My Effortless Method To Clean All Your Brushes in 5 Minutes

You could safely classify me as a clean freak. (My family is nodding their heads affirmatively, certainly.) I have written about the topic before: cleaning to avoid the flu here, cleaning your air here, cleaning your bathroom here . . .well you get the idea.  I suppose it wouldn't hurt to cover my incredibly easy way to clean all your brushes, too. Why not?

It may seem overkill, but those brushes you use daily to brush your hair, your teeth, your body, your face, and your dishes deserve a little attention on a regular basis. They can get overlooked. So, let's easily fix that!

Which Brushes To Clean and Why

Gather these brushes for a regular cleaning:

• facial and make-up brushes
• dry brushes
• hairbrushes
• toothbrushes
• dish washing brushes

And, here's why:

Clean brushes make you look better and get the job done faster.  Your clean brushes will work better when they are clean as the bristles won't get matted or misshapen or collect dust and germs.

Clean brushes save you money.  They will last longer and you won't have to replace them.

You won't get sick.  Clean brushes greatly reduce the chance of a germs being spread or infections that can form from dirt and germs. Infections may require antibiotics which are tough on your digestive system and can be tough to treat, too. Doctor visits cost money, as well.

Brush Cleaning Tips

Before we get to "the how," let's cover a few little tips to brush through this process and make cleaning your tools a tiny, easy task . . .

A quick scrub right before bed.  The best time to clean your brushes is at night after you have used them for the day.  That way they can dry all night and be squeaky clean for you the next morning.

One full sweep every other week (or so) should do.  Instead of making a separate cleaning task for each type of brush, wash them all at once. I gather them all and begin the task.  That way the supplies are there ready to go.

Keep it to 2.  The two supplies I gather are so simple: baby shampoo or a gentle hand soap, a sink or bucket of warm water. (Does that even count as a supply?)

Hang over the edge.  I like to dry my brushes with the brush (not the handle) hanging over the sink edge so that the air circulates all night and they are always dry by morning.

Types of Brushes to Clean Regularly and How

Here are five brushes to clean on a regular basis. Since I usually clean them all at once at the end of the day after I have used them, the whole process takes me five little minutes or less.  I start with the first type of brush and then move on to the rest.

1.  Facial and Make-Up Brushes: These brushes take the longest of all the brushes to clean, but still not long. I do this by my bathroom sink. Here are the steps for each make-up brush:

1. Pour a small dot of baby shampoo in my palm. Add a trickle of warm water and blend with my fingers.
2. Take my first make-up brush and swirl the tips of the brush using a gentle circular motion to work up a lather so that the soap is distributed throughout the bristles. Don't press down too hard as you swirl, since this can damage the bristles. 
3. Turn on the tap and rinse the brush in a gentle stream of warm (not hot) water. Rotate the brush to make sure all the soap is removed. Be careful not to allow water into the brush barrels/handles.
4. Keep washing until water  runs clear of soap and make-up.
5. Lay the brush to dry on towel with brush head over sink edge so that air can circulate. Reshape bristles if necessary.

2/3.  Dry Brush/Hairbrush:  If you don't dry brush, maybe you should!  Lots of reasons why here.

I clean these next two brushes together and here is how:

1. In the sink, pull up the stopper and fill the bowl halfway with warm water and a trickle of baby shampoo. Swish around to create a lather.
2. Place brushes in the water and let soak for a minute or two. While they are soaking, go brush your teeth somewhere else. Your toothbrush is next!
3. Come back and scrub the bristles a bit with your hands.
4. Let water drain from sink.
5. Rinse brushes well under warm water.
6. Allow them to air dry on towel.

4/5.  Toothbrush and Dish Washing Brush/Sponge:  This is the last step of my brush cleaning routine and it is the easiest.

It is a one-step wonder: I put both of these brushes in the dishwasher to sterilize them and let the dishwasher do all the work! Yes, even The American Dental Association suggests it!

I am a bit of a fanatic about dental care (see here).  I replace my toothbrush a lot.  But, here are some great tips from the American Dental Association on how to keep those toothbrushes up to speed and ready to create pearly whites and be cavity free.

Cleaning devices in the kitchen like brushes and sponges really collect germs!  I throw mine in the dishwasher each night when I run it to sterilize it.  I replace those brushes/sponges frequently, too.


Did I miss a brush? Uh-oh. Enlighten me in the comments, please, and provide any tips you have as well!

Need a bit more?

• While on this topic of cleaning, here are 21, yes, 21, cleaning tips to make getting out of that kitchen a whole lot faster.

• After all that cleaning, treat yourself to a nice bath. Try it this way!

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