Why can't I wipe a blade?

[chicken neck]

I have been using some Crystal blades recently and absolutely love them. Ocassionally, I use some shaving oil on my last pass and inevitably it leaves some residue on the blade (oil and whiskers). It's impossible to remove this just by rinsing, so normally I just wipe the edge of the blade with a cotton wool stick. However, on the wrapper of the Crystals it states in bold writing: "Do not wipe. Rinse and shake dry".

Anybody know why? Does it really matter?

I guess the alternative would be to leave the dirt on the razor each shave. Would this make any difference? Since it is oil based, I imagine it would not harm the blade. It would build up though over 3-4 shaves.

Thanks gents

[TSWebster]

Two reasons that I can think of are:

1. Rinse and shake only ensures that there is practically a 0% chance you will come into direct contact with the blade and cut yourself.

2. Wiping anything along the edge of the blade will cause the blade to cut into it and cutting things wears the blade out. You don't want to get fewer shaves due to some cotton tips.

[gone down south]

You're overthinking things here....

Razor blade.
Fingers.
Wiping motion.
Spurting blood.
Lawsuit.

[ContenderhunterPA]

Like he said. I think that TS hit the most important points.

Dave

[SavantStrike]

Like he said. I think that TS hit the most important points.

Dave

I'll have to say +1 to that.

I'd also say that with the fact that the blade only has to last 3-4 shaves, just let it be and clean your razor well when changing blades. The cotton swab has more of a chance of dulling the razor than helping things.

[rabidpotatochip]

You're overthinking things here....

Razor blade.
Fingers.
Wiping motion.
Spurting blood.
Lawsuit.

I was coming in here to give a variation on that answer.

"You like having fingers, right?"

[huracan]

You may accidentally hone the edge, improving it and giving yourself extra shaves per blade.
Now, what blade manufacturer wants that.

[SavantStrike]

You may accidentally hone the edge, improving it and giving yourself extra shaves per blade.
Now, what blade manufacturer wants that.

Yeah come to think of it he could just hand strop the blade to clean it...

[just1nsturm]

You may accidentally hone the edge, improving it and giving yourself extra shaves per blade.
Now, what blade manufacturer wants that.

Yeah come to think of it he could just hand strop the blade to clean it...

I was just about to say, if you really want to continue wiping the blade, make sure you do it lightly and carefully in a stropping motion.

[wizard]

As it has been stated in different ways here you may cut yourself. Before I go any further I do WIPE my blades off! Some manufactures tell you that it should or could be done by blotting the blade dry.
Like the song from Green Day (Live with out warnings). Remember when we could live life without "Warnings". When you just learned not to do something from a bad result instead of blaming it on someone or some business & trying to sue the one with the deepest pockets.

[shaved_*****]

I think if you wipe it off is a stropping fashion then it shouldn't hurt.

I have been using some Crystal blades recently and absolutely love them. Ocassionally, I use some shaving oil on my last pass and inevitably it leaves some residue on the blade (oil and whiskers). It's impossible to remove this just by rinsing, so normally I just wipe the edge of the blade with a cotton wool stick. However, on the wrapper of the Crystals it states in bold writing: "Do not wipe. Rinse and shake dry".

Anybody know why? Does it really matter?

I guess the alternative would be to leave the dirt on the razor each shave. Would this make any difference? Since it is oil based, I imagine it would not harm the blade. It would build up though over 3-4 shaves.

Thanks gents

[OldSaw]

If it is lawsuit prevention, then why wouldn't all blades have this warning? Also, seems to only be in English on the blades that I have had with the warning, yet they are sold world wide.

[rabidpotatochip]

If it is lawsuit prevention, then why wouldn't all blades have this warning? Also, seems to only be in English on the blades that I have had with the warning, yet they are sold world wide.

Then it must be lawsuit protection.

Unfortunately, North America is the easiest place to get sued for someone else doing something stupid.

[Stubblefield]

However, on the wrapper of the Crystals it states in bold writing: "Do not wipe. Rinse and shake dry".

That would be the lawyer disclaimer. Thankfully, right after that, in really tiny text, it says "Feel free to ignore the previous warning if you are a responsible person and are willing to accept the consequences of your actions."

You may need a high powered microscope to see it, tho.

[Sullybob]

You're overthinking things here....

Razor blade.
Fingers.
Wiping motion.
Spurting blood.
Lawsuit.

I really like this answer.

[OldSaw]

Then it must be lawsuit protection.

Unfortunately, North America is the easiest place to get sued for someone else doing something stupid.

As soon as I posted that, I thought, "Oh yeah...ding, ding, ding, ding, ding."

[dirtdog]

coated blades
wiping them may remove it

[DE Shaver]

coated blades
wiping them may remove it

Coatings cannot be "wiped" off as they are designed to provide a smooth shave and a protective barrier to the blade edge. I remember reading an article with a designer at Schick talking at length about coating technologies and how coatings are developed.

The warning servers two purposes, one of liability mitagation and the other to help protect the delicate blade edge from improper maintenance.

[dirtdog]

thanks for clarifying that for me

[DE Shaver]

thanks for clarifying that for me

You're very welcome.