Blood borne diseases?

[professorchaos]

I use medical grade sanitizer. It is easy enough that it isn't worth the worry of not doing it.

[spindlecone]

Let me set forth some more facts,I work in surgury and have for 42 yrs.
They don't use cloth anymore,Hospitals do not even have laundrys these days.
Everything is disposible.
wearing your own scrubs from home is allowed except in the O.R,has nothing to do with sterility,if you deal with sterile items you don a sterile gown and gloves.
that being said,I somewhat agree that a hone that never really drys can be suspect,soak it in a bleach solution overnight,end of percieved problem.do the same with metal objects such as razors.
Brushes? no issue with me,have never seen a used brush I would remotely consider buying,but would have no problem actually using one,the sky is not falling folks.

[Walter Sobchak]

Let me set forth some facts here, this is not opinion but fact. I am a paramedic and the infection control officer for our agency. There are some "bugs" that can live on a surface for some time, especially a hone or brush which is porous and often kept wet or moist. If you can get a hold of some medical sanitizer and follow the instructions for sanitizing a surface, Usually spray it on or soak your item in it for 10-15 minutes and rinse. In the alternative a 1:5 bleach solution will kill most anything again 10-15 min soak in this solution and then rinse. I would be careful of what it might do to some scales or to a brush and for that fact I don't recommend used brushes; disagree if you wish but read just a couple articles on staph infections, MRSA and Hep A. there is a reason no fibrous surfaces are re-used in a medical setting. Cloth items are actually sterilized in special washing procedures, water at 212 degrees not just bleach and this is why OR, Lab and other procedure areas that have contact with sterile items or the packaging of them are required to wear hospital issued scrubs rather than ones laundered at home. When in doubt sanitize your item. It is not overly expensive and it may save you extensive medical treatment or a disease you can not get rid of.

Great Info. Thanks.

I would also ask Kingfisher, if you're out there, to weigh in on this subject as you have several times in the past.

[zamanakhan]

Awesome the bleach solution sounds good, also I can validate the fact that hospitals make you leave the scrubs there so they can be sanitized. My sister worked at a hospital in PA and they did that there, however she is working in Florida and they now have disposable everything. I guess different places have different regulations. As long as the end result is the same. I plan on soaking the items over night in the bleach solution, I am sure this is probably over kill but if it gives a bit of piece of mind than no harm done.

[instpasr]

Let me set forth some more facts,I work in surgury and have for 42 yrs.
They don't use cloth anymore,Hospitals do not even have laundrys these days.
Everything is disposible.
wearing your own scrubs from home is allowed except in the O.R,has nothing to do with sterility,if you deal with sterile items you don a sterile gown and gloves.
that being said,I somewhat agree that a hone that never really drys can be suspect,soak it in a bleach solution overnight,end of percieved problem.do the same with metal objects such as razors.
Brushes? no issue with me,have never seen a used brush I would remotely consider buying,but would have no problem actually using one,the sky is not falling folks.

Some O.R.s are even allowing scrubs from home now. Yes I know I cringed too, but we used to do a lot of things like wear white lab coats because they kept us clean when we went to lunch even though some people would have the same coat for an entire career. Those things are called sacred cows. If you get a razor on the BST or fleaBay use some common sense clean it up to your level of comfort and enjoy. You can easily drive yourself crazy worrying about how clean a razor is. Remember were not doing open heart surgery (my old OR job) were having a shave.

[Walter Sobchak]

You should definitely do whatever makes you sleep better.

I wholeheartedly agree that using an ISO bath (and letting it dry- that's key), any of the 'cides, or a bleach solution is so easy and effective that it's requisite for me. Why risk it? I also understand why some people are comfortable with just soaping & scrubbing a new razor before use. Manual removal of harmful particles on a non-porous surface is pretty darn effective when you do it right.

I don't buy used soaps/creams or brushes, however.


My first 'good' brush was "used".

I made sure it was bone dry when I received it, used Borax on it, then shampoo, then conditioner (not in an attempt to sterilize), then I let it dry completely once again before using it. I felt pretty confident that any cooties would have been either washed away or dead by the time that process had been completed.


I recently got a straight from Larry. I was so excited to use it that I completely forgot to do my usual Barbicide ritual. I was horrified by my negligence. Especially since I had a few weepers with that first shave.

It's the first and only time I've forgotten to do a pre-use Barbicide soak. I'm just glad I bought it from a reputable seller who does a pre-sterilization.

[vmank1q]

I realize iam being really paranoid but u can never be to careful

And so you should be. I had an uncle who was into straight razors. He would buy them from antique stores, ebay etc. One day he bought a razor and in his haste (and stupidity) he diluted the barbicide incorrectly.

Later that night he shaved with, what he thought was a 'clean' razor.

The next couple of days he developed a rash on his neck and cheeks. He thought maybe it was razor burn because he didn't hone it correctly or something.

A few more days passed and his rash worsened. My auntie wanted him to visit the doctor, but he was a stubborn old man and brushed it off, hoping it would clear in a few days.

It didn't clear.

Within a week the rash had spread all over his upper body. His eyes itched and were terribly bloodshot. He still wouldn't visit the doctor. He didn't feel ill or anything.

My auntie begged, but he still wouldn't go as he was going on a hunting trip in a few days and hoped it would clear.

Within two weeks, what they thought was a harmless rash caused by razor burn turned out to be a flesh eating parasite.

They found him in his cabin. The parasite had eaten his left eyeball leaving just an empty lifeless socket. His hair had fallen out due to extreme stress and the rash consumed his whole body. He couldn't talk or walk.

He was rushed to the hospital.

They gave him a super strong course of antibiotics which cleared the whole thing up.

The doctor knew it was the razor as he had heard of this before.

These days he don't shave and is the proud owner of a long white beard and a diamond studded eye patch.

The odds of a flesh eating parasite being on your razor is pretty rare. Probably like 1 in 10 or something. That's what the doctor reckoned anyway.

Just make sure you clean it correctly and you should be fine.

[luvmysuper]

Anyone who is worried about a used brush, razor, soap or cream -

I'll be happy to take them off your hands so you don't have to worry any more.

Anectdotal scary stories are not evidence. As many folks as there are here with various AD's and the frequency of hardware and software turnover, it surely would have manifested itself in first hand accounts in our own threads.

To my knowledge there has not been one case in 34,000 members.

I'd say that's pretty darn good stats.

[StillShaving]

If one is really concerned about Hepatitis A & B there is a vaccine to protect against that. But I don't think this vaccine is necessary for used shaving items, its mainly useful if you travel to undeveloped countries where sanitation standards are not good.

[instpasr]

What we need a vaccine for is all of the various ADs we acquire by hanging out around here never mind what was I thinking I enjoy my acquisition disorders.

[Walker]

Anyone who is worried about a used brush, razor, soap or cream -

I'll be happy to take them off your hands so you don't have to worry any more.

Anectdotal scary stories are not evidence. As many folks as there are here with various AD's and the frequency of hardware and software turnover, it surely would have manifested itself in first hand accounts in our own threads.

To my knowledge there has not been one case in 34,000 members.

I'd say that's pretty darn good stats.

I've never sterilized anything. Brushes or straights. After reading this i guess i should do it in the future. I really just never gave it any thought.

[Legion]

And so you should be. I had an uncle who was into straight razors. He would buy them from antique stores, ebay etc. One day he bought a razor and in his haste (and stupidity) he diluted the barbicide incorrectly.

Later that night he shaved with, what he thought was a 'clean' razor.

The next couple of days he developed a rash on his neck and cheeks. He thought maybe it was razor burn because he didn't hone it correctly or something.

A few more days passed and his rash worsened. My auntie wanted him to visit the doctor, but he was a stubborn old man and brushed it off, hoping it would clear in a few days.

It didn't clear.

Within a week the rash had spread all over his upper body. His eyes itched and were terribly bloodshot. He still wouldn't visit the doctor. He didn't feel ill or anything.

My auntie begged, but he still wouldn't go as he was going on a hunting trip in a few days and hoped it would clear.

Within two weeks, what they thought was a harmless rash caused by razor burn turned out to be a flesh eating parasite.

They found him in his cabin. The parasite had eaten his left eyeball leaving just an empty lifeless socket. His hair had fallen out due to extreme stress and the rash consumed his whole body. He couldn't talk or walk.

He was rushed to the hospital.

They gave him a super strong course of antibiotics which cleared the whole thing up.

The doctor knew it was the razor as he had heard of this before.

These days he don't shave and is the proud owner of a long white beard and a diamond studded eye patch.

The odds of a flesh eating parasite being on your razor is pretty rare. Probably like 1 in 10 or something. That's what the doctor reckoned anyway.

Just make sure you clean it correctly and you should be fine.

That should slow the traffic on BST and ebay for a while. Good work.

[Pete_T]

And so you should be. I had an uncle who was into straight razors. He would buy them from antique stores, ebay etc. One day he bought a razor and in his haste (and stupidity) he diluted the barbicide incorrectly.

Later that night he shaved with, what he thought was a 'clean' razor.

The next couple of days he developed a rash on his neck and cheeks. He thought maybe it was razor burn because he didn't hone it correctly or something....

Just make sure you clean it correctly and you should be fine.

Dear god. I'm glad to hear your uncle is ok.

Lets not forget that besides flesh eating bacteria there are other diseases out there, such as prion diseases, that piddly little barbercide wont even touch. Mad cow disease, anyone? "Vintage straight razor"? I think we should call them what they really are--Vintage death traps!

[Shangas]

As others have said, while it is good to give a razor a good clean if you don't know where it's been (and sometimes even if you do!), you don't need to fully sterilise it. It's not necessary. I wash any new razors (New vintage, I mean) with boiling water and soap and then I run it through the ultrasonic cleaner to get rid of more gunk, back in the hot water, a wipe-down and I consider that clean.

[TonyGold]

Dear god. I'm glad to hear your uncle is ok.

Lets not forget that besides flesh eating bacteria there are other diseases out there, such as prion diseases, that piddly little barbercide wont even touch. Mad cow disease, anyone? "Vintage straight razor"? I think we should call them what they really are--Vintage death traps!

We really must stop mad cows using razors

[TonyGold]

It wasn't that long ago when the barber put the finishing touches to his work by dropping a straight down the nape of your neck until it connected with your collar. To ensure the finest finish he used to strop it first on a medieval gunk encrusted strop and then work it over a few times in the palm of his hand. (I'm surprised he didn't spit on the palm of his hand first - perhaps he did but I forget). Barbers Rash must have been prevalent. The condition even got a name!

[mikey]

Hello Larry,

On somewhat of a tangent, any opinion/advice on pros/cons of 70% isopropyl alcohol vs. the 91% isopropyl alcohol that the drugstores now carry?

I had heard that 70% was a better general disinfectant.

Thanks,
Mike

...I use 70% isopropyl alcohol, as stated above, to sterilize razors before mailing...

[Brownbear]

It wasn't that long ago when the barber put the finishing touches to his work by dropping a straight down the nape of your neck until it connected with your collar. To ensure the finest finish he used to strop it first on a medieval gunk encrusted strop and then work it over a few times in the palm of his hand. (I'm surprised he didn't spit on the palm of his hand first - perhaps he did but I forget). Barbers Rash must have been prevalent. The condition even got a name!

It was the memory of that experience as a kid, the hot lather, the sound of the stropping, the feel and sound of the razor on my neck and behind my ears, that made me take up the straight last fall.

I clean my razors well with soft scrub and a brass brush, soak them in Lysol solution for an hour and away I go. If my brain gets eaten by prions it won't be from a 50 year old razor.

And as for the uncle found in his hunting cabin with a razor contracted systemic infection, did anyone tell him what you can get from dressing or eating game in the field? Bruecellosis, tularemia, trichenosis, worms of various sorts and so on. I'm pretty sure a fellow Alaskan of some note contracted a brain eating prion while moose hunting, oh its a scary world out there. And cartridges are manufactured in factories with all sorts of potential for contamination, you don't know who has handled them or their components, I hope you autoclave those puppies before you use them. And when was the last time you sterilized the top of a can of beer or soda pop before putting your mouth on it to drink? Better to stay at home and only touch things people deliver to you using a fresh kleenex each time................

[Jim]

Its dangerous outside the bubble-

[azmark]

Its dangerous outside the bubble-