How to Clean Hair Brushes (Plastic, Wood, and Bristle)
To clean a hairbrush, pull out trapped hair with a pintail comb, tweezers, or your fingers, then wash it: swish a plastic brush in warm water with a little shampoo or dish soap, scrub between the bristles with an old toothbrush, rinse well, and air-dry bristles-down on a towel. Clean about every two weeks. Never soak wooden handles or fully submerge natural-bristle cushions — water warps wood and loosens glued bases.
How often should you clean your hairbrush?
Every two weeks is a solid baseline if you use the brush daily. Clean sooner when you see gunk at the base, heavy product film, or that gray “fuzz” of shed skin and dust. People who use dry shampoo, gels, or oils usually need a weekly wash. A neglected brush pushes yesterday’s oil and bacteria back into clean hair, so the habit pays off quickly.
- Clear loose hair after each use so the deep clean stays short
- Replace a brush when bristles bend permanently, the cushion cracks, or the base stays sticky after washing
- Many people replace everyday plastic brushes every 6–12 months of hard use
What you’ll need
- Pintail comb or tweezers
- Old toothbrush
- Bowl or clean sink
- Mild shampoo or dish soap
- Optional: white vinegar (plastic brushes only) and baking soda for scrubbing
- Clean towel for drying
If the sink gets messy mid-wash, wipe it before soap residue dries — same idea as a quick sink clean.
How to clean plastic hairbrushes
These steps cover paddle, cushioned, and round plastic brushes.
- Remove the hair. Work a pintail comb under the mat of hair and lift it out in sections. Tweezers help with short strands wrapped around the base.
- Wash. Fill a bowl with warm water and a squirt of shampoo or dish soap. Swish the brush and let it soak briefly — a few minutes is enough. Plastic can soak; wood cannot.
- Scrub. Use the toothbrush between bristle rows and around the cushion. For sticky product, dip the toothbrush in a little baking soda and scrub gently.
- Rinse and dry. Rinse until no soap film remains. Squeeze a cushioned brush so water does not sit inside, shake off excess, and lay it bristles-down on a towel until fully dry.
Vinegar note: You can soak a plastic brush in warm water with a splash of white vinegar for about 30 minutes, scrub, rinse, and dry. If you also want baking soda, use them in sequence (vinegar soak, then baking-soda scrub). Mixing them in one bowl mostly cancels both into salty water and fizz.
How to clean wooden and natural-bristle brushes
Wood swells and cracks when soaked. Natural bristles and padded bases often sit in glued cushions that hate standing water.
- Remove hair thoroughly first — you will use less water that way.
- Dip only the bristles in lukewarm water with a teaspoon of gentle shampoo. Keep the wooden handle and cushion out of the bowl.
- Scrub between bristles with fingers or a soft toothbrush.
- Rinse bristles under a gentle stream, blot with a towel, and dry bristles-down so moisture drains away from the wood and cushion.
Never leave a wooden brush sitting in a sink overnight. If the handle feels waterlogged, dry it longer before the next use.
Why is there fuzz in my hairbrush?
That gray or white fuzz is usually a mix of shed hair fragments, skin cells, dust, and dried styling product — not “mystery mold” by default. Cleaning the brush removes it. If you also see black spots and smell must after the brush stayed wet, then you may be dealing with mildew: wash, dry fully, and store the brush where air can reach it.
Other honest methods (and what to skip)
- Salon-style spray disinfectant after washing can help shared brushes, but it does not replace scrubbing out hair and product.
- Boiling water is unnecessary for home brushes and can warp plastic or melt soft cushions.
- Bleach baths are overkill for a personal brush and can degrade plastics and bristles.
- Dishwasher cycles are hit-or-miss; heat and detergent can ruin cushions. Hand-washing is safer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I soak a wooden hairbrush?
No. Water warps wood and can loosen the cushion. Clean bristles only, then dry fully.
Can I mix vinegar and baking soda in one soak?
Not usefully. They neutralize each other. Use vinegar as a soak for plastic brushes, then baking soda as a separate scrub if needed.
How do I dry a hairbrush so it does not smell?
Bristles-down on a towel, away from a closed damp drawer. Squeeze cushioned brushes so water is not trapped at the base.
Should I clean baby brushes the same way?
Yes for plastic: mild soap, thorough rinse, full dry. Soft baby brushes need gentler scrubbing. Keep cleaning tools separate from the rest of the bathroom clutter — the same habit helps when you wash baby clothes.
Hairbrushes take five minutes; bathrooms and bedrooms take longer. Pro Housekeepers’ regular cleaning and deep cleaning handle sinks, counters, and dust while you keep the brush clean — and a washed microfiber cloth is still the best tool for wiping the vanity afterward.