completely dry for 24 hours. This is why rotating two brushes is recommended, one shaves while the other fully dries. Brushes used daily without full drying develop a sour mildew smell over months.
Once a month: Hard water can leave a white film on the bristles. Check what your brush maker says before using vinegar; Mühle, for one, says not to. A mild shampoo once a month is the safer routine.
Don’t: dunk in boiling water (softens the glue plug), bend the bristles backward, store wet in a closed cup, share your razor or brush with anyone.
Soap
Hard soaps (Stirling, MSC, B&M Reserve) need essentially zero maintenance. Just keep them dry between uses, the lid serves this purpose. If a soap dries out completely, drop a teaspoon of warm water on top for 60 seconds before loading.
Soft soaps and creams (Proraso, Wholly Kaw): keep the lid sealed. They dry out faster than hard pucks.
A 4 oz tub of artisan soap gives roughly 60 to 120 shaves by one maker’s estimate, about 15 to 40 cents a shave; a larger jar goes further.
Aftershave splashes
A splash with plenty of alcohol resists spoilage well, but the scent fades, often within a year or two after opening. Throw out any splash that smells off, goes cloudy or has things floating in it. Keep them out of direct sunlight and you’ll get the most life.
Travel
Pack a hard case for the razor. In the US, TSA currently allows a safety razor through the checkpoint only without the blade, and loose blades go in checked baggage. The officer has the final say and the rule has changed before, so check tsa.gov before each trip. Our guide to flying with a safety razor has the details. A soft pouch is fine for the brush (only if it’s fully dry, otherwise mildew). Pre-load a sample tub with enough soap for the trip rather than packing a full puck.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean and store a double-edge razor?
Rinse hot water through the head after every shave with the blade still in, shake it off, and stand it on a towel to dry. Once a week take a three-piece head apart and brush the soap residue out with an old toothbrush. Once a year some shavers put a tiny dab of light mineral oil on the handle threads, wiping off any excess so none reaches the blade. What actually kills razors is water trapped in the threads or under a stuck blade.
How many shaves does a double-edge blade last?
Most shavers get around three to five shaves per blade, some get six or seven, and the Badger & Blade wiki puts the range at two to seven. It depends on the blade, your razor and your beard. Judge by feel: when it tugs or drags, change it. Write the date you opened the blade on the wrapper.
How should I dispose of used razor blades?
A blade bank is best. A sturdy plastic or metal container with a lid and a small slot also works. When it is nearly full, tape the slot shut, label it as sharps, and ask your local waste authority what to do: some scrap-metal recyclers take full blade banks, many curbside programs do not, and some places want them in the household trash. Never put loose blades in a trash bag, where they are a hazard to whoever handles it.
How long does a tub of shaving soap last?
A four ounce tub of artisan soap gives roughly 60 to 120 shaves by one maker's estimate, about 15 to 40 cents a shave, and a larger jar goes further. Hard soaps need almost no maintenance beyond keeping the lid on; soft soaps and creams dry out faster, so keep those sealed.
Replacement blades, brush stands, and care kits at The Wet Shaving Store →