The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning and Maintaining Your Toilet Brush

Let’s cut to the chase: nobody wants to clean a toilet brush. It’s like giving a bath to the thing that cleans your bath. But here’s the cold, hard truth—if you’re not cleaning your toilet brush, you’re basically letting your bathroom become a petri dish of horror. And trust me, no amount of scented candles can mask the shame of a moldy brush lurking in the corner. So, grab your gloves (and maybe a stiff drink), because we’re diving into the dirty little secrets of toilet brush maintenance.  

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: your toilet brush is dirtier than you think. You scrub the bowl, rinse it off, and call it a day? Wrong. That brush is holding onto bacteria like a clingy ex. A study by the Global Hygiene Council found that toilet brushes can harbor E. coli and other nasties if not cleaned properly. So, yeah, you’re basically spreading germs every time you “clean.”  

Here’s my hot take: stop treating your toilet brush like a disposable sidekick. Most people chuck theirs every few months, but with a little TLC, that brush could last years. Take the OXO Good Grips Hideaway Brush—its silicone bristles are designed to resist gunk buildup, and the holder actually lets the brush dry properly. But even the fanciest brush turns into a biohazard if you neglect it.  

So, how do you clean this thing? Bleach is your frenemy. Sure, it kills germs, but it also eats away at plastic bristles over time. Instead, try soaking the brush head in white vinegar and baking soda. It’s like a spa day for your brush—gentle yet effective. For the handle? Wipe it down with disinfectant wipes. And if your brush has a holder, clean that too. (Pro tip: If your holder has a mysterious dark ring at the bottom, you’re already failing.)  

Now, let’s talk drying. A wet brush is a happy home for mold. Hang it upside down, leave it in the sun, or—if you’re fancy—use a UV sanitizer. I once met a guy who rigged a tiny fan above his brush holder. Extreme? Maybe. But his bathroom smelled like a meadow, so who’s laughing now?  

Case study time: My cousin swore her Casabella Bendable Brush was “self-cleaning” because it looked sleek. Spoiler: It wasn’t. After six months, the bristles turned gray, and the smell could knock out a horse. She learned the hard way—no brush is immune to neglect.  

Finally, know when to say goodbye. If your brush looks like it survived a zombie apocalypse, toss it. But if you’ve followed these steps, you’ll replace it out of boredom, not disgust.