Whether you're a professional groomer or simply like to keep your dog looking their best at home, taking care of your clippers is a vital part of maintaining a well-groomed coat. Investing in a quality clipper can be a significant expense, so it makes sense to protect that investment through proper care and maintenance. Well-maintained clippers not only deliver a smoother, more comfortable grooming experience, but they also last longer and perform better – saving you money in the long run.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to keep your clippers in tip-top condition. You'll find guidance on how to look after your clippers, blades and combs through careful cleaning and storage, plus a few top clipper maintenence tips that are often overlooked.
Why Clipper Maintenance Matters
Your professional A5 dog clippers work hard, especially if you're clipping thick coats regularly. Without proper maintenance, clippers can become clogged with hair leading to overheating or losing their cutting power. Worse still, blunt or dirty blades can tug at your dog’s coat, making grooming an unpleasant experience. With just a little routine care, your clippers will remain in optimal condition, continuing to run smoothly and safely and provide top quality clips for many years.
1. Clean the Clippers After Each Use
It's important to clean your clippers after each grooming session. Clipped hair, dander and dirt can quickly build up around the clipper blades and inside the clipper head. If not cleaned properly after each groom, this debris can cause blades to overheat or the clipper to become sluggish – not ideal when you're halfway through a groom!
How to clean the clipper:
- Brush away hair: After every groom, unplug the clipper or remove the battery and clipper blade.
- Then use the small cleaning brush provided (or an old toothbrush works well too!) to sweep away hair and dust from all crevices including the handset, inside the clipper head and around air vents (if your clipper has them).
- For thorough maintenance, consider using an air duster (a can of compressed air used for cleaning computer equipment) to blow out hair from the tricky, hard to reach areas inside the clipper head.
- Wipe down the body: A quick wipe with a soft cloth keeps the clipper housing clean and removes any excess clipper oil or blade spray.
- Wipe over batteries and cables to remove clipped hair and residues too.
TOPTIP - Never immerse the clipper or clipper blades in water – this will damage the motor and electrical components and can lead to rusting. If needed, an antibacterial wipe can be used to wipe over the handset followed by a soft dry cloth. Find out how to deep clean clipper blades below.
2. Blade Care: Clean, Oil and Check Regularly
Clipper blades are the workhorses of your grooming routine so it's essential they’re kept sharp, clean and well-lubricated. Cleaning the blade thoroughly after every clipping session helps to prevent rusting and prolongs their sharpness.
Any build-up on your clipper blades whether it's loose hair, dirt or debris, increases friction during use. This can cause the blades to heat up excessively, struggle to cut properly and dull them much faster than they should.
TOPTIP: Clean coats are best! Bathing and drying your dog before clipping them will prevent dirt from their coat quickly dulling your clipper blades. Apply conditioners and coat sprays after clipping to avoid creating a film on the cutting surfaces of the blades that could prevent them from cutting effectively.
How to clean clipper blades:
- Remove the blade from the clipper and brush over the surfaces using a small cleaning brush.
- For A5 clipper blades, the cutter can be moved halfway across the comb to brush away hair from the inside cutting surfaces for a deep clean - watch our video guide below.
- Inspect each blade for damage such as broken teeth or excessive wear. Damaged blades can tug on the coat or injure your dog’s skin, so replace them as needed.
- Send blunt or dull blades to be resharpened ready for the next groom.
- Spray blades with Andis 5-in-1 blade care to help clean, disinfect and lubricate them. If you clip multiple dogs, using a specialist bactericidal blade wash will help to maintain extra hygiene between each groom.
- Apply clipper oil to the blades by running a line of oil along the teeth and a drop inside the cutter on each side. Wipe away excess oil with a soft cloth.
- Store clipper blades in their original blister packs or wrapped in lightly oiled baking paper and secured in a dry, sealable plastic box to prevent moisture from rusting the blades.
How to clean comb guides:
- Comb attachments can be cleaned by simply brushing away clipped hair and wiping over with a soft cloth.
- Store combs in their designated case or in a sturdy, lidded plastic container to prevent accidental damage and keep them away from moisture.
TOPTIP: Remember, never use WD-40 or other household products to lubricate and clean your clipper or clipper blades. Proper clipper oil or Andis 5-in-1 cool care spray will do the job safely and effectively. Other products may not have the same viscosity, leaving your blades sticky, causing issues for your clipper motor or even irritate your pet's skin!
3. Inspect the Clipper Body and Cables
Before use and during cleaning, inspect the clipper power lead or batteries for signs of damage or wear. Exposed wires can be a safety hazard and may frighten your dog if there's a sudden jolt or noise. At Masterclip we readily supply all spare parts for our clipper models and replacements can be easily and quickly obtained with free and fast delivery.
If you need more than a spare part, we offer clipper repairs and servicing to keep your clippers in optimal working order. Take a look at our clipper repairs and servicing information here.
4. Check the Blade Drive and Blade Attachment
The blade drive and hinge should be checked before every use to make sure they are working properly and no part is missing, worn or rusty. These parts can wear down over time and may need replacing to maintain smooth operation. You can view our handy video guide on YouTube here.
- Before each use, check that the motor sounds normal and is running smoothly both with and without the blades attached.
- Check the on/off switch is functioning smoothly.
- Ensure A5 blades are snapped on fully before attempting to clip. Loose or misaligned blades are usually easily spotted by excess noise and may become dislodged mid-groom.
- If you find the blade hinge accidentally closes during cleaning or maintenance checks, follow our video guide below to easily lift the hinge again.
Regularly service your clippers using a reputable technician. Servicing ensures that any hair trapped inside the handset is throughly cleaned out and all worn parts are replaced. Clipper servicing at Masterclip includes PAT safety testing too so you can be sure your clipper is running optimally and safely with all genuine parts. Find our clipper servicing information for your Masterclip dog clippers here.
5. Store Your Clippers Correctly
Once your clippers and blades are clean and oiled, they should be stored indoors in a dry, dust-free environment.
How to store your clippers:
- Keep clippers their original case or a padded clipper bag such as our ultimate holdall away from the reach of pets or children.
- Don't forget to clean the case! Once your clippers and blades are thoroughly cleaned the last thing you want to is place them back in their case lined with clipped hair. Simply vacuum any hair and dust from inside the clipper carry case and wipe over with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
- Loop the clipper cord loosely so that it's neatly coiled but not tight as this may cause excess wear and tear.
- Store blades in their original blister packs or a sealable plastic container.
- Avoid leaving clippers and blades on damp countertops or inside steamy bathrooms. Moisture can lead to corrosion of the internal components and cause electrical issues.
- Keeping everything organised will make your next grooming session quicker, easier, and safer.
6. Have Spares on Hand
Even the best equipment can have an off day. That’s why having a backup clipper and extra blades is a smart idea, especially if you're in the middle of a full-body groom! Whether your main clipper is being serviced or you've just encountered a technical glitch, having a spare handset means no delay in keeping your dog looking smart and is essential for busy professional dog groomers.
- Always have a few sets of the same type of blade available incase one should go dull mid-clip. This way you'll have extras on hand to finish a clip or to use whilst others are sent off for resharpening.
Dog Clipper Care Checklist
To keep your clippers in tip-top shape, remember these golden rules:
Clean your clippers and blades after every use.
Oil your blades before, during and after grooming.
Check for damage, loose parts, or exposed wires.
Store in a cool, dry place with the cord loosely coiled
Keep a spare clipper and extra blades at hand and sharpen or replace dull blades as needed
Regularly service your clipper.
By building these simple clipper maintenance habits into your grooming routine, you’ll get smoother clips, a happier dog, and a longer-lasting set of clippers.
Clippers due for service? You can send your Masterclip clippers to our dedicated servicing and repairs centre based in Leicestershire. Click here for instructions to send your clipper to us.
Still have questions about clipper care or which clipper or blades are best for your dog’s coat type? Get in touch with our friendly team today – we’re always happy to help!
How do I clean and maintain my dog trimmers and trimmer blades?
Dog trimmers, such as the Showmate II cordless dog trimmer, should be cleaned and maintained in much the same way as larger A5 dog clippers.
After each use, brush away any loose hair and debris from the blade and body using a small cleaning brush. Apply a few drops of clipper oil to the blade teeth before and after use to reduce friction and prevent rust.
Unlike A5 clipper blades, the cutter on the Showmate II trimmer blade cannot be moved to the side. However, the blades are resharpenable and we recommend using Shear Ease Ltd for this service. If needed, replacement blades are available to purchase directly from Masterclip.
Proper care and maintenance of your dog trimmers will ensure they continue to perform well and stay in excellent condition long term.
