How To Make Your razors last (almost) Forever 

Did you like my video? Did it help you in any way? Would you like to help me out too? if you use my link to Amazon when you buy anything they throw me a few cents. Plus, if you go to my store you can see the things I have bought and liked enough in the last 10 years to review or add to my store. @t

I think it's not about the money, but about the natural resource we save and garbage we prevent to dispose ; )

after a lot of research and started to do it myself i filled a jar of vinegar and doing the same thing you are, so far it has worked its been 2 weeks and im still on the same razor blade

It's great when people are able to get more shaves out of their razors, but I wonder how much of those "hacks" are actually based on placebo effect. The Blademaster (uses a magnet) has been proven to be inefficient in a German study. All other methods either just clean the blades of debris or they use stropping, which may be inefficient for stainless steel blades -- and with rare exceptions, all modern blades are stainless steel. There used to be sharpening devices for DE blades, they were popular during times when even DE blades were too costly for some people to throw out after a few uses. They look like a matchbox with a string with it that has a loop. You put the loop over the handle of a closed door, a hook, or whatsoever, pull taught and then move the "matchbox", which holds the DE blade, back and forth. These boxes had tiny hones at the sides, and they actually worked -- for carbon steel blades. Everybody who knows a thing or two about honing straight razors knows that stainless steel straights are extremely difficult to hone, and if you want to shave, you have to strop until the cows come home.

HI..if water is the culprit, how come soapy water can do the job...is it really better than olive oil? anyway i am going to try the soapy water trick

Will this work for gillette proglide fusion blades???

Big best

It's not about a little money, it's about staying away from Gillette blades My God look at the prices insane! This works blades last and last, I am using the same Mach 3 Gillette blade for almost 2 years, yes the same blade, I do however once a month strop the blade on jeans, that means push it in the opposite direction that you shave, I do this about 10 times, blades stay perfectly sharp, no more buying blades

Hi Robb's Homemade Life Well sir I have confirmed your great technique. I used dish soap in a plastic water cup and the blade just keeps on shaving. If I feel a little bit of a scratch I strop it on my arm 10 times and then resume shaving. This is really working. I've gone 2 months on one cartridge so far. I also confirmed that the mineral oil works. But your idea of soap (since it does work) is SO much easier to work with. Thanks Robb for such a great video and a great idea!!!

I can make mine last forever too. Get rid of these and get yourself a safety razor and some DE blades.

I recently switched to a DE(double edged safety razor) and now look forward to shaving as a nice, daily ritual. The DE shave is so close that at the end of the day there’s barely a need to shave. There are also less cuts if done with a light touch, letting the razor and blade do the work. After the initial cost, it’s also much more cost effective over the long run than cartridges.

The tip I got a few years ago was to simply dry the blades. It seemed to extend my cartridges to about 3 months before they needed to be changed but some claimed they could go 6 months, which I never found possible. Then I discovered safety razors and drying the blades can make them last a long time (I got about 2 to 3 months on one blade), but at about 20 cents per blade it's not as big an issue.

...that's good advice.I used a little dish soap in a jar and I could actually see little skin particles that dissolved from the blades of my Gillette plus razor floating in the clear soapy water.I couldn't believe how much gunk came off my razor blade after soaking it over night.Now after many uses my razors perform like they're new,fresh out of the pack.It works!!!...Thanks man.

No. Double edge blades don't get skin and hair trapped in them. There are no multiblade layers. It doesn't matter because that's not what is saving the blades here anyway. What he is effectively doing is removing the oxygen so the blades don't oxidize (read rust). They are stainless, yes, but a small layer still oxidizes on the outsite enough to wear an edge faster. My Astra SP's last me about 8 shaves each without soaking in anything. Still cheaper and better to use a DE than any cartridge,

Won't save you alot of money? New Fusion proglide razor refills cost 90bucks+ for a ten pack, if this works, then it will save me a helluva lot of money.

I have never used that brand before. The best disposable I have ever used have been the low cost Gillette Good news without the glide strip or swivel head. I could not find them in the store and bought the Bics shown in the video,I prefer the Good News as they rarely nicked or cut me, less so than any razor I have ever used. Since I have been storing the Bic in the soap , I have noticed the Bic is shaving better than when it was brand new as it nicked me at first

Try using DE safety razors to take the results even further. Less expensive, more eco friendly. No plastic garbage, no multiple blade BS, therefore less irritation. Cheers!

I was under the impression that you wanted to keep your razor blades as dry as possible because they could start to pit... Doesn't having them sit in a cup of water kinda contradict that?

Use shampoo instead of shaving cream. Water rinses shampoo easily away between the blades. Shaving cream forms into a sticky gel. I discovered that decades ago when I was about to go out to a restaurant but ran out of shaving cream, so I just jused some shampoo I had. Big difference, nice surprise! Same clean shave but no more gel with little hairs sticking between the blades. Never used shaving cream again.

What you also want to do is get a pair of old jeans to use as a strop. They make these razor blades thin so that the metal will curl back from cutting hair as you use them, creating dull spots. If you take your razor and push them opposite of the edge on the denim, it will take out some of the curled parts and help maintain the edge.

This is an awesome idea, and some great comments on here too, cheers everyone

If you don't soak....Clark Howard of CNN fame states\claims that the best way to extend blade life is to thoroughly dry (blow out\dab with towel) the blade area. Something about hot water quality leaving trace minerals on the blades (lime, calcium, etc) forming corrosion that dulls the blades.

i use a safety pin to remove the hairs.. carefully so i dont bend the blade,, got 8 shaves from one razer..like ur videos i am cheap myself,, in this crappy economy..

I use a thing called 'Razor Pit' which gets me about 80 shaves from one blade :)

I leave mine in the cup until I am ready to shave again and then rinse it off before using, the blades are stainless and do not rust.

zrb, I looked into straight razors on amazon, and many had a huge amount of positive reviews, I just hate cutting my face up and work from home so only shave about twice a week, what is the razor you settled on?

Alcohol will evaporate. I use a two step process. I keep some alcohol in a container with a lid and rinse my razor off in the alcohol first to remove any residual water and to clean it up a bit. Then I plop the razor into a second container with just enough oil to cover the blades for an overnight soak.

that will make them rust using rubbing alcohol works better that is what i use to clean them and remove the water since alcohol will absorb the water and evaporate it quicker

Perhaps an alternative soaking liquid is cooking oil or baby oil. No water and provides a smooth glide over the skin. Also, you can use an old toothbrush to clear the blades. The postings below are right: Double edge blades cost about .07 each and are, perhaps, better quality.

I have heard that tip but not used it, will have to try it, thanks Madison.

Good tip. It works on blade refills too so maybe people will consider not using disposable plastic-handled razors and use your cleaning technique on blades for refillable razors. The impact on razor length should be the same but the plastic dumped unfortunately lasts forever. Cost consciousness could include the real bottom line that has to take into account the sunk cost to the environment many seldom consider. Thanks!

This makes no sense.How does soap make a dull metal edge sharp?I'm curious about the physics angle on this claim

2 weeks per blade with Blade Buddy or longer/ shaving everyday.

I think a better way would be to soak in an ultrasonic cleaner which would easily dislodge any stuck on hair or debrie.

Hello Robb, I appreciate your vid, but this is just such common sense, that I might consider putting my razor blades under a pyramid. (Heard of that one? And no, I'm not making it up). Perhaps rather than a detergent solution, a more power retainer would be more effective, but at the very least they would help to keep your blades clean, but do nothing about sharpening. Easily, boiling water, and compressed air would accomplish the same thing in a jiffy.

Thanks for the reply. As you know a sponge or cloth will smell, if all of the soap isn't removed, after a while so that was what I was wondering about. Thanks, I'm going to try it. Jim

Hello RU-vidrs. If you like my DIY videos, can I ask a favor? I am trying to increase the number of subscribers to my channel. If you ever go to any online forums and think the members might like the type of frugal, DIY low tech goofball videos I have on my channel, can you leave a link of my channel? The other day Mr Rawles over at survivalblog ( dot) com left a link to my flea control video and I got a lot of new subscribers. Any helpful criticism is also welcome. Thanks everybody.

Thanks for the tip!

i cut up a used Cereal Boxes wheelchair larry

Alcohol/soap gets the hard water crusting off too. Part of the reason it keeps the edge sharp compared to just cleaning off with water alone.

I don`t agree. I think its the hard water and soap film that causes the dulling. You need oil to soften the minerals, and the next shave will wash away the oil.

Good tip... I have shaven since teenage years with a Gillette safety razor and onward as they emerged. I learned to use good multi-blade razor cartridges and rinse them well and leave the razor with blades UP... not down in water next to the sink faucet. Cleaned and dry blades do not corrode or get clogged. And skip shaving cream for shaving 'butter' ... Neutrogena is cheap and works really well and a small bit used for all your face...

I keep dish washing soap in a little squeeze bottle. Before mixing lather I put one drop on the top of my shaving soap. I haven't nicked myself since I started doing that. I also put a drop on the edge of my blade and smear it with my finger when I'm done to make them last longer. I think it's hard water drying on the edge of the blade that dulls them.

you can also use a pair of jeans or even the underarm run it over in the non shaving direction for a couple of times that straightens out small Irregularity bumbs ect on the blade or the more expensive method Razor Pit you can also use a belt like strapping

I have always made it a point to clean my blades very well between uses and it extended them very well but this may be easier. How often do you have to change the water before it smells? Thanks, Jim.

in the time I Used a razer i stored my in vodka to dont get Red Spots in the face :) now I Use a longhair cutter so if you try my out or allready did let me know what works better have a nice day

Readers' Digest. I think the way they explained it was oxidation on the edge on the blade dulls it

the blade itself was only designed for a handful of shaves as its a low cost disposable; BIC single blades might be better option

i got a electric one cause i was sick of buying them ahh well hey works i would have did that duh

How long would you leave it in the cup with water and soap?

So are you meant to leave the razor head in soapy water overnight/until your next shave?

Why not just rinse them with hot water and use a toothpick to clean the blades?

Nice Money saving hack ! thanks

Is it hand soap that you put in the cup?

I have found that after shaving, rinse off the razor thoroughly, blow off the blade from the front (blade edge) side and let it sit to dry with the blade edges facing upwards. This trick is very simple in that is lets no water or minerals dry onto the blades sharp edge and has let me save a lot of money from buying more.

Worth Trying....Gillette is getting to greedy now, for sure.

In limba romana ???????

Extra virgin olive oil or normal olive oil

Awesome tip!!! Thank you!!!

I started using the Blade Buddy razor blade sharpener on my Gillette blades & get twice the amount of shaves per blade. I average 1 week per blade or 1 weeks with Blade Buddy. A simple & easy solution!

I doubt it's great to leave your blade in soap water because there's still water that can corrode the blade (probably). So: 1) Wash blade in soap water 2) Dry it thoroughly 3) Leave it in a jar of olive oil

this seems like a useful tip. I have been using vegetable oil which is worked out well. Also, rather than using jeans to strop the razor just run the razor backwards along the top of your arm (so the blade is strop but not cutting). Doing this periodically prolongs the blades indefinitely. I do this 5 to 10 times every few shaves. It is much quicker then finding the jeans.

marvellous video

As I was watching, I thought perhaps peroxide might help clean off the blades as well? I will certainly try this out. Will also post back if I see similar results using peroxide. Thanks for the tips!

Would this help with double edged safety blades?

That's a great Idea,I didn't get what the cleaning solution was, I've seen so many vids on this subject but this seems like the most legitimate ones, Can someone send me the solution recipe plz

until they get dull

I think so.

you got a point....er, or an edge.

how long should you keep the razors in the soup cup.

what about a shop vac wit brush

yepp, as you say all small things adds up.

Ace job!

Thanks sirbounty.

thanks for the tip

How long you keep it in the water with soap

I shave everyday.

good luck Jim!

Can you leave it in oil in between shaves?

I used dish soap and water .. I wonder what other mixes would be good... vinegar maybe? after I dry the razor I will try sharpening it on a leather strap.

Actually what's happening is that by putting the blades down in the water, no oxygen can corrode the blades with the moisture still on them. I strop my blades on a dry towel and I get several more shaves with mine. I've saved a lot of money on razors for over 3 years now.

Or you can buy a $5 safety razor at an antique store/estate sale, buy 100 blades for around $15, use each blade for a few shaves and BAM there's at least one years worth (maybe two or three) of shaves for only $20.

How?

The blades get bent way more than the blades clog. Finding a way to straighten them out is the trick and there are fixes to that big time.

thank you

get a real de razor , and 200 blades for £8:00 each blade unless your shaving pork , should last you 5 shaves .. so 200 blades should last you over four years ... ( if you shave properly with a de razor twice a week ) - are you seriously telling me an £8.00 investment over four years is not a good investment? next your be telling us to use spit, rather than a decent shoe polish ! - this penny grabbing gets ridiculous , and if you need to be this tight about , this kind of thing , then you really need to get out more .

hello Jim, I clean the blade thoroughly after use but did not want to use plain olive oil as the originator of the idea did in case there was material trapped between the blades. I used a few pieces of soap and a just a couple of spoonfulls of water to make a thick soapy liquid that I have to add more water to as it evaporates, it never changes color or has any odor as it is mainly soap. The odd thing is the razor seems shave better than when I first used it.

my husband shave skin bald every two weeks i was wondering how many minutes do you have to leave the razer in tge water with soap.

I'm hard of hearing, & he's talking a bit too fast for me to understand him. Could someone please tell me what the solution is that he's using, along with other important information from this video? Thank you.

Run an old toothbrush over it under water, boom. Plus razors can still dull to the point where they wont cut