6 Best Shearing Comb Cleaners For Sheep That Extend Blade Life
Extend the life of your shearing blades. We review the 6 best comb cleaners that cut through tough lanolin and grit, keeping your equipment sharp and ready.
There’s nothing more frustrating than the snag and pull of a dull shearing comb halfway through your second sheep. You can feel the handpiece getting hot, the animal getting stressed, and your own patience wearing thin. A sharp set of blades is key, but keeping them sharp depends almost entirely on how you clean them.
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Why Proper Comb Cleaning Extends Blade Life
Your shearing combs and cutters aren’t just getting dull from cutting wool; they’re being worn down by a gritty, sticky paste. This gunk is a mixture of lanolin (wool grease), suint (dried sheep sweat), dirt, and tiny vegetable matter. When trapped between the fast-moving cutter and the comb, this mixture acts like a liquid sandpaper, grinding away the fine, sharp edges of your blades.
A clean set of blades runs cooler and smoother. The reduced friction means less heat buildup, which is more comfortable for the sheep and puts less strain on your shearing machine’s motor. More importantly, it preserves the precise, hollow-ground edge on your cutters. A blade caked in greasy dirt will lose its edge exponentially faster than a clean one.
Many people think a quick wipe with a rag and some oil is enough. It isn’t. That just smears the abrasive paste around and fails to remove the grime packed deep between the teeth of the comb. Proper cleaning with a dedicated solution dissolves the lanolin and lifts the grit, allowing you to truly clean the metal surfaces and prepare them for sharpening or storage.
Heiniger Blade Wash for Professional Results
When you see professional shearers at work, their gear is often spotless, and there’s a reason for it. Heiniger is a name synonymous with professional shearing equipment, and their Blade Wash is formulated specifically for the tough job of dissolving lanolin and suint. This isn’t a generic degreaser; it’s engineered for the unique challenges of shearing.
This solution is highly effective for a deep, end-of-day clean. You simply submerge your combs and cutters in a shallow tray of the wash for a few minutes, and you’ll see the greasy buildup begin to dissolve. A quick scrub with a stiff brush, like an old toothbrush, gets into every crevice, leaving the metal pristine.
The tradeoff is the cost. Heiniger products are an investment, and the Blade Wash is no exception. For a hobby farmer with only a few sheep, it might feel like overkill. But if you have a dozen or more sheep, or you value your time and the longevity of your expensive combs, the efficiency and effectiveness of this product quickly justify the price.
Andis Blade Care Plus: A 7-in-1 Solution
Andis is a huge name in the world of animal clippers, and their Blade Care Plus spray is a fantastic multi-purpose tool for the hobby farmer. It’s marketed as a 7-in-1 formula that cools, deodorizes, lubricates, cleans, prevents rust, and is enriched with Vitamin E. For sheep shearing, we’re primarily interested in its cleaning, cooling, and lubricating properties.
This product shines as a quick-clean solution during the shearing process. If your blades start to get hot or gum up between animals, a quick spray of Blade Care Plus can blast away debris and provide instant cooling and lubrication. This can get you through that last tough patch on a greasy ewe without having to stop and change blades.
However, it’s important to understand its limitations. While excellent for on-the-fly maintenance, an aerosol spray is not a substitute for a proper deep-soaking scour. Think of it as a field tool, not a workshop solution. It’s perfect for the farmer who also has goats, dogs, or other animals to clip, making it a versatile addition to the barn shelf.
Lister Lanolin Scour for Natural Cleaning
For those who prefer to work with products that are less harsh, Lister’s Lanolin Scour is an excellent choice. It takes a different approach to cleaning by using a lanolin-based formula to break down the heavy grease on your blades. It fights fire with fire, so to speak, using the properties of wool grease to dissolve caked-on wool grease.
This scour is particularly good at leaving your blades with a slightly conditioned feel, rather than stripping them completely bare like a harsh solvent would. This provides a bit of natural rust protection right out of the wash. It’s effective, but it may require a slightly longer soaking time to cut through the absolute toughest, dirtiest grease compared to a more aggressive chemical cleaner.
The appeal here is its gentle nature. It’s less abrasive on both your blades and your hands. If you’re managing a flock with fine wool that has clean, high-quality lanolin, this product works in perfect harmony with the task at hand. It’s a smart, effective choice for the farmer who appreciates a more traditional, less industrial approach to tool maintenance.
Oster Blade Wash for Tough Grease Removal
Sometimes you run into a fleece that is just plain nasty—full of grease, dirt, and grime that laughs at weaker cleaners. This is where Oster Blade Wash comes in. Oster is another giant in the clipping world, and their blade wash is a powerful solvent designed to cut through the heaviest buildup imaginable.
Think of this as the heavy-duty degreaser in your toolkit. It’s perfect for restoring old, neglected blades you might have picked up at an auction or for cleaning up after shearing a particularly filthy animal. It works fast and strips everything off the metal, leaving it completely bare and ready for inspection and oiling.
Because it is so effective at stripping grease, it also strips away any and all protective coating. You must dry and oil your blades immediately after using this wash. If you leave them sitting bare, they will be highly susceptible to flash rust, especially in a humid barn. Use it when you need serious cleaning power, but respect its strength and follow up with proper oiling.
Wahl Blade Ice for Cooling and Quick Cleans
Wahl Blade Ice is a high-pressure aerosol coolant, lubricant, and cleaner that serves a very specific and important purpose: managing heat during the job. As you shear, the friction between the comb and cutter generates a surprising amount of heat. Hot blades are uncomfortable for the sheep and can cause the metal to expand, affecting performance.
A quick blast of Blade Ice directly onto the blades provides instantaneous cooling. The pressure also blows out bits of wool and dirt that can get caught and cause drag. This can dramatically improve the smoothness of your shearing, especially on a hot day or when you’re pushing through a long session.
It is crucial to understand that Blade Ice is not a storage solution or a deep cleaner. It’s a performance-enhancing tool for use while shearing. Its lubricating properties are temporary, and it does not replace the need for proper shearing oil. Use it to keep things running cool and smooth, but rely on a blade wash for your end-of-day cleanup.
Shear Magic Scour: An Economical Bulk Option
For the hobby farmer who has graduated from a handful of sheep to a more substantial flock, the cost of supplies starts to add up. Shear Magic Scour is a fantastic, no-frills concentrated cleaning solution that offers excellent performance at a very reasonable price point. You mix it with kerosene or a similar solvent, making a single bottle last a very long time.
This product is a straightforward, effective degreaser. It dissolves lanolin and loosens grit just as well as many of the more expensive brands. It’s a workhorse product designed for people who go through a lot of it and need something reliable and economical.
The main consideration is that it’s a concentrate, so you have the extra step of mixing it. You also need to purchase the solvent separately. However, for anyone with 20 or more sheep, the cost savings are significant. It’s the practical choice for the farmer who prioritizes function and value over brand names and all-in-one convenience.
Choosing Your Cleaner and Proper Use Guide
The right cleaner depends entirely on your specific situation. There’s no single "best" option, only the best option for your flock size, fleece type, and workflow.
- For just 2-5 sheep: An aerosol like Andis Blade Care Plus is convenient and versatile enough for your needs.
- For tough, greasy fleeces: You need a dedicated wash. Heiniger is the pro choice, while Oster is for extreme cases.
- For mid-sized flocks (10-30 sheep): The economy of a concentrate like Shear Magic Scour makes the most sense.
- For quick cooling during shearing: Wahl Blade Ice is an indispensable tool to have on hand, regardless of your main cleaner.
- For a natural, gentle approach: Lister Lanolin Scour is effective and less harsh than solvent-based options.
No matter which cleaner you choose, the process is what matters most. Follow these steps every time:
- Brush First: Use a stiff brush to remove all loose wool and debris before washing.
- Soak Briefly: Submerge the comb and cutter in a shallow dish of your chosen cleaner for 5-10 minutes. An old plastic container works perfectly.
- Scrub Clean: Use a toothbrush or similar small, stiff brush to scrub between the teeth and around the screw holes.
- Dry Thoroughly: This is the most critical step. Wipe the blades with a clean, dry cloth. Some people use compressed air to ensure they are bone dry.
- Oil Immediately: Apply a generous line of high-quality shearing oil across the blades and work it in. This prevents rust and ensures they are ready for their next use.
Taking a few extra minutes to properly clean your blades after each shearing session isn’t a chore; it’s a fundamental part of good animal husbandry and tool stewardship. It ensures a smoother, safer shear for your animals and protects the expensive tools you rely on. A clean blade is a sharp blade, and a sharp blade is a kind one.
