How to Clean and Oil
Your Hair Clippers

How Do You Clean and Oil Hair Clippers After Every Use?

To clean and oil hair clippers, unplug them, brush the hair out from between and behind the blades, then put 3 to 4 drops of clipper oil along the teeth and one on each side rail. Run them for 10 to 20 seconds and wipe off the excess. The whole routine takes about five minutes.

1. 1

   Unplug or remove the battery

   Never clean a live clipper.

2. 2

   Brush out the debris

   Use the small brush that came with them and sweep hair out from between and behind the blades.

3. 3

   Remove the blade if you can

   Most clippers let you unscrew or snap off the blade for a proper clean. Brush both faces.

4. 4

   Apply clipper oil

   3–4 drops along the cutting teeth and one on each side rail, with the clipper running.

5. 5

   Run for 10–20 seconds

   Lets the oil spread evenly between the blades.

6. 6

   Wipe off the excess

   Excess oil attracts hair and turns to gunk. A quick wipe with a cloth is enough.

How Often Should You Clean, Oil and Replace Clipper Parts?

If you buzz your hair every 1 to 3 weeks, the rhythm in how often you should get a haircut, that means a deep clean about once a month.

What Oil Should You Use on Hair Clippers?

• Use proper clipper oil: it's a light mineral oil designed not to gum up.
• Don't use cooking oil, WD-40, or motor oil, since they either gum the blades or strip them and cause rust.
• Oil every use if you cut regularly; at minimum every few cuts.
• Blade wash / cleaning spray is handy for a deeper clean but still needs oil afterwards.

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Need for Clippers?

• Clipper oil: a light oil that keeps the two blades sliding without heat or drag.
• Blade wash or cleaning spray: loosens packed hair and old oil during a deep clean. Oil again afterwards.
• Clipper disinfectant spray: kills germs on the blade when you cut friends or family.
• Small stiff brush: clears hair from between the teeth and the housing.
• Soft cloth: wipes off extra oil so it does not collect hair.

Guards need care too. A guard is the plastic comb that clips over the blade and sets the length; a cracked one cuts unevenly. See our clipper guard numbers chart for sizes, and clippers vs trimmers vs shavers for which tool needs what.

What Are the Signs Your Clippers Need Cleaning and Oil?

• Pulling or snagging instead of cutting cleanly, the classic symptom.
• Running hot against your skin.
• Getting louder or sounding strained.
• Leaving patchy lines in a fade (see patchy fade causes).
• Visible rust or dark gunk: clean immediately, since rust may mean replacing the blade.

How Do You Deep Clean Hair Clippers?

The quick routine keeps the blades running, but a deeper clean every few weeks removes the build-up that brushing misses.

• Remove the blade and brush out the housing behind it, where hair collects and packs into the space.
• Soak or spray the blade in a blade wash, keeping liquid away from the motor, and brush both plates.
• Dry fully with a clean cloth and let it air dry before refitting, so no moisture sits between the metal plates.
• Clean the guards with warm soapy water, rinse, and dry. They collect hair, oil, and skin residue.
• Oil and run the clipper after reassembly to spread oil evenly across the refitted blade.

How Do You Fix Clipper Blade Alignment and Tension?

If the clippers still pull after cleaning and oiling, the blade may be out of alignment. The moving cutting blade should sit slightly back from the edge of the stationary blade so it does not touch skin. When you refit a blade, check this before switching on. Some clippers also have a tension or power screw; if they run noisily after cleaning, a small adjustment following the manufacturer instructions often helps. If the teeth are chipped or bent, replace the blade rather than trying to repair it.

How Should You Store and Disinfect Hair Clippers?

• Store clippers dry, in a case or on a shelf rather than in a damp bathroom cabinet where rust forms.
• Keep the blade guard on when not in use to protect the teeth.
• Disinfect the blade with a clipper disinfectant spray if you share them or cut other people.
• Check the cable for damage on corded models, and do not wrap it tightly around the body.
• Charge batteries correctly, following the manual, since leaving some batteries on the charger constantly can shorten their life.

What Clipper Cleaning Mistakes Should You Avoid?

• Oiling over packed hair. Brush first, or the oil just glues the debris in place.
• Running water near the motor. Only a detached blade can be rinsed, and it must be dried and oiled right away.
• Overtightening the blade screws after a deep clean. It strains the motor and makes the clipper louder.
• Using too much oil. A few drops is enough; extra oil drips onto skin and collects hair.

Clean, sharp blades are what make a home cut look even. Dull blades are a common cause of the lines covered in why a fade looks patchy, and they make buzzing your own hair and fading your own hair harder than they need to be.

If a blade still pulls after all this, your barber may know where to get it sharpened or which replacement fits. More phrasing tips are in how to talk to your barber.

What to say in the chair

“My clippers keep pulling even after cleaning and oiling. Is it worth getting the blade sharpened, or should I just replace it?”

Looked after well, a home kit saves money against a $25 to $45 barbershop cut, the typical range in our haircut cost guide. Our DIY haircut statistics show how many men now cut at home.

Frequently Asked Questions