Cheaper alternatives
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Purchase used safety razors from antique stores, thrift stores, or flea markets to save money.
They are worth it and work just fine after cleaning.
2 people, independently
Try the Philips OneBlade if you struggle with ingrown hairs and rashes.
It leaves hairs just long enough that they do not try to re-enter the skin immediately.
- Some users find the results disappointing because it does not provide a close shave.
one person who lived it
Clean LCD and LED screens with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water.
It is cheap, effective, and safe for these screen types.
one person who lived it
Clean surfaces with simple sprays of dish soap and water, pure white vinegar, or water with essential oils.
These cover 99% of cleaning needs.
one person who lived it
Dilute white vinegar as a multi-surface cleaner and deodorizer.
The smell dissipates quickly, and it is cheap.
- Do not use on marble surfaces, as acids will etch the calcite.
- Bleach is more effective than vinegar as a disinfectant.
one person who lived it
Use 70% isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting instead of higher concentrations.
The water content slows evaporation, allowing the alcohol to stay in contact with bacteria longer and penetrate cell walls before coagulating proteins.
4 people, independently
Use Simple Green all-purpose cleaner for glass instead of buying separate glass cleaner.
It works great on glass and saves money.
one person who lived it
Buy a double-edge razor handle online for approximately $10 to start shaving affordably.
It provides a relatively good handle for a low price, with blades costing only a couple of cents.
one person who lived it
When using a safety razor on legs, let it glide gently without applying weight, moving slowly in short straight lines rather than curving.
Curving the razor often ends in cuts; keeping it straight is best.
one person who lived it
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Soak heavily stained thrift store clothes or items in ultra-concentrated OxiClean solutions for up to two days to remove stubborn stains.
This method removes stains without causing the fabric to fall apart.
one person who lived it
Avoid using vinegar on grout.
Vinegar can etch the surface and remove the grout sealer.
one person who lived it
Add essential oils to witch hazel to create a customized aftershave scent.
Essential oils can be cheaper than buying cologne.
one person who lived it
Store unused razor blades in baby oil to extend their lifespan.
The oil prevents dulling minerals from sticking to the blade and keeps the metal from oxidizing.
2 people, independently
Use a Leaf brand razor with a spring mechanism for better control when shaving areas you cannot see in a mirror.
The spring mechanism allows the head to tilt, which one user found helpful for visibility and control on hard-to-see areas.
one person who lived it
Use lemon peels in cleaning solutions.
citrus oils change the smell
one person who lived it
Use Omega 'S' series shaving brushes for lathering.
They are stiffer than badger brushes, which some find too soft and prone to shedding hairs.
one person who lived it
Use distilled or reverse osmosis (RO) water in DIY cleaning sprays to prevent mineral spots when drying.
Tap water can dry with spots.
one person who lived it
Use Arko shave sticks as a low-cost alternative to shaving cream.
3 people, independently
Apply a Thai alum rock (deodorant stone) to nicks to stop bleeding quickly.
one person who lived it
Use cold water when treating blood stains.
Hot water denatures proteins, making the stain difficult or impossible to remove.
one person who lived it
Use body lotion, such as Nivea, as a facial moisturizer instead of expensive face creams.
Body lotion contains virtually the same ingredients but costs less.
one person who lived it
Do not mix alkaline products like washing soda or baking soda with acids like vinegar or lemon juice.
They neutralize one another, wasting time and money.
one person who lived it
Make fresh bleach solutions for each use rather than pre-diluting large batches.
Diluted bleach loses its potency faster than concentrated stock.
one person who lived it
Buy unfragranced 'Oxygen Whitening Powder' from Whole Foods as a cost-effective alternative to branded products.
It costs $2/pound, making it one of the least expensive sources.
one person who lived it
Clean razor blades with rubbing alcohol after use to remove debris, prevent rust, and kill bacteria.
Dry steel doesn't grow bacteria, and alcohol removes oil, gunk, and water which prevents rusting and folliculitis.
2 people, independently
Do not replace cooking spray with vegetable oil in a standard spray bottle; use a Misto bottle made for oil instead.
Vegetable oil is thick and tends to clog standard spray bottles, whereas cooking spray uses propellants and solvents to thin the oil and lecithin to adhere fats to surfaces.
one person who lived it
Remove Sharpie stains with hand sanitizer.
the alcohol content dissolves the ink
one person who lived it
Dilute household Clorox to 10% for surface decontamination and use only fresh dilutions within 12 hours.
Stored diluted Clorox loses potency over time.
one person who lived it
Avoid overspending on gear acquisition when starting out; stick to essential items like a decent brush and a few soaps.
To avoid getting sucked into unnecessary gear and soap acquisition.
one person who lived it
Use Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds or Simple Green as concentrated cleaning alternatives.
They are excellent concentrated cleaners.
- Dr. Bronner's is made to be diluted, but storing it in diluted form over time is an issue.
one person who lived it
Watch instructional YouTube videos before using a double-edge safety razor.
It makes a big difference in performance.
one person who lived it
Practice progressive beard reduction with a safety razor by shaving with the grain, then across, then against.
Safety razors are designed for progressive reduction rather than one-pass removal.
one person who lived it
Be aware that spot-cleaning carpets with hydrogen peroxide may highlight surrounding dirt by whitening the cleaned area.
It cleans the spot very well, making the rest of the carpet look dirty by comparison.
one person who lived it
Shave shins diagonally instead of vertically or horizontally to avoid cuts around the ankles.
One person used to cut up around their ankles until they started going diagonally.
one person who lived it
Buy Van Der Hagen shave butter from Walmart; use very little per application.
one person who lived it
Use 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean electronics like Xbox controllers.
It is used for cleaning electronics.
one person who lived it
Store homemade hydrogen peroxide cleaning solutions in opaque containers.
Light breaks down peroxide.
one person who lived it