Today I found out how to drastically increase the life of your shaver razor blades, such as Gillette or Schick Brand razors. This trick is incredibly simple and just as incredibly effective. It will also save you a nice chunk of change over time and make all your dreams come true…
For instance, Gillette Fusion Brand razor cartridge sets typically will run you about $27 per set of 12, which will typically only last you a few months and less if you actually go by their expiration “strip” in determining when the cartridge needs replaced. With the below method, I have now gone about eight months using the exact same cartridge and the blades on the cartridge are as sharp as when I first popped the cartridge on.
I have no idea how long this will keep up, but now a package of 12 cartridges is apparently going to last me at least 12 years or more. This is a savings of around $70 a year over my previous expenditures on these cartridges; so then a savings of close to $840 over the course of 12 years or so and possibly will last more years depending on how long these things will stay sharp with the below method (I haven’t yet found the upper limit).
You could then use this $840 to buy $840 worth of bacon, which should of course make all your dreams come true, assuming your dreams are all bacon related; which lets face it, who’s aren’t???
Materials Needed:
- Pair of Jeans (old or new, it doesn’t matter; just needs to have one of the pant legs in tact)
- Shaver like Gillette or Schick Brand razors or other disposable razors.
Before or after you shave (I prefer before so that the blades are dry), place your jeans on a hard flat surface; then run the razor up the pant legs about 10-15 times quickly; then repeat running it down the pant legs 10-15 times quickly. No need to press that hard, but a little pressure is necessary. In both instances, you want to point the top of the razor in the direction you are rubbing the shaver on the pants. In other words, don’t “shave” the pants; point the razor the other way, so that the blades glide over the surface of the jeans and don’t try to cut them.
The threads on the jeans then will very effectively both fix any tiny bends in the blades that inevitably happen and will also sharpen the blades on your shaver cartidge. For an already dull blade, you can sharpen it up pretty effectively by doing 50-100 swipes both ways to get it back up to “like new” condition, but only 10-15 times swiped both ways should be necessary to maintain sharpness.
Pro-tip: rather than always having to grab a pair of jeans to do this with, I just cut the pant leg off some old jeans I was throwing away and put it in the same drawer as my Gillette shaver. The same pant leg has so far sharpened the blades on my shaver cartidge quite well for going on eight months now.
Expand for References:
- I found this on a tutorial somewhere on the good ol’ Internet about eight months ago, but can’t seem to find it now; instead in my search to find where I originally saw this, my results are always coming up with how to sharpen the old barber shop style straight edge razor blades.
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I have worked out that instead of buying packets of replacement blades for Schick/Gillette click-on multi-blade razors it’s actually somewhat CHEAPER to buy a pack of the equivalent disposables, discard the handles (what a waste) and mount the blade part on the “permanent” razor handle as if it was a “proper” blade replacement. How silly is that!
Yes those things get awfully expensive after a while…..
I saw this tip on http://www.instructables.com . I use it myself and it really does work.
Hmmm. Why not buy a $25 norleco electric which will last a couple years with no sharpening. There are cheap products that will sharpen the blades of these too.
You get a quicker shave, less bumps after, it’s cheaper and you still get a close shave.
There is even easier way … Take the razor and run it on your arm in the opposite way of shaving … It does the same thing, just run it 10 times while you are in the bathroom before shaving, works lika a charm. In the old days , the barbers used a leather belt to sharpen their blades… Doesn’t hurt or anything …
Much faster and easier then to go get jeans and do it.. 
@Tool Hand Luke – In whose dream world is it quicker to use an electric razor? I can shave in one minute with a blade, and even after 5 or 10 minutes with an electric razor, I don’t feel like I have shaved at all.. I have yet to figure out what purpose electric razors have or how they are convenient for anyone. Great idea re: maintaining the blades w/ a pair of jeans. Another idea: You probably don’t need to shave every day. Every other day will probably do fine, and your skin will thank you.
so exactly how does this work without the possibility of infecting your face with germs? seems like an easy way to do that.
@sam; Have you ever sterilized your razor, before using it?
When I was 5 y/o, an old man running a little store with one light bulb told me that when I grew up, to remember to place your razor upside down (cutting edge down)and it would last an enormous period of time. I remembered this in a dream when in my 20′s and started doing it. It works. The water molecules drain away from the cutting edge and this keeps the blade from rusting or otherwise getting dull. Lasts a whole lot longer than placing the razor face down.
Great idea although what would have improved this post is maybe a video because I am having trouble picturing what you re describing.
don’t do that try small pyramid of plywood or plastic ( not any metal ) place your razor after shaving in side pyramid in a north -south direction . try next day or next time shave , u feel that the blade is still just like a new one . i used ordinary razor & blade (all , twin , triple blade or ordinary blade ), u amaze that the blade remain sharped even after month’s of use. ( please search for pyramid size to make perfect shape on the net (pyramid therapy ) various use of this pyramid u try . u can put fruit under the pyramid & eat after 3 or 4 day’s later u enjoy freshness of that fruit. try & see the result.
thanks sunil. from india.
I buy Gillette electric shavers. They work great and are cheaper AND easier than reg. razors. Admittedly I do have a light beard, but the electrics work for me
Be a real man and grow a beard
This just gave me an idea to make a lot of money by creating an electric razor blade sharpener…
I got somwthing better they sell them at walbaum it is a blade sharpener for disposable razors runs off batteries works on the same concept cost about 20 bucks
“This trick is incredibly simple and just as incredibly affective.”
Effective, NOT affective.
@jean: Eyes of a hawk.
Half a million people have viewed that article and nobody else caught the typo. 
Also, I believe it’s Jenn, not Jean.
Or maybe half a million people just didn’t feel compelled to make the correction.
The technique is called “stropping,” and the straight razor crowd has been doing it for years
Back when straight razor usage was common, a good strop would be made of leather, but canvas (similar to denim) could be used as a cheaper alternative.
So you could try the technique with a strip of leather and maybe you’d never have to replace a cartridge again!
I use hand lotion instead of soap or shaving cream. The oil in the lotion helps reduce corrosion. Disposable razors usually last at least a month. Noxema, & hair conditioner work well also.
The rubbing of the razor blade over your jeans is stropping just like barbers and others that use a straight razor.
Since you apparently appreciate readers catching your typos:
“assuming your dreams are all bacon related; which lets face it, who’s aren’t???”
Whose, not who’s.
Typo.:
“the cartridge needs replaced”
“the cartridge needs to be replaced”
Typo.:
“pant legs in tact)”
“pant legs intact)”
Awkward:
“which should of course make all”
“which of course should make all”
Awkward:
“The (subj) then will (adv) both fix (obj1) and will also sharpen (obj2).”
“The (subj) then (adv) will fix (obj1) and also will sharpen (obj2).”
“The (subj) then (adv) both will fix (obj1) and will sharpen (obj2).” [Alt.]
{ Thankfully, I don’t need a FaceBook account to comment. }
That’s all good but how can I shave my butt crack (Too hairy). My mum won’t help out.
@James: very carefully.
I learned how to shave with a straight razor many years ago. So Schick and Gillette an go f*ck themselves! They get no more of my money!
Didn’t work for me :/
Maybe I was doing it wrong.
@ Gina: Since you you apparently appreciate that the author apparently appreciates readers catching his typos: Let’s face it, NOT lets face it.
Thank god I can’t grow facial hair!
another way to drastically increase the life of your shaver razor blade …. is to not shave
thanks for this. Will do.
“Be a real man and grow a beard”
HAHAHA love it!
I clean the razor with hot water, then place the blade into some olive oil (or some other vegetable oil) in a dish. This drives the water off the blade, thus cutting oxidization. This has not failed in keeping the blade in optimum shape to the maximum extent. It is much less work than the method described in this article.
FYI, I use hair conditioner in lieu of shaving foam. It lubricates the skin and beard much better making for a smoother shave. It is much less irritating on my skin than soap.
Any WWII veteran or someone who lived through the great depression knows the answer to this one. Use as much hot water on your face as you want. This makes the bristles stand up for a closer shave so that’s good but never rinse a razor blade in any water that is not as cold as it can possibly be.
When rinsing the blade in warm/hot water the blade undergoes expansion followed by a contraction back to its normal size as the blade goes from hot back to normal temperature again. This makes the edge dull perhaps because the hot water softens the metal.
When rinsing with only cold water the blade goes in the other direction by contraction first and then expansion back to its normal size as the temperature goes from cold back to normal temperature again. This does not dull the edge.
With blades these days it is even worse. Hot or even warm water will soften the polymer coating on the blade. Then when the blade expands because of the warm or hot water the polymer stretches. When it contracts again not only is the edge dull but the polymer is all wrinkled up which effectively makes the blade seem even more dull. This happens pretty much instantly and is great for companies who manufacture razor blades because the consumer has to replace the blade sooner.
To test this, lather and shave only half your face with a new razor (be sure to always rinse it in very cold water). When finished this side of your face, rinse the razor several times while changing the temperature of the water from hot to cold. Now lather and shave the other side of your face. If you do not immediately notice that the blade is now more dull you will for sure notice the next time you use the razor. Mine usually last until the wife takes them in the shower. I have had some blades stay perfectly sharp for at least a few years of daily shaving.
I can’t use any type of razor because my beard has broken every razor, electric or not, that has gotten near it.
Chuck
Tip 4 the guy trying 2 shave his butt. Just wax it. If U can’t handle the pain of that (cry baby) then take one hand and spread your butt cheeks, with the other hand take the razor and GENTLY shave from your crack outwards. This will take care of your monkey butt.
B-Dizzy
My simple solution after 20 years of shaving:
1. Grow a beard.
2. Buy a straight razor
3. Use the straight razor to shave the non-bearded areas.
The Fusion cartridges are very expensive. I was getting ready to buy a new pack of 4 due to mine dulling when I ran across this. I decided to follow your advice. That’s been 2 months ago and I’m still shaving with what was at one time the dullest of the 4 cartridges in the packet. The shave from this has been just as close and smooth as a new one and I shave just about every day. At this rate it could be a while before I need to purchase a new pack of cartridges. I’ll be saving a bundle in the future while enjoying a nice and close daily shave.
Thanks a bunch Daven for your info.
I think in the old days of straight razors, those who could afford it had more than 1 razor, to let the one used rest a couple days. Then they definitely used a strop, which are still available on line. I saw a guy using the striker part of a matchbook to sharpen his blades.
Ive got a method that works very well. rest the razor in cold pea soup, the peas in the soup leave a slimy coating on the blade and lubricate it, and give the blade a fresh minty fragrance if mint peas were used in the soup. rinse blade quickly in cold water before use.
I switched over to using a T-style safety razor. Learn how to use it right and it can give you the same close shave as a 5 blade razor or better. And I bought a years worth of blades for $16 on Amazon. The handle was a one time cost of $40.