How to disinfect an electric razor in 6 easy steps

Electric razors make the everyday task of shaving a little easy. Not to mention they are a lot safer to use compared to disposable and safety razors. Obviously, electric razors aren’t disposable and you have to disinfect them regularly so you can keep using them. Sterilizing an electric razor makes shaving safer and reduces the risk of infections. So how exactly do you disinfect an electric razor?

You can disinfect an electric razor in 6 easy steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the electric razor from the wall socket
• Step 2: Disassemble the removable parts of the electric razor
• Step 3: Clean off the hair and other particles  
• Step 4: Apply the disinfecting liquid to all the components of the electric razor
• Step 5: Re-assemble the electric razor
• Step 6: lubricate the electric razor

You can’t expect to disinfect an electric razor without removing and cleaning all the built-up debris from it. Which is why you should always clean an electric razor before disinfecting it. In fact, cleaning an electric razor is a critical part of disinfecting it and in this article, we are going to explain in detail how to disinfect an electric razor properly.

Step 1:  Unplug the electric razor from the wall socket

Before you can start cleaning your electric shaving tool, you have to make sure that it is not plugged into an electric socket because if the electric shaver is plugged in while you disassemble it, you are at risk of being electrocuted. If you have a battery-powered cordless razor, simply turn off the razor from the power switch.

Step 2: Disassemble the removable parts of your electric razor

Disassembling your electric razor may be different depending upon the type of electric razor you own. There are generally two types of electric razors, rotary electric razors, and foil electric razors, and here is how you can disassemble both:

● Disassembling a rotary electric razor:

Rotary electric razors are the ones with 3 spinning blades under the shaving head. In order to open up the shaving head of a rotary electric razor, all you have to do is, press a small button located near the shaving head and the shaving head with flip open. Next, you will have to twist the knob holding the blade assembly in place and you can easily remove the 3 spinning blades along with the complete blade assembly.

Note:

Be extra careful when removing the blades from the rotary razor because the blades are extremely sharp and you can cut your fingers if you don’t handle them with care.

● Disassembling a foil electric razor:

Disassembling a foil electric razor is easier compared to a rotary razor. All you have to do is, press the button or buttons on the side of the shaving head, and the shaving head comes right off along with the foil, exposing the cutting cassette. You can remove the cassette, but the process can be different since foil razors have either one or two cassettes. So you can refer to your foil electric razor’s user manual to find out how to remove the cutting cassette. Normally a gentle pull can detach the cutting cassette from its platform.

Step 3: Cleaning out the hair and other particles

Now is the time to prepare the electric razor for the disinfecting process by removing all the leftover hair and other debris from the shaving head as well as the blade housing. Depending on the type of electric shaver you own you can either dry clean your razor or use water to wash away all the hair and debris. Electric razors that are meant to be used with shaving gel are waterproof which means you can use water to clean them. But if you have an electric razor that is meant for dry use only, you should avoid using water to clean it.

Cleaning a wet electric razor:

If you have a wet electric razor, you simply have to brush away the loose hair from the shaving head, the blades and the blade housing, using a soft toothbrush, and rinse off each part under warm running water. You can also use detergent and gently scrub the individual parts of the electric razor with a soft toothbrush dipped in detergent.  

Note:

When using a toothbrush to clean the shaver head foil of a foil electric razor, make sure not to directly scrub the foil as it is a delicate component and can get damaged.

Cleaning a dry electric razor:

If you have a dry electric razor, you have to get a little creative when it comes to cleaning it since you can’t use water on an electric razor that is not waterproof. When cleaning a dry electric razor, you will have to remove loose hair using a brush similar to a wet razor but instead of rinsing it with water, you will have to either use a can of compressed air or a manual air blower to get rid of hair from any hard to reach areas. You can also use a clean cloth to wipe each part carefully to remove all the gunk.

Note:

Again, be careful when cleaning the foils of your foil electric razor because it is very easy to damage them.

Step 4: Apply the disinfecting liquid to all the components of the electric razor

Now that you have thoroughly cleaned your electric razor, it is time to actually disinfect your electric razor. You can either use a specially designed disinfecting spray to disinfect the blades and the shaving head of your electric razor or you can use isopropyl alcohol to disinfect your electric razor. Since both the disinfecting spray and isopropyl alcohol evaporate quickly, they can be used for both dry and wet electric razors. The application process can be different for the disinfecting spray and the alcohol-based cleaner as explained below:

● Disinfecting using a disinfecting spray:

When using a disinfecting spray you can get both the cleaning and disinfecting actions, which makes these sprays ideal for dry electric razors. To apply the disinfecting spray to your electric razor all you have to do is place each part on a clean cloth or paper and spray each part so that spray is applied thoroughly to each of the parts.

● Disinfecting using isopropyl alcohol:

If you have isopropyl alcohol liquid in your house, you can use it to disinfect your electric razor. This method is recommended for waterproof electric razors since you can thoroughly rinse and clean them using water and detergent, so a dedicated cleaning and disinfecting spray is not required. To apply alcohol to your electric razor’s components, you will need a small ball of cotton or a clean cloth. Lightly dampen the cloth or cotton using clean water and then dip it into alcohol. Once you have prepared your preferred application medium, carefully wipe every part of the electric shaver with it until you are sure that you have applied the alcohol to every part.

Step 5: Reassemble the electric razor

After applying the disinfecting liquid to your electric shaver’s components, reassemble the electric razor and run it for a few seconds. This step will make sure that the disinfecting liquid properly circulated through the blades and the shaving head and each part is well coated with it. You don’t have to worry about leaving excess disinfecting liquid inside your razor’s components because alcohol evaporates within seconds. But if you notice any leftover water from cleaning, wipe it off with a clean cloth or paper towels.

Step 6: Lubricate the electric razor

While cleaning and disinfecting your electric razor is important for your health, keeping your electric razor lubricated is important for the proper working of your electric razor. When you wash and disinfect your electric razor, the lubricating oil either gets wiped or washed away during the process. So it is important to apply lubricant to your electric razor after each cleaning. You can either use the lubrication oil that came with your electric shaver or you can buy a container of electric shaver lubricant and apply a few drops of the oil to blades of your electric razor to make sure everything stays well lubricated.

Disinfecting your electric razor is necessary to keep your face healthy, and you should disinfect your electric razor every month. You can incorporate the disinfecting process into the monthly cleaning of your electric razor to make it more convenient.

Conclusion

Buying an electric razor is a long term investment and a good electric razor can last for years. And unlike safety razors, replacing the blades of an electric razor is expensive, so the best way to ensure safe and germ-free shaving with an electric razor is by regularly disinfecting it. The steps explained in this article make the job of disinfecting your electric razor easy and can be used for both rotary and foil shavers. But before disinfecting your electric razor using the method explained above, refer to your razor’s user manual to make sure whether it is waterproof or not.