The Barbicide Jar Is An Icon

By Christi Larsen


There are several ways to use a Barbicide Jar. First what is it? Well it is the glass jar everyone has seen inside a barber shop or hairdressers that has that blue liquid where the hair shears, combs and brushes are sanitized. It has been around for over fifty years and is growing in popularity outside the salon, barbershop, manicure shop, and spa. Many people use it now in their homes to sterilize their razors and other hygiene tools. In addition it has many decorative and functional capabilities beyond keeping tools germ and fungus free.

In 1947, Maurice King, a science teacher, came up with a formula to sanitize hair combs, brushes, tweezers, razors, scissors, and clippers. This liquid solution rids the items of fungus or germs when immersed in the fluid. The blue solution has set a high standard of cleanliness for over a half century and is still used, in its namesake glass jar in shops and homes today. While still seen in barbershops, salons, manicure stations, and spa's it is now being used in the home for a variety of reasons.

Made of glass, the molded jars have a stainless steel cover and attached basket where items can be placed and sanitized. When retrieving the items, fingers or hands never enter the liquid. The glass rarely breaks and the metal parts never rust. They are functional and simple in design and have become a nostalgic icon of our society.

The look of the jar has been basically the same with little changes. However, in more recent years, salons and spas wanting a more modern look use a wrap or skins as they are called, and wrap them around the glass. The styles range from Victorian to tie-dyed patterns. A rose garden, animal print, bamboo, and many other styles are also seen on the jars.

Other liquid sterilizing agents can also be used in the jars and for this reason many people are also using them in their homes. Bathrooms, shower stalls, and shaving dens house them for use before and after a shave. Tweezers, safety and straight razors are dipped in them to be sterilized before and after each use.

The older ones have become collectible items and are displayed on shelves and cabinets. They are also being used to store sachet bags, small soaps, cotton balls, and baths salts in homes. Some people even use them to dispense drinking straws and other items.

Makeup brushes and other expensive makeup tools can be stored inside for easy and quick retrieval. The can also be used for presenting gifts of candy or other small items stored inside. Many kitchens or dinning areas will use them as drinking straw dispensers.

The functional and decorative Barbicide Jar is being used in many different ways. In the home to sanitize hygiene tools such as razors, clippers, and tweezers or in the bathroom for easy access to makeup tools, cotton balls and swabs, soaps, small bath soaps, scented candles, or scented sachets. The design and nostalgic value has made it a collectible with many admirers. Its design and functionality has made a place for it in a display at the Smithsonian at the National Museum of American History.




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