Shavers.com - The Shaver Blog

Yeah. Everyone is trying to be “green” now. Minimizing that carbon footprint. Giving back to the earth. All that good stuff.

Okay, so what about shaving with an electric shaver and keeping green? I’m sure there are plenty of “do-gooders” out there who will insist that unless you are shaving with a whittled-down piece of sharpened bamboo and a facefull of plant-fat based lather, then we’re doing harm to the planet. And maybe in some way that’s true due to the components of an electric shaver: plastic, metal, batteries and motors can all be pollution contributions to the environment.

But, let’s look at this another way. The alternative to an electric shaver is some form of blade razor–the most common of which is a plastic disposable razor that is tossed out after a few uses (those of you whittling a piece of bamboo need not read further). Now THAT is pretty bad for the environment too, because the problem with recycling those little blade heads is separating the little metal blade strips from the plastic housings. That presents a difficulty for a recycling company and therefore usually results in the old landfill option.

Now an electric shaver, while composed of many different components of plastic, metal, rubber and other “stuff”, offers a greener comparison due to the fact that the typical electric razor lasts anywhere from 3-10 years. Just imagine how many disposable razors get tossed out in that amount of time from a single user. Getting the picture?  Components of an electric shaver are easily separated from one another with the removal of a few screws in order to break the machine down for recycling.

Now sit down, all of you now screaming into your computer screen that Ni-Cad and NMH batteries are located within most shavers and are highly toxic when they leak out into the environment. Yes, I know, I know. BUT do keep in mind that most electronic stores and many gas stations do offer to take used batteries in for recycling at no charge to you. And the removal of those batteries is, in most cases, as easy as two snips of a pair of household wirecutters or even as easy as a good hard pull.

Now some of you may ask; “But who the heck is going to take the time to break down an electric shaver for recycling?”

The unfortunate answer, for the moment, is not many. But the solution to that problem is simply a matter of getting used to doing something. I’m sure that many years ago people thought it a great inconvenience to separate paper from plastic from metal in their household trash, but now it is second nature to many of us. Is it so much to ask to disassemble an electric shaver once every 3-10 years? How long could it take–five to ten minutes? Shame on you, those who think that too much of an inconvenience.

With good intention, a little extra effort and a screwdriver, we can all use our electric shavers knowing that we are contributing to the health of our planet. Happy green shaving.

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Okay folks, it’s time to spread a little smooth understanding over the rough, pot-hole ridden differences
between the wet shaver systems, the dry shaver systems, and the dry shaver systems that you can clean with
water. At the risk of sounding like my fourth-grade teacher, I will endeavor to make this as easy to swallow
as possible. Here goes…

The wet shaver…no matter who makes it, be it Panasonic, Norelco or Remington, the shaver can be used,
cleaned, and otherwise carelessly manipulated in or out of water, or a watery environment. It is an
all-in-all, happy to be moistened shaver to any capacity aside from the process of charging
(look elsewhere for a post on the dangers of electrocution). Most wet shavers are designed to be used in
some sort of showering environment, and as stated by Panasonic, are fully immersable in water. Why you would
actually want to fully immerse your shaver escapes me, as shaving underwater is not usually something most of
us would set out to do–but to each his own.

The dry shaver…just about says it all doesn’t it? This is a dry shaver. Use it dry. Don’t get it wet. Worry
about it if it falls into the toilet. Avoid getting moisture on, into or near this shaver. Always assume an
electric shaver is a dry shaver unless otherwise specifically indicated by the packaging, the website, or
your friendly neighborhood shaver store representative (and double check with websites). Period….
…unless, of course, you are using a dry shaver that comes with a self-cleaning stand. But that’s another
story entirely, boys and girls. Okay, back on track now.

Now there’s dry shaver that can be cleaned with water. So here is that murky area that many people are having
trouble with, but it’s actually pretty simple if you follow these simple rules:

1. Use this (these) shaver(s) as if they were DRY shavers. Why? Because they are dry shavers. Calm down
   now…keep reading.
2. When you are done shaving with this dry shaver, carefully avoiding using it in the shower, bathtub, or
   swimming pool, it will be time to clean it. And you will clean it with water. Take a deep breath.

3. Turn on the HOT water. Turn it on STRONG. There should be a good flow of hot water running into your sink.
4. Thoroughly rinse the HEAD of the shaver. Otherwise known as the headframe, foil and cutter, top-part, “The
   thing that touches my face”, or any incarnation thereof. Heaven forbid that I suggest reading the
   instruction manual that came with the shaver, but this is where you will receive the most detailed
   instruction as to where it is safe to let the aqua flow through.

Pretty simple, right? The important thing to remember here is not to get creative. It does make a
difference if “the part where the plug goes in” gets a little wet. It WILL affect the shaver if you used it
in the shower “only once“. And no, nobody ever told you that putting it in the dishwasher was safe for this
type of electric razor.

Finally, when rinsing this shaver out (the correct way-see #3 & #4 above), please do not assume that waving
the shaver head quickly under a thin, hair-like trickle of cool water is enough to clean your shaver. If
you don’t flush out all that garbage that’s building up in there, then all you are doing is creating a
nice, cozy, germ ridden bacteria farm that you are putting against your face every day. Yummy!

And because I know you’re going to ask, yes, you STILL have to do a thorough cleaning of the shaver head
at least once a month. Pull the foils and cutters off of the shaver and soak them in straight rubbing
alcohol for a few minutes and then allow them to dry. Death to bacteria.

So that’s that! See? Easy as pie. Keep your shaver clean and so will it keep your face. And for God’s sake, read your instruction manual…
…but not under water.