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Original poster

How the heck do you clean a toilet brush?!

138 replies

Marni83 · 05/09/2021 08:22

They are truly gross things

Had a guest this weekend. A lovely considerate one and cleverly not her fault, she had a tummy upset and she has tried to clean the toilet but left the brush in a disgusting state.

I would bin without a second thought but it’s a beautiful toilet brush that perfectly matches my bathroom!

How do you clean?

Although at the moment… I’m thinking just bin it and suck up spending £28 on identical replacement!

OP posts:
beautifullymad · 05/09/2021 09:20

Get an IKEA toilet brush. They do replacement heads that you screw in for 75p!

It's not the high end but it's functional and hygienic. The replacement ends seem to be compatible with their screw together ranges.

I change mine regularly.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/tronnan-replacement-brush-white-10457027/

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/balungen-toilet-brush-holder-white-20291499/

Random789 · 05/09/2021 09:34

Eeewww. I've got a nice toilet brush and to avoid spoiling it I take a three-stage approach to major incidents:

  1. A preliminary cleanse with wodges of loo paper
  2. Brush use for the fine detail work.
  3. A comprehensive swirl-around in bleach-infused toilet water, which simultaneously perfects the toilet and restores the brush to its former condition.

If a guest left my brush in a foul condition, it would go straight in the outside bin (and so would the brush).

As to putting the brush in the dishwasher ..... nooooooo -- unless you also had a larger dishwasher to clean the first dishwasher in.

bigbabybum · 05/09/2021 09:41

I don't understand not putting it in the dishwasher - surely the point of a dishwasher is to get things clean and hot enough to kill germs? Just run it on an empty cycle afterwards?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cleaning
furbabymama87 · 05/09/2021 09:43

I just get the cheap ones. Squirt them in bleach and hold them under the flush. Replace regularly.

Lycanthropology · 05/09/2021 09:45

I've seen toilet brush (and once toilet seat) in the dishwasher posts quite a few times before on MN, but always assumed the poster was joking! I blooming hope so. I'm a bit of a skank, but shit in the dishwasher? 🤢 🤮🤮

I agree with others, OP: leave it soaking in the toilet in bleachy water.

Q1w2e3 · 05/09/2021 09:50

Oh my God, I am never eating in anyone else’s house ever again. Envy

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 05/09/2021 09:51

Fill up the bath with boiling water and bleach and soak it.

SquitMcJit · 05/09/2021 09:55

I don’t have a dishwasher or a toilet brush. (Sad about the first, but not the second.) But Good Housekeeping reckons:

“ In theory, your dishwasher should be constantly cleaning itself — but sadly, it isn't. Over time, bits of food, grease, undissolved detergent, and water minerals build up on the dishwasher's filter and interior walls.”

So that’s bits of shit left hanging around in the dishwasher… unless posters who do stick their toilet brushes in the dishwasher are carrying out the rigorous daily, weekly and monthly dishwasher cleaning.

Nosferatussidebit · 05/09/2021 10:00

@Dillydollydingdong

I don't use one, disgusting unhygienic things. A squirt of bleach round the bowl does the trick, no problem.
How does that get skids off the bowl under the water line?
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 05/09/2021 10:03

I would bin it and get a silicone one.

HarrisMcCoo · 05/09/2021 10:05

I usually flush the toilet and hold the brush in there at same time.

MydogWillow · 05/09/2021 10:08

Chuck it and never, ever buy another. Disgusting things.

Replace with Marigolds, bleach and elbow grease.

Nosferatussidebit · 05/09/2021 10:11

@MydogWillow

Chuck it and never, ever buy another. Disgusting things.

Replace with Marigolds, bleach and elbow grease.

You expect guests to do marigolds and reach in to your toilet?!
BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 05/09/2021 10:14

Are people joking about putting it in the dishwasher?? Shock

Cosmos123 · 05/09/2021 10:22

@Miniroofbox

I put it in the dishwasher with the dog bowls on a long wash and do an empty long wash after.
That is the most gross thing I have ever read. What are people so disgusting.
Cosmos123 · 05/09/2021 10:22

*why

ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 05/09/2021 10:24

Who puts a toilet brush in the fucking dish washer? What the fuck? BUY ANOTHER ONE. or better yet get rid of the disgusting putrid nasty germ ridden decal covered bloody things all together. 🤢 🤮

Bbub · 05/09/2021 10:25

@BunnytheFriendlyDragon I really fucking hope so!!!!

@Nosferatussidebit I do the same and just do a squirt of bleach. If you leave it for a while it does dissolve the skids below the water line as well. No scrubbing required. I can see toilet scrubbing being needed for limescale if you live in a hard water area but I've never needed it for poo.

For bad poo jobs I pour some hot water down then bleach if needed.

Miniroofbox · 05/09/2021 10:25

I’m not the only one who said they did it I’m not sure why I’m getting tagged and the other poster isn’t.

I shall carry on as I am. It goes in the dishwasher with the dog bowls and any other grotty non food things I can find (the plastic tray the liquid soap and hand cream stand on for example) and an egg cup of bleach set in the cutlery tray. The dishwasher then gets run empty again with an egg cup of bleach.

ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 05/09/2021 10:25

*fecal

Cosmos123 · 05/09/2021 10:29

@Miniroofbox

I’m not the only one who said they did it I’m not sure why I’m getting tagged and the other poster isn’t.

I shall carry on as I am. It goes in the dishwasher with the dog bowls and any other grotty non food things I can find (the plastic tray the liquid soap and hand cream stand on for example) and an egg cup of bleach set in the cutlery tray. The dishwasher then gets run empty again with an egg cup of bleach.

Coz this is not NORMAL
Miniroofbox · 05/09/2021 10:29

Doesn’t answer my question of why I’m the only one being tagged.

mumwon · 05/09/2021 10:30

hold brush in loo by handle (obviously) pour in toilet cleaner over brush use very hot water from jug to clean off gunk scrub brush up & down against toilet side
or use my old favourite automatic wash powder (don't mix with toilet cleaners or bleach though - you might get a chemical reaction)
If it doesn't clean get new cheap neutral toilet brush & replace frequently (which is what I do)

SylvanasWindrunner · 05/09/2021 10:32

The silicone ones are great!

BronzeBalonze · 05/09/2021 10:34

@Miniroofbox

I’m not the only one who said they did it I’m not sure why I’m getting tagged and the other poster isn’t.

I shall carry on as I am. It goes in the dishwasher with the dog bowls and any other grotty non food things I can find (the plastic tray the liquid soap and hand cream stand on for example) and an egg cup of bleach set in the cutlery tray. The dishwasher then gets run empty again with an egg cup of bleach.

Quite honestly, I think it's not an unreasonable thing to do, the way you've described. Not like you're putting a shitty loo brush in on a quick wash with the plates. I don't have a dishwasher so I can't say if I would, but I am quite content putting all my cleaning cloths in with a mixed wash so in general I would say I'm on team @Miniroofbox