How to Keep a Toilet Brush Clean and When to Replace It

When was the last time you gave any thought to your toilet brush? This essential tool helps take care of one of the dirtiest jobs in the home but gets very little care. It’s time to step up, clean that toilet bush and whatever holder it occupies, and perhaps even send it into retirement. Whether you use a disinfecting cleaner or distilled white vinegar, you should pay it some respect and clean your toilet brush.

Why and How Often Should You Clean a Toilet Brush?

Even though a toilet brush is used with a cleaning agent you’ve chosen to clean the toilet, there are still bacteria in the bristles and along the handle. When a dirty toilet brush is dropped back in the holder, the darkness, warmth, and moisture provide an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria to grow causing odor. There are enough odors in the bathroom without adding more!

The brush can also become discolored (look orange or rusty) from hard water minerals trapped in the bristles. The discoloration is worse if it sits in a puddle of water in the holder.

The toilet brush should be cleaned and dried properly after every use and the holder cleaned and disinfected at least monthly.

How to Clean a Toilet Brush with Chlorine Bleach

A hot water and liquid chlorine bleach solution will eliminate 99.9% of the bacteria on the toilet brush and holder. Use a plastic bucket instead of the toilet bowl since the brush needs to soak for about an hour. 

1. Mix a Cleaning Solution: Place a large bucket in the bathtub or shower stall for easy filling and emptying. Add one gallon of hot water and one cup of liquid chlorine bleach.
2. Add the Toilet Brush and Holder: Put on some rubber gloves and add the holder and toilet brush. Be sure the brush head and most of the handle are submerged in the solution. Let everything soak for at least an hour.
3. Rinse and Dry: Wear rubber gloves to empty the bucket and rinse the toilet brush and holder under hot water for about a minute. Dry them with a microfiber cloth, paper towels, or allow them to air dry completely before storing the brush.

How to Clean a Toilet Brush with Other Products

There are several ways to clean a toilet brush and holder. Select the cleaning products and method that works best for you.

Disinfectant Spray and Wipes

1. After using the toilet brush, rinse it in the clean toilet bowl water. Holding the head of the brush over the toilet, spray heavily with disinfecting spray. Balance the toilet brush handle between the toilet bowl rim and the lowered toilet seat to dry.
2. Wipe the handle with a disinfecting wipe and use additional wipes to clean the interior and exterior of the holder. Let them air dry but the surfaces should be wet for at least 10 minutes.
3. When all components are dry, store the brush in the holder.

Distilled White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar will kill some—but not all—bacteria so this may not be the most effective method.

1. Spray the freshly rinsed toilet brush with undiluted white vinegar and let it air dry.
2. Spray the inside and outside of the holder with undiluted white vinegar and use a microfiber cloth or paper towels to wipe it clean.
3. Store the dry brush in the clean holder.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Follow the directions for cleaning with vinegar but substitute fresh hydrogen peroxide. You can tell if the hydrogen peroxide is working if there is some mild fizzing as it reacts with the bacteria on the brush. If not, the hydrogen peroxide has expired.

All-Purpose Cleaner

All-purpose cleaner or dishwashing liquid will not disinfect a toilet brush but it will dilute the number of bacteria significantly.

1. Fill a large bucket with a gallon of hot water and add the recommended amount of cleaner recommended on the label (usually about one ounce).
2. Submerge the toilet brush and holder and allow them to soak for two hours.
3. Wear rubber gloves to remove the items and rinse them under hot water.
4. Dry with a microfiber cloth or allow to air-dry.

When to Replace a Toilet Brush

Just like a toothbrush, the nylon bristles on a toilet brush become worn and flattened. A misshapen brush can even leave scratches in the bowl that will collect more bacteria and hard water stains. Replace your toilet brush every six months or when the bristles are flattened, brittle, discolored, or smelly.

A brush with silicone bristles is more durable and can last up to a year. However, if the head becomes damaged or is loose replace it more quickly.