Can You Use A Rusted Razor?

A good razor is one that is clean, rust-free, and made of metal.

Steel with strong, sharp characteristics and the ability to maintain good quality over many times of shaving, will often be selected for razor blades.

However, metal is susceptible to rust when wet, and so is steel. Constant exposure to water, shaving lubricants, and humidity in the bathroom will cause the blade to quickly become dull and dull. As a result, leading to cuts, scratches, and painful experiences.

Can I Shave With A Rusted Razor?

“Absolutely NOT”. 

This is a problem! Shaving removes facial hair, but it also removes skin cells, oil, and other things that bacteria love to eat. Then, the next time you shave, you’re reapplying millions of those bacteria to your face with a blade – potentially an overly dull blade that easily causes cuts and bruises.

These wounds, no matter how small, provide an ideal reservoir for bacteria to enter and cause infection, folliculitis, which is the medical scientific term for razor burn.

Most people will throw away their razor if it gets rusty and get a new razor. However, in case of reluctance, you are required to use a rusty razor – a last remaining option. You need to clean the rust and sharpen the blade to get the best effect.

See also:

• How Long Does A Safety Razor Blade Last?
• Do Unused Razor Blades Expire? How To Expand Them?

What Happens If You Shave With A Rusty Razor?

You know, shaving with a rusted razor is a bad idea for the following reasons.

• Ingrown whiskers

Ingrown hairs occur when dead skin clogs the pores and prevents new hair from penetrating the skin. This is especially likely if the cut hair is shaved with a dull or rusted blade because the short hairs grow back in a sharp shape.

• Infection with Bacteria

Most of the extremely dangerous bacteria and viruses thrive on the surface of rusted razor blades. These microorganisms will infect you as soon as they make contact with your skin or enter your body through cuts caused by rusted blades.

Using a rusted razor is dangerous because it can expose your face to infections such as staph bacteria, which causes folliculitis. Folliculitis causes red, pus-filled bumps on your face that resemble razor burn.

The bacteria on the razor can also cause abscesses, which are painful red boils. An abscess is a honey-colored crust of impetigo on the skin. Skin pain and red bumps can also be caused by cellulitis.

• Razor burns and bumps 

Shaving too hard or with a dull blade while dry shaving causes razor burn or razor rash, which is a type of skin irritation. It usually appears a few minutes after shaving and can manifest as a rash if severe enough.

Razor burn and rash are not the same things as clinical razor bumps, which are caused by ingrown hairs.

Related: How To Use Vaseline To Get Rid Of Razor Burn?

• Close Shave

When using a rusty razor to shave, you will face discomfort and loss of time. It will require you to shave multiple times in one area, increasing the number of times the razor strikes the skin.

And of course, it will entail a lot of problems when shaving like cuts, nicks and pull.

Check out: How To Get A Close Shave Without Razor Burn?

How to Clean a Rusted Razor?

There are still some ways to get a few more uses for a rusty blade.

Cleaning a rusted razor is not too difficult or time-consuming. However, because of their sharp edges, they must be cleaned with caution. To protect your hands from cuts, wear gloves.

White Vinegar 

White vinegar’s acidity will aid in the removal of rust from razor blades. Sea salt works as an abrasive, assisting vinegar in removing rust. Although regular table salt can be used, sea salt has a coarser texture and is better for rubbing.

1. Collect the necessary items. To get started, gather some sea salt, white vinegar, and an old toothbrush. To disinfect, prepare a soft, clean towel, as well as alcohol and cotton balls.
2. Thoroughly wet the razor blade. The razor blade only needs to be rinsed under running water.
3. Make a paste out of the sea salt and vinegar. For about 30 minutes, soak the razor blade in a bowl of vinegar.
4. Fill the toothbrush with paste and scrub the blade thoroughly. Take a teaspoon of sea salt and mix it with a little vinegar to make a paste.
5. Scrub the blade thoroughly with the paste loaded on the toothbrush. Dip the toothbrush in the paste until all of the bristles are covered. Then, thoroughly rub the blade.
6. Clean the blade with water. Make sure there is no paste left on the blade by rinsing it under running water.  Examine the razor carefully to ensure that all traces of rust have been removed.

Lemon Juice & Baking soda

Because of its natural acid content, lemon is one of the best natural cleaners. The acidity of lemon can dissolve iron oxide or rust.

A sodium bicarbonate mixture is used as a baking ingredient. Aside from that, it is a good cleaner for a variety of surfaces. Baking soda is a salt with a neutral pH. Although it is neutral, its pH is higher, making it a useful slightly basic cleaning ingredient.

1. Begin in the same manner as the second step above, but instead of vinegar, make a paste with lemon juice and sea salt; or water and baking soda. The paste must be thick enough to stick to the blade when applied. At least 30 minutes later, keep the razor blade with the entire surface that has been coated with the mixture. 
2. Ascertain that the blade has been thoroughly rinsed with water. You are unlikely to succeed on your first attempt. Scrub away any remaining rust with a toothbrush. 
3. Then, rinse it again in running water and dry it before storing it.
4. Use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to dry the blade after it has been cleaned of rust. Alcohol has strong cleaning and antiseptic properties, it is very effective in drying and disinfecting.

How to Extend the Life of a Blades?

Here are a few tips for keeping your razor in good working order for as long as possible.

• After each use, rinse the razor with hot water to remove any clogging hairs from the blade.
• Using a clean towel, completely dry the razor blade Always keep in mind that moisture is the primary cause of rust. 
• Mineral oil and alcohol are recommended. Alcohol aids in the drying process and effectively disinfects the razor blade. Furthermore, mineral oil will improve the blade’s performance.
• Blades should be kept outside the restroom. Keep your razor out of the bathroom and in a cool, dry place to avoid moisture.

If you want to learn more about how to keep your safety razor healthy, watch this video.

Frequently Asked Question

Can you get tetanus from a rusty razor?

Rust is not inherently dangerous to humans. There are no health risks associated with touching rust or getting it on your skin.

While tetanus can be contracted through a wound caused by a rusted object, it is not the rust that causes tetanus. It is instead caused by a type of bacteria that may be present on the object.

Why does my razor rust so quickly?

If your blades continue to rust quickly, it is most likely due to high humidity in your bathroom, which is settling into the blades between shaves.

After drying, wipe the blades with a small amount of baby oil or Vaseline. This will help repel water naturally.

Conclusion

Razors of all kinds are an excellent and widely used tool for men who prioritize facial hair grooming. A rusted razor should never be used.

Shaving with a clean, sharp, new razor or blade is the best way to maintain smooth and healthy skin. Do not wait until the skin is irritated or infected to change the razor.

If you shave daily, change your razor blades at least once a week and remember to clean and dry them between uses to prolong their life.