10 ways to clean trimmer blades like a pro

Whether you’re a barber, dog or cat trimmer, or just a parent who buys an electric trimmer to cut their child’s hair from time to time, it’s important to remember to keep the trimmer clean. Fortunately, this is also quite easy, and there are many ways for you to choose. Note, you must use a screwdriver to remove the trimmer blade if you plan to soak it in the cleaning solution. If you just want a quick clean, you can leave the blade attached on the trimmer and dip, wipe or spray the solution on the trimmer head, as long as you don’t get the body of the trimmer wet. Plus, these methods work for both the trimmer blade and the guard – both must be clean, so you don’t miss any!

Table of Contents

Brush

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Use the brush to quickly clean the hair on the trimmer. Any brush that is hard and clean will work. Most trimmer sets come with a brush that you can use if you still have one. Otherwise, you can use any brush you have in the house, as long as it’s clean. Simply rub the brush head back and forth on both sides of the blade to brush away bits of hair. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You can use a clean toothbrush if no other brush is available.
There is a specialized brush that you can buy at any hairdressing and styling supply store. This brush is great if you want the most effective cleaning!

Soap and water

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Scrub the trimmer blade with soapy water for a quick clean. If it’s your first cut of the day, or if you’ve just done a little editing, this method is clean enough. Put a little dishwashing liquid on the trimmer blade and put it under warm running water. Scrub the body of the trimmer blade with your finger or a piece of cloth, and rub the soapy brush into the tip of the trimmer blade. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Any regular dishwashing liquid will work.

Barbicide disinfectant solution

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If you are a professional then Barbicide is the industry standard. Did you know that little liquid bottle on the shelf at the hair salon has a blue solution in it? That’s Barbicide—an antiseptic solution for styling tools. If you want to disinfect and clean the trimmer blade, mix 30 ml of Barbicide with 500 ml of water in a beaker or glass bowl. Soak the trimmer blade in the solution for at least 30 minutes. Rinse the cardboard blade under running water when finished soaking. This will help you clean and disinfect the trimmer blade. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

There are popular versions of Barbicide that you can buy for a little less. In the hair industry, Barbicide is a generic term for these products (like “Kleenex” is used to mean “tissue”).

Trimmer spray bottle

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If you are in a hurry, you can use a spray bottle to cool the trimmer and then wipe it clean. There are trimmer spray bottles that help cool the trimmer blade when used for a long time, in addition to having a cleaning and disinfecting effect. Turn on the trimmer, hold the spray bottle from a distance and spray a thin layer on the trimmer blade. Let the trimmer run for a few seconds, then turn it off and wipe away any remaining solution. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

This isn’t a great substitute for deep cleaning, but if you have a lot of clients waiting it’s also a good solution when in a hurry.
Trimmer spray is the general term for trimmer cleaning and cooling products. This product cleans the hair clip and oil on the trimmer blade, and also has a heat dissipation effect.

Alcohol

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When at home, you can soak the trimmer blade in 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean. Pour enough alcohol into the cup to submerge the trimmer blade and soak for about 1 minute, then take it out and wash off the hair or alcohol residue. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can pour some alcohol into the cap, turn on the trimmer, and dip the tip of the trimmer blade in the alcohol. The hair will drift into the alcohol quickly.

Vinegar

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Distilled white vinegar can be used to disinfect trimmer blades at home. Pour distilled white vinegar into a small cup and soak the trimmer blade for about 30 seconds, then remove and rinse under running water. Dry with a towel, and that’s it! You’ve got a clean and disinfected trimmer blade. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

You can also turn on the trimmer and dip the trimmer head in a shallow bowl of vinegar to remove hair clippings from the trimmer blade.

Multipurpose cleaning solution

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Several specialized multi-purpose trimmer cleaning products can help clean and disinfect. If you want to clean, cool, disinfect and disinfect at the same time, choose a specialized trimmer cleaning product. There are many products on the market, each with a slight difference. All in all, you can soak the trimmer blade for a few minutes or just give it a quick wipe and you’re done! ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Bleach

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A bleach solution mixed in a ratio of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water can also disinfect the trimmer. Pour into a bowl or small cup 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of bleach and 480 ml of water. Remove the trimmer blade and immerse in the solution for at least 10 minutes. Remove the trimmer blade and rinse thoroughly under cool running water, then dry with a clean cloth. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Lubricant

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Technically this does not clean the trimmer blade, but it is a must to keep the trimmer working! After each cleaning of the trimmer blade with any solution (except for the trimmer cooling spray and multi-purpose solution), you need to lubricate the trimmer blade. After cleaning, apply 2-3 drops of oil along the edge of the trimmer blade, wipe off excess oil and turn on the trimmer for a few seconds to spread the oil evenly. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Trimmer Cooling Spray is what we call spray products for quick cleaning of trimmer blades and cooling between uses.
Lubricating oil will protect the trimmer and prevent friction from damaging the motor. It also reduces the risk of getting entangled in the client’s hair or scratching the client’s skin. Don’t skip this step!

Pneumatic

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If the trimmer blade has been cleaned but is dusty, you can use a can of compressed air to clean it. If you don’t need to disinfect the trimmer blade but have trapped hair, use a can of compressed air. Hold the trimmer blade over the dustbin and spray in short puffs to blow out the hair. ^{[10] X Research Source}

This is useful if the trimmer starts to not run smoothly while cutting.

Warning

It’s no exaggeration to say that cleaning trimmer blades is very important if you’re a professional hairstylist, barber or trimmer. Any harmful bacteria can build up on the trimmer blade if you don’t clean it thoroughly. ^{[11] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} You should do a quick clean between cuts and deep clean at least once a day.

Steps