Stop Cleaning Your Clipper Blades with Hot Water and Washing-Up Liquid
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
If you've been told to clean your dog clipper blades with hot water and washing-up liquid, you're not alone. It's advice that has been passed around the grooming industry for years.
Unfortunately, it's also one of the biggest causes of poor blade performance.
Professional clipper blades are precision-engineered cutting tools. They are designed to deliver clean, accurate cutting on every groom. Using the wrong cleaning methods can reduce cutting performance, increase heat, encourage corrosion and shorten the lifespan of your blades.
In this guide, we'll explain how to clean clipper blades properly, what products professional dog groomers should use, and why investing a few minutes in blade maintenance can save hundreds of pounds in replacement costs.
Why You Should Never Clean Clipper Blades with Hot Water and Washing-Up Liquid
Many groomers assume that because washing-up liquid removes grease, it must be good for cleaning clipper blades.
The opposite is often true.
Household detergents are designed to strip oils from plates and cookware. They also strip away the protective lubrication that clipper blades rely on to reduce friction during use.
Hot water creates another problem. Unless every part of the blade is dried immediately and thoroughly, moisture can remain between the moving cutter and blade, increasing the risk of corrosion and reducing blade performance over time.
Instead of helping your blades, these cleaning methods can lead to:
Hotter running blades
Increased friction
Faster blade wear
Poor cutting performance
Rust and corrosion
More frequent sharpening or replacement
Professional blades deserve professional maintenance.
How to Clean Dog Clipper Blades Correctly
The best way to clean clipper blades is by following a simple routine after every groom.
Step 1: Remove Loose Hair
Before using any cleaning solution, remove loose hair trapped between the teeth and moving cutter.
Using the Clipit Clipper Cleaning Brush allows you to safely remove hair, coat debris and dust without damaging the blade.
Removing surface hair first allows cleaning solutions to reach the areas that actually need attention.
Step 2: Deep Clean with Blade Wash
Hair, grease, coat oils, skin cells and product residue build up inside every clipper blade.
Using Clipit Blade Wash dissolves this contamination far more effectively than water or household detergents.
Blade Wash is specifically formulated for professional clipper blades, helping to:
Remove grease and dirt
Flush out trapped hair
Clean inside the cutter mechanism
Prepare blades for lubrication
Using Blade Wash regularly keeps blades cleaner, cooler and performing consistently.
Step 3: Cool and Sanitise During Grooming
During busy salon days, blades naturally become warm through continuous use.
Clipit Ice Care helps:
Cool hot clipper blades
Flush away loose debris
Reduce friction during grooming
Help maintain hygiene between blade changes
Ice Care should be viewed as part of your maintenance routine—not a replacement for proper cleaning.
Step 4: Lubricate with Easy Oil
Cleaning removes contamination.
Lubrication protects the blade.
After cleaning and drying, apply Clipit Easy Oil to the moving parts of the blade.
Correct lubrication helps:
Reduce friction
Lower operating temperatures
Improve cutting performance
Extend blade life
Reduce sharpening frequency
Spraying your blades every 5-10 mins can significantly improve blade longevity.
Step 5: Store Your Blades Properly
Once cleaned, dried and oiled, store blades in the Clipit Clipper Clean Box.
A dedicated storage box helps protect blades from:
Dust
Moisture
Hair contamination
Accidental damage
Knocked teeth
Keeping blades organised also saves valuable time in busy grooming salons.
The Complete Professional Clipper Blade Cleaning Kit
For the best results, every professional groomer should have:
✔ Clipit Clipper Cleaning Brush
✔ Clipit Blade Wash
✔ Clipit Ice Care
✔ Clipit Easy Oil
✔ Clipit Clipper Clean Box
Together they create a complete maintenance system that helps maximise blade performance and lifespan.
Why Blade Maintenance Matters
Clipper blades are one of the hardest-working tools in every grooming salon.
Regular maintenance helps:
Improve cutting quality
Keep blades cooler
Reduce wear
Increase blade lifespan
Save money on replacements
Improve grooming efficiency
Deliver better grooming results
Professional maintenance isn't about cleaning for appearance—it's about protecting your investment.
Continue Learning
If you're serious about improving your tool maintenance, don't miss our related guide:
This article explores blade hygiene, sharpening intervals and common maintenance mistakes in greater detail, making it the perfect companion to this guide.
Together, these resources will help you build a maintenance routine that keeps your equipment performing at its best every day.
Shop the Complete Blade Care Collection
Whether you're maintaining one clipper or an entire salon, Clipit has everything you need to keep your blades performing like new.
Our recommended blade maintenance essentials include:
Clipit Blade Wash – Deep cleans hair, grease and product residue.
Clipit Ice Care – Instantly cools and refreshes hot clipper blades during grooming.
Clipit Easy Oil – Professional lubrication for smoother, cooler cutting.
Clipit Clipper Cleaning Brush – Removes trapped hair and debris safely.
Clipit Clipper Clean Box – Protects and organises cleaned blades between use.
Looking after your blades today means better performance, lower replacement costs and more efficient grooming tomorrow.
