# Keep water away from electronic toothbrush and razor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596 "2011-08-05T14:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![miragesyzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@miragesyzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miragesyzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/1 "2011-08-05T14:31:34Z")
Do I treat them like I do other water-adverse electronics? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/2 "2011-08-05T14:38:46Z")
What do the manuals for them say? I regularly get my electric toothbrush wet while using and cleaning it (and can’t imagine how it couldn’t get wet, either from the sink or saliva). But I don’t think my electric razor is meant to get wet, although I think I’ve seen models that can be used in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/3 "2011-08-05T14:45:46Z")
“Electronic”? Aren’t they just tiny motors on a switch? That’s _electric_. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/4 "2011-08-05T14:48:06Z")
There definitely are electronics in these devices. For example, my Braun Oral-B electric toothbrush has an LCD display that indicates the brushing mode and the amount of time that I’ve been brushing. BTW, I’ve been looking at the [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) listings for electric razors. Generally the ones designed to get wet are called wet/dry razors. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/5 "2011-08-05T15:10:44Z")
My Sonicare says I can use it in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/6 "2011-08-05T15:48:04Z")
I don’t think it would be wise to immerse my beard trimmer, but the attachments are meant to be rinsed in water. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/7 "2011-08-05T19:07:03Z")
How does one brush one’s teeth and then clean off the brush without the aid of water? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/8 "2011-08-05T21:04:33Z")
Any device that plugs to the wall when in use could be dangerous in use if the water gets inside. Battery operated devises have voltage so low that they are not dangerous. Also, they are insulated pretty well to protect their electronic parts so go ahead, use them freely, but follow directions too. ---
**Author:** ![miragesyzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@miragesyzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miragesyzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/9 "2011-08-05T22:24:33Z")
yes electric, sorry, the distinction escaped me. neither manual comments on whether the product is water-adverse. the razor is AAA battery powered. the toothbrush is rechargeable via a proprietary charger. I guess the toothbrush’s coming into contact with water is unavoidable, but can an electric razor be used in the shower if its instructions do not specifically mention it? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/10 "2011-08-05T22:26:53Z")
What are the model numbers of the devices? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/11 "2011-08-05T22:38:45Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > “Electronic”? Aren’t they just tiny motors on a switch? That’s _electric_. I would call mine both. It has an electric/battery motor, but also an LCD display on-board plus an external one that communicates with the brush via Bluetooth, and sits on a shelf. So it’s also definitely electronic. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/12 "2011-08-06T00:18:47Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I would call mine both. It has an electric/battery motor, but also an LCD display on-board plus an external one that communicates with the brush via Bluetooth, and sits on a shelf. So it’s also definitely electronic. You have blue teeth? I suspect dog germs are involved. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/13 "2011-08-06T00:43:03Z")
> [@LunarPlexus](#): > > You have blue teeth? I suspect dog germs are involved. Uh, Oh! Should I soak them in cleanser and bleach for a few days? I might not survive! ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/14 "2011-08-06T00:43:43Z")
> [@miragesyzygy](#): > > the toothbrush is rechargeable via a proprietary charger. As I mentioned in your other thread, your toothbrush may not even have any direct electrical connection with the charger; the two may be acting as two halves of a transformer. ---
**Author:** ![abel29a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@abel29a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel29a)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/15 "2011-08-06T22:53:21Z")
I have a cheapo Phillips electric brusher, which is basically a molded plastic casing with a button on it, and a attachment for the brush itself on top. Altough the booklet in the box said do not submerge I’ve done so on many occasions, and no harm has come to it. I’m guessing most electric toothbrushes are like this now - more or less completely shielded from water. And, as noted above, must likely all by now use inductive charging, so there is nothing that can short out if the brush is submerged. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/16 "2011-08-06T23:05:58Z")
Gee, I dunno. My Oral-B rechargeable toothbrush’s instructions say I should rinse both the detachable brush and the handle, where the motor is. I have used my AAA battery powered Gillette razor in the shower without any problem. How can you use a razor without getting it wet? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/17 "2011-08-06T23:50:27Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I would call mine both. It has an electric/battery motor, but also an LCD display on-board plus an external one that communicates with the brush via Bluetooth, and sits on a shelf. So it’s also definitely electronic. :eek: WHY??? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/18 "2011-08-06T23:58:09Z")
> [@miragesyzygy](#): > > but can an electric razor be used in the shower if its instructions do not specifically mention it? I would not do it unless the razor is explicitly designed to be used this way. I will not have enough voltage to be dangerous to you, but if water should get into the electrics it might short itself out and cease to work. Unlike a toothbrush, electric razors do not need to be got wet to be used, so I doubt whether most of them are designed to be very waterproof. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/19 "2011-08-07T00:08:34Z")
Don’t know about razors (haven’t used one in 46 years), but my toothbrush has no contacts and obviously charges inductively. The charger, on the other hand, has a cord that plugs in and I would keep that dry. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596/20 "2011-08-07T00:11:11Z")
I use my Gillette Fusion Power in the shower all the time with no problems to date. No idea if the manual says don’t. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-water-away-from-electronic-toothbrush-and-razor/591596.md?page=2)