Are you one of those guys who leave beard hair trimming to the last minute and then forget to clean the beard trimmer? Do you think it’s enough to just rinse your trimmer in water and that will be enough to get it ready for the next time you use it? If so, you have a lot to learn. Today I’ll share how to clean your beard trimmer and keep it performing at its best. I’ll also explain why it’s something you need to take the time to do, and the risks that you avoid by keeping your trimmer clean.
Today, I’ll talk about all the steps to follow to correctly clean your beard trimmer and maintain it so that it performs well for years.
Keeping your beard trimmer clean is important not only for its performance but also to prevent skin problems.
Remember, the trimmer comes in direct contact with your face and can lead to cuts and nicks. If there is bacteria on it, you could end up with acne or a bacterial infection.
I was pretty careless when I first started using a beard trimmer.
I ended up with severe acne. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Keep your trimmer clean!
Keep scrolling to find my detailed guide to how to clean your beard trimmer. I’ll also talk about all the benefits of cleaning your trimmer and some tips and tricks to help you along the way.
"Our go-to kit for beard trimmer maintenance. Get the oil and brushes you need to keep your trimmer clean, and running great for years."
- RTG Editorial
Why Clean Your Beard Trimmer?
The main reason you should clean your beard trimmer is to prevent ending up with a skin infection.
Here are all the reasons you should regularly clean your beard trimmer.
Hygiene
Hygiene is the main reason you need to clean your beard trimmer. Your beard trimmer comes in direct contact with your skin, and over time oils, dirt, and dead skin cells accumulate on the instrument’s surface.
You should thoroughly clean your beard trimmer after each and every use.
Bad Odor Removal
Why do we wash our bodies daily, especially after we work out or go for a run? Well, to get rid of bad odor and sweat, right?
That’s a reason you should clean your beard trimmer after you use it. Remember, as well as hair, the trimmer also removes dead skin cells and excess oil from your face. That gunk accumulates on your trimmer.
As well as bacteria, your trimmer will end up accumulating odor. So, make sure you keep it clean.
Extended Lifespan
Beard trimmers don’t come cheap. A good quality vacuum trimmer (my favorite kind – it can save your relationship) can cause a large dent in your bank account.
To keep your trimmer working well over the long term, make sure to maintain it. An important part of this is reading and following the product instructions about how to clean and maintain your beard trimmer.
The trimmer part of your beard trimmer is made of steel, and that means that it can rust in certain conditions. Make sure that you fully dry your beard trimmer after use wash it.
High Performance
Cleaning and storing your beard trimmer properly will help it last the longest time possible.
Clean your trimmer after each use, remembering to dry it fully before you store it. Moisture can lead to corrosion and rust.
Regular cleaning of the trimmer using high-quality products and the correct method can ensure a good shaving experience for an extended time.
This can also make the cuts sharper and more precise, giving you an even beard.
Battery Life
Not cleaning your beard trimmer will mean that extra hair and oil will build up, and this can put a strain on the battery.
So, if you want your trimmer to have optimal performance, clean it on a regular basis.
Preventing Contamination
It’s important never to share your beard trimmer with anyone else. But if you do, it’s especially important to thoroughly clean the trimmer after the other person uses it.
You could end up with an infection if you don’t.
How To Clean Your Beard Trimmer?
Now that you realize how important it is to clean your beard trimmer, you need to know how to do it.
But before moving towards the steps, let me list all the materials required for the cleaning process.
And remember, you have to read and follow the specific instructions that came with your beard trimmer when you bought it. Exactly how you should clean a trimmer may vary from model to model.
What Materials Are Required to Clean a Beard Trimmer?
Here are things you will need to clean your beard trimmer, removing all accumulated dirt, debris, and oil residue.
Small Cleaning Brush
A small cleaning brush is required to clean the blade of your beard trimmer.
Most beard trimmers come with this brush as part of the kit. It should have soft bristles.
It’s easy to use this cleaning brush to get rid of all the hair and debris trapped inside the blades.
Make sure you don’t use a brush with overly harsh bristles. It could leave scratches on the surface of your trimmer’s blade, and it could even cause damage.
Rubbing Alcohol
For disinfecting the trimmer and sterilizing it for future usage, you will need rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.
Buy a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol. You will need it in the future to clean your trimmer’s blade, removing all germs and bacteria.
Cotton Swabs or Balls
You will also need cotton swabs or balls to go along with the rubbing alcohol when you’re cleaning your beard trimmer.
Dampen the cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol, and use them to clean the trimmer.
A Piece of Microfiber Cloth
As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to dry the trimmer’s surface immediately after rinsing it with water or alcohol to prevent rusting. For this, you will need a small piece of microfiber cloth.
Right after cleaning the trimmer with cotton swabs or balls damped in alcohol, wipe the entire surface with a piece of microfiber cloth.
Doing so will remove any residual oil, dirt, or debris from the trimmer’s surface, making it ready for future usage.
Soapy Water Solution
If you own a washable trimmer, it’s best to make a soapy water solution and dip it in there for a few minutes for deep cleaning.
Again, make sure your trimmer is washable and waterproof before you do this. And don’t forget to rinse it in fresh, clean water.
A Pair of Scissors
You will need scissors to cut the long beard hair that might get trapped inside the blades of your beard trimmer. Be careful when using scissors near the blade surface to avoid accidents.
Method to Clean Your Beard Trimmer
Once you have accumulated all the materials you need to clean your beard trimmer, follow these steps to clean it thoroughly.
Step #1: Do the Preparation
There are several things you need to do to prepare your beard trimmer for safe cleaning.
First, disconnect the trimmer from the power source.
Remove the wire connecting your trimmer to the power plug, if possible.
If you have a waterproof beard trimmer and can use water for cleaning, make absolutely certain it is unplugged first. You risk getting electrocuted if you don’t!
Once you have taken care of any power source or connection, remove the small cleaning brush and gently brush it over the blades of your trimmer. Doing so will flick away any hairs present on the blade’s surface, and you won’t have to deal with wet hairs later on.
Step #2: Disassemble the Trimmer and Clean All Parts
As you are concerned with deep cleaning your beard trimmer here, disassembling it won’t be possible. So, once you have removed the excess hair from the trimmer’s surface, remove all the detachable parts to clean them separately.
Yes, disassembling can be a hassle, but this is something you’ll only have to do once in a while.
Disassembling the Trimmer
If you’ve never done something like it before, you might find it a little challenging to disassemble your beard trimmer at first.
That’s why I recommend watching this YouTube video to learn how it’s done. Fortunately, in most cases, you have to unscrew the blade at the head of the trimmer along with some other attachment you used.
And remember, you must follow the instructions that came with your trimmer. Every trimmer has its own design, and you need to know all the information (including safety information) that the manufacturer provides.
Soak in the soapy mixture
Once you have successfully disassembled the trimmer, soak all the components in a soapy water solution. Ensure you use lukewarm water to disinfect and clean all the parts thoroughly.
Leave them soaking in the solution for 10 to 15 minutes before you rinse them off with fresh, clean water.
Rinse and Dry the Parts
Shift all the components of your trimmer from the soapy mixture bowl to a bowl containing fresh and clean water. It’s best to rinse the blades and other parts with hot water to remove any leftover debris.
When you are done rinsing, use a clean microfiber cloth to dry all the parts. Wipe down the exterior of the trimmer with the cloth before starting to reassemble the trimmer.
Step #3: Assemble the Trimmer
At this stage, you are officially done cleaning and drying out all the parts of your beard trimmer. All you have to do now is to put all the components back in their original place and screw the parts you previously unscrewed.
Ensure to dry each part individually before putting attaching it back. You will hear a “click” sound every time you re-attach a part, which is a sign that you are doing it right.
You can also consult the manual guide you got with the trimmer to seek any help when assembling the trimmer.
Step #4: Lubricate the Trimmer
The last but not the least thing to ensure that your beard trimmer is all ready for next usage is lubricating its blades. Using a cotton swab, use any facial or essential oil to lubricate the blades.
This will prevent the blades from getting dull and stop debris and dirt from depositing on its surface.
Here is how you can lubricate your beard trimmer:
- Take an applicator, i.e., an eye dropper or a serum dropper.
- Fill the dropper with olive or any other facial oil of your choice.
- Put a few drops of the oil on the blades of the trimmer.
- Spread the oil evenly across the blade using a soft brush or toothbrush.
- Once you have lubricated the blades, use a microfiber cloth to remove excess oil.
Note: The above method of cleaning your beard trimmer only needs to be done once or twice a month. On regular days, rinsing the trimmer thoroughly with hot water can do the job.
Here’s a helpful hint: you can also make a soapy water solution and keep it in a spray bottle to clean your trimmer whenever you are in a hurry.
Tips and Tricks for Using a Beard Trimmer
Cleaning your beard trimmer means you can trim your beard without worrying about ending with an infection. It also keeps your trimmer working optimally.
But now that you know all about cleaning your beard trimmer, you’re probably eager to get more tips for the best ways to utilize this personal grooming device.
Trim dry hair
Instead of applying water to your beard hairs, it’s best to start trimming them dry.
When hair is wet, it looks longer than it is when it is dry. So, if you try trimming your beard when it’s wet, you could take off too much and end up with a shorter beard than what you had in mind.
After you take a shower, wait for your beard to get completely dry. Before starting to trim, use a beard brush to get rid of knots and tidy your facial hair before you start trimming.
Start with a longer guard length
Trimmer guards are important attachments that you add to your beard trimmer. They ensure that you get the beard length that you want. If you’ve been worried about accidentally cutting your facial hair too short, a guard for your trimmer is essential.
As you get used to using your beard trimmer, start out with a longer guard. You can always move on a shorter one once you get used to trimming.
Trim in the direction of hair growth
When using a beard trimmer, move it along the direction of your hair growth for a smoother finish and polished look. Typically, it means you have to trim in a downward motion on your cheeks and upwards on the neck area.
Use a beard comb
Before trimming, use a beard comb to align all the hairs together. This is essential if you want to achieve a precise, even cut.
Also, you can use a comb to remove any knots or tangles in your beard before you start trimming.
Don’t rush
Don’t rush it, and be gentle and slow when trimming your hair, especially if using a manual trimmer. This way, you can avoid cuts, and the result will be much better.
Work with smaller sections
Take smaller sections and focus on them when trimming your beard instead of trimming hair off of the entire beard at once.
Be symmetrical
Keep an eye on the symmetry of the beard from both sides as you trim. Once you are done trimming, inspect the beard from all angles to remove uneven cuts and hairs.
Try different styles and lengths
Instead of sticking to one staple style, try different styles and lengths till you find the one that suits you the best. Who knows, you might find a new favorite along the process.
Maintain your trimmer
Regularly maintain your beard trimmer, i.e., make a schedule to clean it at least once or twice a month.
Final Thoughts: How to Clean Your Beard Trimmer
So, now you know how to clean your beard trimmer to keep it working optimally and prevent skin irritation and infection.
Make sure to use the simple step-by-step method to clean your beard trimmer that we’ve outlined here. It’s important to get rid of all accumulated debris, oil, hair, and bacteria.
Plus, I included some tips and tricks to help you get the best trim for your beard.
Before you go, check out our article on the best waterproof beard trimmers.
Michael Morris is the head writer here at Rough and Tumble Gentleman. He's got a ducktail beard and loves Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He's married to the woman of his dreams and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
