Drying your razor blades extends shelf life on clarkhoward.com

In February 2006, a gentleman called the show and spoke about using the same razor for a year. He revealed that blades don't degrade from shaving, but rather they corrode from the moisture that collects on them once you're done shaving.

He went on to explain his ritual of using a blow dryer to dry his razor after use. His call prompted others to speak up and share their tricks and tips for maximizing a razor's life.

Clark got inspired by the whole discussion (and the expense of shaving blades!) and decided to take a single 17-cent razor and make it last for one year.

He didn't dry his razor with a hair dryer, but instead took the lazy man's approach of just blotting it dry on a towel. It lasted for a whole year and he was very pleased to not have to throw money away on blades anymore.

Recently Clark got a letter from another man who heard the on-air talk about drying your razor and invented a device to do it easily. His invention -- the Razor Pro -- has been sold on QVC and through a drugstore chain.

The Razor Pro looks like a battery-operated pencil sharpener and dries your razor in two minutes. Clark's executive producer, Christa, thinks it can double really nicely as a fingernail polish dryer for girls.

Check it out if you're looking for a way to cut down on one of those smaller expenses that really adds up over time.

What others are saying

Razor Pro
I ordered this, it makes a really loud buzzing sound! Woke up my whole family. Not sure if it works, couldn't stand the noise. Threw it away.
By Bob @ 06/16/09 09:21:03 PMreport abuse
What about Rice?
Just a thought here... I haven't tried it, but if they tell you to stick a cell phone that's accidentally gotten wet into a bowl of uncooked rice to absorb all the moisture, why wouldn't it work for a razor too? I can't imagine it would take very much rice to do the job, maybe an ounce or two, and rice is certainly cheaper than new blades!
By jackie @ 04/18/09 02:11:20 PMreport abuse
Save your money
Don't waste your money on something like this. Instead, soak your razor in rubbing alcohol in between uses. It will extend the life of the blades for a long time
By Rob Gregory @ 02/13/09 08:46:34 AMreport abuse
RazorPro is a ripoff company....revised posting
RazorPro is a ripoff company
company is not deserving of any kind of favorable rating because the way they conduct their business. I ordered 2 of the RazorPro units on June 03, 08, which were in stock but took 9 days to receive in Florida. One unit worked fine but the other was dead out of the box, and finally after numerous emails I had a replacement shipped out to me. The other unit worked fine from June until early October (five months use)and it failed. I read the warranty details, followed the instructions for return for repair or replacement, shipping the unit to PO Box on 10/31/08. The USPS tracking # showed a delivery on 11/03/08 @ 1:17 pm. I patiently waited the two to three weeks for the replacement, but alas it has never arrived. It is now Jan. 22, 2009, and still no word from them. I have contacted American Express and demanded that a credit for my total amount spent with this company. This company has set a poor example for doing business and should not get a satisfactory rating.
By David @ 01/22/09 05:54:53 PMreport abuse
RazorPro is a ripoff company
company is not deserving of any kind of favorable rating because the way they conduct their business. I ordered 2 of the RazorPro units on June 03, 08, which were in stock but took 9 days to receive in Florida. One unit worked fine but the other was dead out of the box, and finally after numerous emails I had a replacement shipped out to me. The other unit worked fine from June until early October (five months use)and it failed. I read the warranty details, followed the instructions for return for repair or replacement, shipping the unit to PO Box on 10/31/08. The USPS tracking # showed a delivery on 11/03/08 @ 1:17 pm. I patiently waited the two to three weeks for the replacement, but alas it has never arrived. It is now Jan. 22, 2009, and still no word from them. I have contacted American Express and demanded that a credit for my total amount spent with this company. This company has set a poor example for doing business and should not get an unsatisfactory rating.
By David @ 01/22/09 05:51:28 PMreport abuse
razor
Now I don't feel like such a weirdo for using my disposable razors so long!
By Rhett @ 01/14/09 05:26:02 AMreport abuse
blade life
My first project in engineering school was to study corrosion in razor blades, in 1969. Oxygen in air and salt from skin are main culprits. Easiest is to keep a small vial of oil, alcohol, or glycerin in bathroom and just keep razor there between shaves.
By Milo Schaefer @ 11/22/08 03:10:40 PMreport abuse
vibrating razor and alcohol
I've used a Mach 3 (close shave) or Venus (comfort) vibrating razor for double the blade life even without this trick. I guess the vibes makes the razor more effective for longer. Also I started to use alcohol like another gentleman here, and air dry. I will say my razors can last around 6 months (used on my head as well as face.) I actually started using the alcohol as a dip in between long strokes on my head and after shaving to clear up razor burn without $8/0.5 ounce rip off stuff that you rub on. Alcohol works magic, just dip before each swipe on problem areas.
By nick @ 10/04/08 05:29:42 PMreport abuse
blow drying razor
How much money does the electricity cost to blow dry your razor every day?
By Andy @ 09/16/08 12:51:50 PMreport abuse
razor
i've used a blow dryer for my razor and face for over a year, thanks to you. after 4 or 5 months i open a new one because i'm tired of looking at the same color handle, unit is still good.
By bob grifin @ 09/02/08 06:00:30 PMreport abuse
Shower Shave
I have been using my promo razor for eight months after I had considered it dull using shaving cream. Using soap and shaving in the shower made the difference.
By Jeff @ 07/19/08 03:45:27 PMreport abuse
razor blade
I started using free razor (daily) with 5 blades on 8-20-06 (almost 2- years).
I dont use shaving cream it contains acid.
I shave after shower with face still wet. We have soft water and I do not dry the razor. 100% true
jps
By jpsullivan @ 07/11/08 12:23:52 PMreport abuse
Razor Blades & Windshield Wiper Blades
Clark, I have used my five blade razor now for about six months since I heard you mention it on your show. After each shave, I dip my razor in alcohol which disapates the water and sanitizes as well. So far it is working well. My blades would cost around $14 to replace so it is saving me big bucks.

Also, My wiper blades were bouncing across the windshield while in use and I did not have the money to purchase new ones so I rotated the blade 180 degrees to reverse the stiff angle the blade had warn to so it would flow smoothely, and they are still going. This may not work on all types of blades since some only clip on one way and the blade insert itself can't be removed, but it worked for me. Saved me about $20 for a while longer. If it does not work you...Spend the $20:((
By Marvin Long @ 06/10/08 10:58:59 AMreport abuse
Long Life Razor Blades
I too learned that allowing the razor to air dry (without blow drying or anything else) has gotten me a years worth of shaves from one of those fancy sample razors sent in the mail. (I bet they wouldn't be happy to know that the free sample has lasted for more than a year--and I'm not done yet!)
By Don @ 04/24/08 03:45:44 PMreport abuse

Razor Pro

I ordered this, it makes a really loud buzzing sound! Woke up my whole family. Not sure if it works, couldn't stand the noise. Threw it away.

By Bob @ 06/16/09 09:21:03 PMreport abuse

What about Rice?

Just a thought here... I haven't tried it, but if they tell you to stick a cell phone that's accidentally gotten wet into a bowl of uncooked rice to absorb all the moisture, why wouldn't it work for a razor too? I can't imagine it would take very much rice to do the job, maybe an ounce or two, and rice is certainly cheaper than new blades!

By jackie @ 04/18/09 02:11:20 PMreport abuse

Save your money

Don't waste your money on something like this. Instead, soak your razor in rubbing alcohol in between uses. It will extend the life of the blades for a long time

By Rob Gregory @ 02/13/09 08:46:34 AMreport abuse

RazorPro is a ripoff company....revised posting

RazorPro is a ripoff company
company is not deserving of any kind of favorable rating because the way they conduct their business. I ordered 2 of the RazorPro units on June 03, 08, which were in stock but took 9 days to receive in Florida. One unit worked fine but the other was dead out of the box, and finally after numerous emails I had a replacement shipped out to me. The other unit worked fine from June until early October (five months use)and it failed. I read the warranty details, followed the instructions for return for repair or replacement, shipping the unit to PO Box on 10/31/08. The USPS tracking # showed a delivery on 11/03/08 @ 1:17 pm. I patiently waited the two to three weeks for the replacement, but alas it has never arrived. It is now Jan. 22, 2009, and still no word from them. I have contacted American Express and demanded that a credit for my total amount spent with this company. This company has set a poor example for doing business and should not get a satisfactory rating.

By David @ 01/22/09 05:54:53 PMreport abuse

RazorPro is a ripoff company

company is not deserving of any kind of favorable rating because the way they conduct their business. I ordered 2 of the RazorPro units on June 03, 08, which were in stock but took 9 days to receive in Florida. One unit worked fine but the other was dead out of the box, and finally after numerous emails I had a replacement shipped out to me. The other unit worked fine from June until early October (five months use)and it failed. I read the warranty details, followed the instructions for return for repair or replacement, shipping the unit to PO Box on 10/31/08. The USPS tracking # showed a delivery on 11/03/08 @ 1:17 pm. I patiently waited the two to three weeks for the replacement, but alas it has never arrived. It is now Jan. 22, 2009, and still no word from them. I have contacted American Express and demanded that a credit for my total amount spent with this company. This company has set a poor example for doing business and should not get an unsatisfactory rating.

By David @ 01/22/09 05:51:28 PMreport abuse

razor

Now I don't feel like such a weirdo for using my disposable razors so long!

By Rhett @ 01/14/09 05:26:02 AMreport abuse

blade life

My first project in engineering school was to study corrosion in razor blades, in 1969. Oxygen in air and salt from skin are main culprits. Easiest is to keep a small vial of oil, alcohol, or glycerin in bathroom and just keep razor there between shaves.

By Milo Schaefer @ 11/22/08 03:10:40 PMreport abuse

vibrating razor and alcohol

I've used a Mach 3 (close shave) or Venus (comfort) vibrating razor for double the blade life even without this trick. I guess the vibes makes the razor more effective for longer. Also I started to use alcohol like another gentleman here, and air dry. I will say my razors can last around 6 months (used on my head as well as face.) I actually started using the alcohol as a dip in between long strokes on my head and after shaving to clear up razor burn without $8/0.5 ounce rip off stuff that you rub on. Alcohol works magic, just dip before each swipe on problem areas.

By nick @ 10/04/08 05:29:42 PMreport abuse

blow drying razor

How much money does the electricity cost to blow dry your razor every day?

By Andy @ 09/16/08 12:51:50 PMreport abuse

i've used a blow dryer for my razor and face for over a year, thanks to you. after 4 or 5 months i open a new one because i'm tired of looking at the same color handle, unit is still good.

By bob grifin @ 09/02/08 06:00:30 PMreport abuse

Shower Shave

I have been using my promo razor for eight months after I had considered it dull using shaving cream. Using soap and shaving in the shower made the difference.

By Jeff @ 07/19/08 03:45:27 PMreport abuse

razor blade

I started using free razor (daily) with 5 blades on 8-20-06 (almost 2- years).
I dont use shaving cream it contains acid.
I shave after shower with face still wet. We have soft water and I do not dry the razor. 100% true
jps

By jpsullivan @ 07/11/08 12:23:52 PMreport abuse

Razor Blades & Windshield Wiper Blades

Clark, I have used my five blade razor now for about six months since I heard you mention it on your show. After each shave, I dip my razor in alcohol which disapates the water and sanitizes as well. So far it is working well. My blades would cost around $14 to replace so it is saving me big bucks.

Also, My wiper blades were bouncing across the windshield while in use and I did not have the money to purchase new ones so I rotated the blade 180 degrees to reverse the stiff angle the blade had warn to so it would flow smoothely, and they are still going. This may not work on all types of blades since some only clip on one way and the blade insert itself can't be removed, but it worked for me. Saved me about $20 for a while longer. If it does not work you...Spend the $20:((

By Marvin Long @ 06/10/08 10:58:59 AMreport abuse

Long Life Razor Blades

I too learned that allowing the razor to air dry (without blow drying or anything else) has gotten me a years worth of shaves from one of those fancy sample razors sent in the mail. (I bet they wouldn't be happy to know that the free sample has lasted for more than a year--and I'm not done yet!)

By Don @ 04/24/08 03:45:44 PMreport abuse

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Aug 31, 2007 -- Drying your razor blades extends shelf life

What others are saying