How do I maintain my Merkur Progress?

**Brio1** · 06-30-2010, 09:09 AM

I am new to wet shaving and was given a Merkur Progress as a gift. What is the best way to keep it looking new and to clean it? I have noticed a white residue building up on it already. Will this effect the blade and razor over time?

**ackvil** · 06-30-2010, 10:56 AM

I have been using my Progress for several months. What I do in between shaves is open the razor a little bit, run hot water through it, and then dip it in Isopropyl alcohol. When it comes time to change the blade I run hot water through it and rub it down with a wash cloth. I then dry it and dip it in Isopropyl alcohol. I have the same procedure with all of my razors. My FB goes back to 1959 and still is in pristine condition.

**wholesnocone** · 07-01-2010, 07:21 AM

Funny...I was going to ask the same question.

(Boy, has it really been a year and a half since i last posted here???)

Anyhow, thanks for the response, Brio1. Time to send my razor on a bender.

-benjy

**Drubbing** · 07-01-2010, 08:07 AM

A wipe down between blade changes is all that's needed to remove any white soap residue. Anything beyond that adds a bit more TLC.

**Geordon** · 07-01-2010, 01:04 PM

The white residue is most likely to be either hard-water deposits or soap-scum. Either way, there's not much that you can do to prevent this build-up from happening, other than meticulously drying your razor.

About every 6 weeks or so, I give my Popular (soon to be a Progress long-handle) a soaking with CLR cleaner to get rid of the hard water deposits. This has the added benefit of giving my sink a good clean out, too. My water is rock-hard. :(

**Harvey** · 07-01-2010, 01:34 PM

Old tooth brushes and pipe cleaners work wonders..just with ordinary liquid soap ..a bit of non detergent oil on a q-tip and all is well in shaverdom.