Cleaning a safety razor

How should you clean a safety razor? Would water, a toothbrush, a pipe cleaning brush, liquid dish detergent, liquid disinfecting dish detergent, liquid hand soap, liquid disinfecting hand soap be enough? When do I need to use toothpaste and Scrubbing Bubbles? I was also told by Leisureguy to mix a solution of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water and place the razor in the solution.

Is this razor one you have been using? In that case a soft brush and soap/water ought to do it. If it’s a used razor that’s new to you then a more deep cleaning/sanitizing makes sense. It also depends on what you want to do with the razor. I’d start most razors with hot water/soft brush/dish soap. If there is more “crud” than the brush will handle then Scrubbing Bubbles does a great job BUT you risk losing old plating on razors like vintage Gillette’s. Toothpaste is a pretty good metal POLISH but I think there are better options for cleaning. For that matter I find Flitz much better for polishing than toothpaste. I find the vinegar solution good for removing hard water scale and although I’ve never tried it i suppose it would work similar to scrubbin bubbles for cleaning crud razors too. Sanitizing a razor? Barbicide has been used for years. You can use Quaternary ammonia to do the same thing (And you can use that in the kitchen too). You can give the razor a soak in high test alcohol too. Some like to put a razor in the dishwasher but to my mind the detergents there may do damage to plating and small parts.

Old toothbrush, soap & water followed by a scrubbing & soak in 70% rubbing alcohol for 15 mins.

I think once a week I'll use a toothbrush, a pipe cleaning brush, dish detergent, toothpaste and finally I'll soak it in the vinegar and water solution. Would this be a good routine?

I suggest you may be working too hard. I rinse my razors for about 30 minutes in a solution of 3 parts water and 1 part Finish Jet-Dry Rinse Aid, then a soft toothbrush using that same solution. Rinse, set aside to dry. Very easy. We have very hard water and this method works well for me. Jet-Dry is formulated to bust soap scum. You may already have some because it is widely used in home dishwashers; if not, the grocery stores all carry it.

Assuming these are razors you already own and use, I think you're overdoing it. Razors really don't need to be cleaned that often or that extensively. A rinse and maybe a wipe with a towel after every shave. For actual cleaning, dish soap and a soft cloth/towel is all you'll need 99% of the time. Avoid abrasives like toothpaste or polishes unless you really need it. For what it's worth, I almost never really deep clean my personal razors. Maybe 2-4 times a year will they get the soap treatment.

Assuming these are razors you already own and use, I think you're overdoing it. Razors really don't need to be cleaned that often or that extensively. A rinse and maybe a wipe with a towel after every shave. For actual cleaning, dish soap and a soft cloth/towel is all you'll need 99% of the time. Avoid abrasives like toothpaste or polishes unless you really need it. For what it's worth, I almost never really deep clean my personal razors. Maybe 2-4 times a year will they get the soap treatment.

+1

For the most part I'm a straight razor user but I do use mix in the double edged once in a while. I don't even really scrub them much anymore just a soak in hot water, dish soap and a few dabs of an essential oil does the trick for me. At this moment I can't remember all the science but it's all about the oils does a number on that soap scum works for me at least and surely much better than using unnecessary chemicals.

mix a solution of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water and place the razor in the solution.

I have always assumed there was a reason Wolfman supplied a polishing cloth and not a toothbrush plus harsh chemicals.

I clean my razors at blade change (approx. monthly)
- top cap and handle get a mild soap and soft towel to wash, soft towel to partially dry, air dry over night
- base plate normally gets mild soap + tooth brush cleaning, maybe q-tip if needed, soft towel to partially dry, air dry over night

Any razor that is anodized or coated will not see a tooth brush or chemicals.