Panasonic Hydraclean Cartridges, Black, Pack of 3

Would it not be great if your car can wash itself, change its oil, and refill its own gas tank? How about your clothes? Do they wash, dry, and fold themselves? Man, life would be so much easier if they did! This is one area where electric razors are ahead of cars. Ever since Braun came out with their "clean and charge" system, it seems that razor manufacturers have found ways to make razors maintain themselves with very little effort on the user's part. Panasonic's system is called Hydraclean. This review is about the cleaning cartridge for the Panasonic Hydraclean system. It is hard to write about the cleaning cartridge without mentioning the Hydraclean system. After all, together they make up the cleaning system. One is only as good as the other. Let me say that the cleaning system does exactly what it claims to be able to do. It cleans, lubricates, dries, and recharges the electric razor automatically. The Panasonic system uses a very sophisticated process to do this. Instead of simply pumping liquid cleaning fluid from the cartridge to the razor stand, this Panasonic uses a solid detergent. The Panasonic WES035P is a solid detergent block with a small filter. The cleaning stand has a small, removable water tank. The cleaning system dissolves the detergent with the water, and then the water is pumped upwards to the razor. The razor is inserted upside down in the cleaning stand, by the way. At that point, the razor is cycled on and off. The liquid mixture washes away debris and captures them in the filter. After a set time, warm air circulated around the razor heads to speed up drying time. The detergent leaves behind a film of lubricant. The Braun system uses an alcohol-based liquid. It also does a fine job of maintaining your razor. However, the alcohol has a tendency to evaporate, whether you use it or not. As soon as you open the seal on the cartridge, its useful life starts evaporating away. The Panasonic system does not evaporate, and you only use up its life when you actually clean the razor. So the Panasonic system does have its advantages over the Braun. The Braun cleaning stand is also sensitive to being moved, as the liquid can spill out of the cartridge. The Panasonic system is less-susceptible to that, since the cleaner is in solid form and the water tank is capped. However, you do have to change out the water in the tank. You can empty out the tank every time you replace the cartridge. And if you live in an area where the water is hard, I recommend that you not use water straight from the tap. You might want to buy a gallon of distilled water to refill your tank, which should last for over a year if you change out your cartridge each month. I highly recommend the Panasonic Hydraclean system. It makes maintaining your razor a breeze. It does not get easier than this. The solid detergent that comes in the cartridges do have advantages over alcohol-based cleaners. And the price is very reasonable. I "subscribe" here at Amazon. The plan is for me to have a three-pack shipped to me every three months.

I've been using a Panasonic wet/dry shaver and the Vortex cartridges for 25 years or more. With long-time storage the cleaning cartridges become yellow-brown discolored (present when you open the foil), so don't buy more than a year's supply. I get 2 months or more out of each cartridge - and here's how. I run the cleaning cycle only when I charge the shaver. Since I no longer shave daily, that's probably once every 10 days or so. Yet, my shaving heads are spotlessly clean and bright with NO SHAVING CREAM RESIDUE on them at all. After every shave, I remove the shaving head cover, squirt a little LIQUID HAND SOAP on the blades, replace the cover and run the razor 15-20 seconds before rinsing with the cover off. This works because liquid hand soaps contain a chemical that keeps the soap in the liquid phase and also dissolves the white haze that otherwise collects on the blades, the inside of the cover and anywhere else your shaving cream settles! If you have a dense layer of shaving cream residue on your shaver, blades, etc, make a solution of liquid hand soap in a glass and place the removeable head of your razor in it overnight. The following day, lightly brush the inside and the blades with an old, soft toothbrush under warm water. You will have a new-appearing razor that also works like new. Mind your shaving cream, as well. The dense gel creams (like Edge) are a poor choice: they slow down the shavers blades, tax the motor (think "earlier replacement") and leave the most residue on the blades and inside casing. Semi-liquid shaving creams (like Neutrogena Shave Cream) work best, don't overwork your shaver's motor and leave the least residue on your shaver's blades. Whatever shave cream you use, apply only a THIN layer - remember, its primary job is to lubricate the process, not to melt your beard!

Four stars because the cost is so high for such a simple thing but it works well. These are easy to use with the Panasonic shaver and just pop in and then the cleaning cycle does it magic. I find that cleaning the razor helps to keep the blades sharp and reduce skin irritation. They do seem to get dirty quickly despite rinsing out the razor frequently.

I hate being just a "me too" post, but I know that I really like seeing a preponderance of 5 stars when I'm looking for something, so at least the "me too" posts can be helpful. I've had my razor nearly three years. I've never changed the blades before. I don't shave my face with this razor, I just shave my head. And over the course of three or so years, it's real easy to not notice the very slow change in performance over all that time. Until I put in the new blades, I forgot how good this worked when new. I've become so used to having to go over the same area three or four times to try to get rid of all the hair, that I was unaware it was ever any other way. And whenever I pulled it apart for cleaning, when I'd run my finger over the blades here, I'd still feel them tug at the skin, so I knew they were still sharp. Evidently there's "still sharp", and there's "as sharp as they SHOULD be". :) As pointed out by others, there are both blades in this purchase despite the photo showing only one. They come out simply by pulling straight up on them, the new ones go in by simply pushing straight down. Took all of 30 seconds to swap them out and close it up. After changing them out, I fired it up and shaved my head. And was totally amazed when I was done in literally about 20% of the time it had been taking me lately. Not only is it fast again, since i'm not going over the same spots repeatedly, but it sounds totally different again too. Much more subdued buzz, barely noticeable compared to what it sounded like yesterday when I used it. One pass, fast shaving, quieter, for the cheap price on Amazon, makes it more than worth the price just in what I'll save in time. I was getting to the point where I'd only shave my head every two or three days because it was getting annoying... So if you've had your razor for a year or more, definitely worth swapping them out. If you're like me and went two to three years on one set of blades, you absolutely must do this, since you'll rediscover the razor you purchased all that time ago.

I've been a shaving cream and razor user since I started shaving fifty years ago. I tried an electric shaver in my early twenties, but my face broke out, and became red and sore. After about two weeks, and no improvement, I gave up, and went back to a razor. Then about a year ago, my barber recommended the Panasonic Arc 4. The first time I tried it, I knew this was how I was going to shave from now on. It's rechargeable, and easily holds a charge for two weeks. Plus it has digital display showing the remaining charge. It's water proof, so I can use it with shaving cream, or in the shower. I tried it with shaving cream once, it was comfortable, and I got a good shave, but the shaver by itself feels so good, it wasn't worth the mess. The shaver is extremely easy to clean. It has a high speed setting for use when cleaning, Just take off the screen; hold the blades under cold, running water, and the shaver all but cleans itself. I like to squirt some liquid hand soap on the screen, and run the blades while rinsing with cold water, too. The shave is close, although a proper shave with a razor can be closer. But again, the difference is so minute, it's not worth the trouble. Definitely five stars. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Major Update 9/11/2012 I just got a NEW shipment and need to clarify my previous, one star rating. The original cartridge order I receive back in February, 2012 had a date code on the bottom of 90724 (7/24/2009). They were 3 years OLD!! No wonder they had a bad odor to them. The ones I got from Drugstore.com a month later were dated 7/7/2011 (10707). And the ones I just got from Amazon this month are dated 5/29/2012 (20529)!! So I got a bad batch. Looks like Amazon is sending new product at great prices. Can't beat the deal!! First Review: The cartridge that came with my shaver had the "fresh smell" that Panasonic advertises. But the package I just received from Amazon almost stinks. I notice that the box does not have the newer shavers listed, the ES-LV93 or the ES-LV81. I suspect that these are either very old or maybe a bad batch. Some reviewers say that are good, but I notice that a review by MAX, as well as several other complainers are fairly recent buyers. After the second day, I can say that, during the drying cycle, the entire bathroom gets this stale, "old soapy" smell. (No, it's not me, it's the cartridge) These are horrible. Max returned his "stinky" cartridges and the replacement ones that he got also stink. I see a pattern here. Did Amazon acquire a bad batch? There are no markings on the box indicating lots, expiration dates, etc. Looks like a "crap shoot" as to whether you will get fresh ones, or these stale ones. I just ordered from drugstore.com and cancelled my recurring order with Amazon. UPDATE 3/9/2012 I just got a new box of these from DRUGSTORE.COM. Wonder of wonders, the box is a bit different. Still no expiration date! But the "Fits Models" has 4 additional models listed. ES7109, ES8109, ES8249, and ES-LA93!! Also, the list if ingredients has grown. Sodium nitrite has been added. I have no idea if that affects the products smell or freshness. Both boxes listed "fragrance" as an ingredient. Oh, and the instruction sheet has added Brazil as a country/language and has grown by 2 pages as a result. So, Amazon apparently is selling some very, very old packages of the shaving solution cartridges. Maybe not all of them, but the ones MAX and I got are "stinky".

This is BS! Price went from four dollars apiece to eight dollars apiece. And they don’t last for 1 to 6 months as other suggest. I get about one week of use before they turn stinky especially the water container. how do other people not have this problem? I’ve only seen 1 other review that says the same thing. Is everyone else just shaving with stinky shaver? I’ve tried using alcohol, distilled water, etc., I did have luck with pouring rubbing alcohol into the filter and water container after each use, but this only extended use to 1 month. My solution is to immediately put the water container and filter in the fridge after use. I don’t even wait for the drying process to finish. Once the wash is done, I pull off the water container and filter and into the fridge. The dryer keeps going. I only clean about every third shave. And I rinse off the razor with tap water before using the cleaning device. This process will extend the life of the cleaning cartridge to about two months. But beware if you forget to put it in the fridge, you might as well start over with a new cartridge. once the stink gets in there, you can’t get rid of it. You have to empty the container as well. I also pour alcohol in the water container and shake it around a bit before filling with fresh water . Unfortunately the cartridges are necessary as they clean with a slight lubricant that makes a big difference when shaving. I’m just angry about the price increase. i’ve always liked the shaver and all these years later am still on my original foil pack and cutter. i’m just angry about the cleaning cartridge price increase. Next shaver will be Braun.

I don't always shave with my Panasonic electric razor. I enjoy wet shaving with a double-edged razor, shaving soap, badger hair brush, etc. but I don't always have the time and I prefer to use my Panasonic when I travel. It's no secret that Panasonic arguably makes the best electric shavers on the market (some Braun users would argue that point though I've owned Brauns and I prefer Panasonice Wet/Dry razors). I don't own the latest greatest most expensive model razor. When I bought my razor three or four years ago it was top of the line. In any event, these razors are not inexpensive and I'm a stickler on taking care of them. I clean my razor after every other use and I change out this product monthly. I change the foil every six months and the blades, once a year. All the products are available through Amazon's Subscribe and Save program. Is this product worthwhile? It's difficult to say with 100% certainty but the evidence is that it is. I notice, every month when I change it, that it's fairly loaded with chaving hair clippings. After I've cleaned (and simultaneously charged) my razor if I take of the top foil so the blades are exposed, it always looks shiny and like new. I'm 60 years old and am on my third Panasonic razor. Each one has lasted at least ten years, as they should because they 'aint cheap. I don't know for sure if my routine of cleaning regularly and swapping out these cartridges each month is the reason I've had such great life out of my razors but "if the shoe fits..." If you buy a Chevy Geo, it doesn't make sense to spend much money maintaining it. If, on the other hand, you buy a Porsche, you'll likely treat it like your special baby. A cheap Norelco or Remington is one thing but the Panasonics I've bought have cost AT LEAST $250. I get a darn good shave with my electric. I am of the opinion that spending a few bucks each month to keep it in tip top shape is the reason.

What a joy to see amazon still has these and for a great price. I don't like lathering my face up in shaving cream and using the gillette or schick etc type razors. This detergent works so nicely that it makes my panasonic razor feel like new and lubricated every time. I only shave about once or a twice a week with my razor in the shower. But I pop the razor in it's charging/cleaning base to clean with this detergent every 2 or 3 shaves so the 3-pack should last a long time.

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No complaints. It works as advertised.

Keeps my shaver going for another year and cheaper than a new shaver

Produit conforme, tarif intéressant, livraison rapide.