How to Clean Hairbrushes | 10 minute Ideas

It’s pretty safe to say, everyone knows to clean their house, clothes, car, hair and even makeup brushes.   But you’d be surprised at how many people don’t know to clean their hairbrushes or HOW to clean hairbrushes.

If you’re like many people, you probably pull hair from your brush from time to time and don’t give it another thought.  But have you ever noticed the gunk lurking in the space where the bristles meet the surface?  Hairbrushes can actually carry a lot of dirt, dust, oil, hair product, germs, and even dust mites!  Gross huh?!

With the proper cleaning routine, you can keep your hairbrushes looking their best for a very long time (they should last years).

Today, as part of a new series, 10 Minutes Ideas, I’m going to show you how to clean hairbrushes .

As gross as it all sounds, and may look, it doesn’t take much time at all to clean hairbrushes. Your hair will be healthier since you wont be re-depositing the oil and dust back into your hair and your brushes will work better with out all the build up hair in them!

So let’s get started!!

Step-by-Step Directions to Clean HairBrushes

REMOVE HAIR

For a standard flat brush, you want to use a teasing brush, hair pick, pen, chopstick what ever you can find to lift up as much hair as you can from deep down in the brush.  Then, put it all out with your hand and throw away.

If you have a round brush, you will need to lift the hair out with your pick of choice, then use scissors to cut a seam, then you can use your hand to remove the hair and dispose in the trash.

CLEANING HAIRBRUSHES

supplies need to clean hairbrushes

• medium size bowl
• shampoo
• baking soda
• old toothbrush
• water
• towel

Cleaning Hairbrushes and Combs

Fill bowl half way with warm water, add about 1 teaspoon of shampoo and a teaspoon of baking soda and use old toothbrush to stir.

Hold the brush over the bowl and dip toothbrush in solution, and begin scrubbing the hairbrush base (or pad), making sure to clean the outer edge and bristles, dipping toothbrush into cleaning solution as needed.

Rinse the hairbrush* under running water to remove any cleaning solution.

When cleaning a wooden hairbrush, be a little more cautious about how wet you get the brush.  I shake the toothbrush a few times before scrubbing, so I’m not soaking the wooden brush as much as I do with a plastic or metal base brush.

*Rinse a wooden hairbrush carefully, trying to only have the bristles in the water, making sure not to get the wood part wet, as much as you can.

If you have several hairbrushes to wash, you can skip the bowl and fill the bathroom sink with your cleaning solution.  I toss all the plastic and metal brushes and combs in the sink and scrub them one at a time, drain the water and rinse.

Sometimes if I’m in a big hurry, I will use the sink to soak the hair free brushes in a little warm water and shampoo while I put my make up on, then rinse.  It’s not a good idea to skip the scrubbing if they are really dirty, but if you clean your hairbrushes on a regular basis, you can skip the scrubbing every now and then.

After rinsing, lay them on a towel to dry!! and you’re done!!

Ideally you should clean your hairbrushes about once a month, but if you don’t, try to at least shoot for every three months.  I get my hair cut every six weeks, so I try to remember to clean my hairbrushes when I get my haircut, just because it’s and easy routine for me.

So let’s hear it……..how often do YOU clean hairbrushes?

More 10 Minute Ideas:

Each month, six bloggers will share a 10 minute idea with our readers, this month is 10 Minute Cleaning Ideas.  Follow the links below to 5 more fabulous quick cleaning tips!!

 

Cleaning Your Grill at Finding Home

Quick Painted Furniture Touch-Up at Inspired by Charm

Keep Your Refrigerator Clean at Thistlewood Farms

How to Clean Your Hairbrushes at TidyMom

The Best Way to Clean Windows at Four Generations One Roof

10 Minute Cleaning Tips at Julie Blanner