Customer Reviews

Panasonic WES035P Vortex HydraClean Shaving System Solution Cartridges for Men's Shaver (ES8109S, ES8228S, ES8249S, ES-LA93-K, ES-LV81-K) (Pack of 3)

5 star:		(106)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

These compact cartridges combine a filter and detergent and are inserted in the Panasonic shaver "base station" to effect automatic cleaning of the shaver. The manufacturer's recommendation is to change the cartridge monthly. I followed this recommendation initially, finding that the filter became quite discolored with trapped beard cuttings by the end of one month. However, since the shaver is a wet/dry shaver, I found that washing the shaver head and the cutting blades after each use and before inserting the shaver into the "base station" allows me to extend the life of each cartridge to at least two months, making the economics much more favorable. I'm not sure how much extra benefit the auto-clean function of the base station provides, compared with just washing the shaver head and cutting blades under the tap, but I suppose the detergent in the cartridge contributes to a cleaner result.

This cleaning cartridge is a no-brainer if you own a Panasonic Vortex shaver. These cartridges contain cleaners, cutting blade lubricants and a filter, to keep your shaver blades clean and in proper condition. They are very simple to install in the cleaning base; they last a month or so, are solidly constructed and they work very well. A plus for these shaver cartridges is that they work with just plain tap water; no alcohol-type chemicals are used here. You can choose to clean the blades with just ordinary soap & water, which Panasonic says is an alternative, but I don't recommend it unless you have to, such as when traveling, as you won't be lubricating them and you allow the finely machined blades to be vunerable to whatever damage may befall them. This is a fine product and truly worth the price.

We all purchased the shaver knowing we would need these so I don't know why some are complaining of the price. It wasn't a hidden expense. You knew the information up front and could make a decision as to the annual expenses this would incure. Besides, the price has dropped on them in the past few months.

As for the cartridges themselves, there are no generics on the market. They are priced cheaper than the Braun cartriges I had been using. They are also not an alcohol based cleaner and therefore does not evaporate like the competitions. They can last much longer if you use the cleaner every other day and rinse off in the sink the other days. Depending on use, many could use the sink most of the week and the cleaner every 3 days or so. Not an option with most of the competition. This extends the Panasonic cartridges life well beyond the alcohol based systems. I am on the road out of state 2 weeks of every month and I was changing the Braun clean and renews every 30 days. Seems as though I would replace the Braun cleaner, use it that week, leave for a week, and come home to an empty system. Not anymore. HydraClean doesn't evaporate, makes it much more economical per cleaning, and only costs pennies per day in comparison.

These cartridges look like something Panasonic added to their charger/washer in order to make a few extra bucks. I decided to try an alternative: hydrogen peroxide.

After your first included cartridge is 'used up' (the soap only lasts a few weeks before it gets smelly), just fill empty out the reservoir and fill it with hydrogen peroxide (which you can get at the drugstore for a dollar or two a bottle). I've gone through a few cycles with the peroxide and it works great - the razor head is just as clean, if not more clean, than with the soap, which always made it smell kind of mildewed.

I was sceptical about it at first thinking that just washing it off would be ok. This removes gunk and is a must have if you use shave with gel or foam.

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 have had this shaver for one year. The Cleaning Cartridge and Filter work well! I have found that if you pop the head of the shaver off after shaving give it a quick rence the cartridge will last longer Just and Idea.

This is a fine product, but I will probably just buy it from CVS from now on. Buying the shaver, I decided to get these too, not realizing that the shaver comes with a starter cartridge and you can buy these everywhere.

The Panasonic cleaning system works pretty well - not as speedy as the Braun system, but it has some key advantages. Since the system uses water, you won't have to deal with evaporation loss. Plus, as others have noted, you can use the cleaning base a couple times per week and greatly extend the life of the cartridge.

Also, since it is water based, there's less packaging - the detergent is concentrated, and mixes with the water. Less plastic waste that gets chucked into the trash.

The cleaning system does get the razor a bit cleaner than just washing with water (or liquid soap and water, as noted in the manual), adds lubrication and a nice fresh scent. I've found that using distilled water in the cleaning base eliminates the white residue from hard water.

Goes on sale occasionally, so watch the price and stock up on the price dips.

I have used a Braun shaver for several years until I was given this shaver as a gift. It is remarkable! I have used it for about a month and it works perfectly. It is like having a new shaver everyday. I highly recommend this shaver if you are serious about a clean, close shave - this is your unit!