PSI Barbering Practice Exam

A leather strop or holster is a porous material and as such cannot be____________.

1. Submerged in water

2. Sterilized with heat

3. Disinfected with alcohol

4. Disinfected with bleach

The correct answer is: Disinfected with bleach

A leather strop or holster is made from porous material, which means it can absorb liquids. Therefore, submerging it in any liquid could lead to damage, as the water could seep into the leather, causing it to warp, degrade, or lose its integrity. The correct statement is that a leather strop or holster cannot be disinfected with bleach, as bleach can cause discoloration and deterioration of the leather. Using bleach on porous materials is not advisable because it not only risks damaging the leather but can also leave behind residues that could be harmful if they come into contact with skin. This makes the practice of disinfecting leather with bleach fundamentally inappropriate for maintaining the material's quality and longevity. While the other choices involve methods that might be used on different materials or under certain conditions, they also pose risks specific to porous leather materials which should not regularly be subjected to harsh treatment like soaking in water, high heat, or even alcohol due to their ability to either stain or dry out the leather.