What's the best way to clean hair brushes?

Question

I cleaned out my 2 vanaties in my master bathroom. I came accross 4 hair brushes that became dust and dirt collector's. I soaked them in water & tried cleaning them with a comb but it didn't work. They are nice brushes otherwise I would just toss them. Help! There has to be a better way :(

Answer 1

-shampoo & warm/hot water

Answer 2

First, I use the brushes to get all the tangled hair out of the others. There will usually still be some strays. While watching tv or chatting on the phone, I pull the strays out. When I'm finished I half fill the bathroom sink with hot water and a little shampoo. I soak and swish them...rinse well and presto...clean, fresh hair brushes.

Answer 3

I learned this from working at a hair salon, but here is the at home solution.

First take out all hairs with a comb that are stuck between the bristles. Then with a little of clairifying shampoo on the bristles and under a small amount of water work into a lather. Then after working into a lather with the bristles use hot water to rinse them out. Be sure to rinse really well. Then use a towl to blot dry and then set them out to air dry. Good as new!!!

Answer 4

I have had this problem. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the bristles of the brush. You can either put the brush in the sliverware holder in the dishwasher and run through when you run a load of dishes (Works great for bath toys too) or you can fill the sink with soapy water (Shampoo) and it will get rid of any smell that lingers from dirty hair.

Answer 5

If you''ve gotten all the hair out with a comb, then wet two brushes, add a little shampoo and scub them together against each other--bristles to bristles. Press hard to get down to the base of the brush to remove the caked on dust. Continue scrubbing together under running water to rinse.

Answer 6

you can add a moisturizing hand or face soap to the water when you soak them if the are animal haired brushes to soften up the bristles, which will help release some of the dirt. Soak them all day. Or over night even.

Answer 7

Soak them in a hot water/clarifying shampoo solution. Clean them with a comb or another brush while underwater (in the solution). Rinse them very well and let them dry on a towel for a few hours.

I would not reccommend soap or dishwashing liquid... if it is a dense brush, it will be very hard to get the soap residue out of it. Any remaing soap residue will likely dull & dry out your hair.

Answer 8

Some liquid (Dawn) detergent add to hot water and let soak, will help them to come clean.

For handles made of plastic:

If they are really dirty you can add a teaspoon of bleach to laundry (Tide) detergent along with hot water. Soak for a few minutes (about 5-10 minutes).

For handles are made of wood:

"A refreshing bath for hair brushes consisting of a basin full of warm water, 1 tablespoon of soap or detergent and ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax will clean brushes and leave them smelling sweet and fresh. Swish brushes in the sudsy water, rinse and let dry."

Answer 9

I take it to mean that you've got little bits of fluff and stuff sticking to the bristles. Try using cheesecloth (available in grocery stores, hardware stores). It's a very loosely woven cloth that you can push down over the bristles right to the bed of the brush. When you pull it back up the stuff clings to the cloth. Keep at it with clean sections of the cloth until the junk is all gone. You can try in wet or dry.

Answer 10

A 1-4 ratio mix of shampoo to water will do nicely after removing the hair. After they are clean, whenever you are finished using them, you can drop them into a cup or container with alcohol to cover the part you used. That keeps it from accumulating again.

Answer 11

Sink of scalding hot water and a little bleach. Let them soak, then scrub a little if necessary and rinse with the hot water again. The scalding hot water and bleach help to remove the build up especially if it is from hairspray. Hope this helps.