Cleaning plastic razor parts in surgical spirit/alcohol?

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Rmac86

New member
I have always used IPA / surgical spirit to clean my metal razor heads with great results, but I’ve also been using IPA to clean the plastic head assemblies. I didn’t really think about what effect the alcohol would have on the plastic but had read somewhere that using IPA on plastic is a big no-no.

I have so far done this only once with each of my 3 most used shavers and not noticed any detrimental effects other than a slight discolouration (plastic appears slightly brighter than the main shaver body) on the head of my norelco series 2000. The other 2 shavers seem unaffected.

Should I cease doing this going forward? From reading around the chemistry of alcohol cleaners it seems long term use can cause stiffening of plastics and possibly cracking? If this was the case then surely some adverse effects would be seen with shavers after using cleaning stations? As I understand it these stations use the equivalent of IPA?
 
Rmac86 said:
I have always used IPA / surgical spirit to clean my metal razor heads with great results, but I’ve also been using IPA to clean the plastic head assemblies. I didn’t really think about what effect the alcohol would have on the plastic but had read somewhere that using IPA on plastic is a big no-no.

I have so far done this only once with each of my 3 most used shavers and not noticed any detrimental effects other than a slight discolouration (plastic appears slightly brighter than the main shaver body) on the head of my norelco series 2000. The other 2 shavers seem unaffected.

Should I cease doing this going forward? From reading around the chemistry of alcohol cleaners it seems long term use can cause stiffening of plastics and possibly cracking? If this was the case then surely some adverse effects would be seen with shavers after using cleaning stations? As I understand it these stations use the equivalent of IPA?
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Great question, Rmac86. Using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or surgical spirit on plastic components can indeed have mixed results. While it’s excellent for cleaning and disinfecting, prolonged exposure to IPA can cause some plastics to become brittle, discolored, or even crack over time. This is particularly true for certain types of plastics that aren’t specifically designed to handle repeated alcohol exposure.

The slight discoloration you’re noticing on your Norelco Series 2000 is a sign that the plastic might be reacting to the IPA. Although cleaning stations for shavers often use alcohol-based solutions, these are typically diluted and include lubricants to minimize wear and tear on both metal and plastic components.

To be on the safe side, I’d recommend avoiding direct IPA use on plastic parts in the future. Instead, opt for warm soapy water or a dedicated electric razor cleaner for the plastic components. These are gentler and designed to protect all parts of your shaver.

If you’ve only done this a few times, it’s unlikely you’ve caused significant damage, but avoiding it going forward can help prolong the lifespan of your shavers. Hope that helps.

P.S. The cleaner I use is called Mr. Jack foaming cleanser. I bought it from Mercury Shaver Centre.

mr-jack-mousse.jpg
 
Jim Elliott said:
Great question, Rmac86. Using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or surgical spirit on plastic components can indeed have mixed results. While it’s excellent for cleaning and disinfecting, prolonged exposure to IPA can cause some plastics to become brittle, discolored, or even crack over time. This is particularly true for certain types of plastics that aren’t specifically designed to handle repeated alcohol exposure.

The slight discoloration you’re noticing on your Norelco Series 2000 is a sign that the plastic might be reacting to the IPA. Although cleaning stations for shavers often use alcohol-based solutions, these are typically diluted and include lubricants to minimize wear and tear on both metal and plastic components.

To be on the safe side, I’d recommend avoiding direct IPA use on plastic parts in the future. Instead, opt for warm soapy water or a dedicated electric razor cleaner for the plastic components. These are gentler and designed to protect all parts of your shaver.

If you’ve only done this a few times, it’s unlikely you’ve caused significant damage, but avoiding it going forward can help prolong the lifespan of your shavers. Hope that helps.

P.S. The cleaner I use is called Mr. Jack foaming cleanser. I bought it from Mercury Shaver Centre.

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Thanks Jim, I’ll not use IPA on any plastic parts going forward. I’ve only done it once and the blades always get a good lubrication with baby oil afterwards.

Is the shaver cleaner you mentioned specifically for shavers, and does it also lubricate metal parts?
 
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