How to Clean a Rusty Razor Blade

Sometimes you wind up with a rusty razor blade. Cleaning the razor blade can give it a new life and get rid of the rust and other issues. However, you'll want to use care in cleaning the blade so that you don't injure yourself or the razor blade itself.

Instructions

1. Decide whether you want to go through the effort of cleaning the razor blade. In most cases, it will be more economical to discard the rusty blade and buy a new one. Razor blades are widely available and usually inexpensive.

2. Keep your razors clean and dry to prevent rust from forming. Preventing the rust will help you not have to clean the blade or have to buy a new one. Clean your blade after every use and store it in a cool, dark place.

3. Use a handful of extremely fine steel wool or a 3M scrub pad to clean the rust off the razor blade. Clean the blade carefully. You'll also want to clean the blade before it is completely rusted as this will make it more difficult to remove all the rust.

4. Try a small amount of WD40 on the blade to help release the rust. Let the blade stand for a minute and then scrub lightly with a toothbrush. You'll need to be sure to get all of the WD40 off the razor, however.

5. Clean the surface of the blade with a cotton swab that has been dipped in rubbing alcohol once you have the rust off to sterilize it. Once you've cleaned the surface, you'll want to use some mineral oil on the blade and store it as you would after a regular use.

6. Discard the blade if it has any nicks or is severely damaged. A dull blade can be sharpened with a sharpening stone, but you're better off getting rid of a blade that's been damaged.

7. Find a new use for the blade if you can't get all the rust off and you don't want to discard it. Razor blades can be used for other household purposes, like scraping rust off other equipment.