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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Toilet brushes - what am I missing

202 replies

YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 06:56

What is supposed to happen with toilet brushes ? If you use them to clean off skidmarks, surely they just get clogged up immediately with poo? Then sit in their little holder with poo on?

OP posts:
Thepossibility · 30/04/2025 06:59

I have silicone ones that are way better and rinse clean well. Toilet brushes are pretty gross.

notwavingbutsinking · 30/04/2025 07:05

Yes, silicone ones. Totally different animal. Traditional brushes are utterly rank. I would never have one in the house and would be very reluctant to use one because they are so revolting. With the silicone ones you just hold the brush under the running water as you flush and voila, it's clean. The holder is also designed so that water evaporates from the bottom so no minging poo water puddles.

myplace · 30/04/2025 07:09

I use toilet paper above the water line, brush below. Flush to rinse the brush. It’s only used for the same job so not acting as a vector.

I swapped to silicone for a while and loved them But… they don’t clean nooks and crannies as well as the brush. With only the silicone, there’s a sort of coating that builds up. I have bought limescale magnets in the hope I can go back to silicone… but haven’t seen any progress yet.

Original poster
YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:29

So do you rinse them in the toilet itself? And never clean them anywhere else

OP posts:
FrenchandSaunders · 30/04/2025 07:30

Dishwasher ….

Original poster
YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:31

On this one for example
https://www.johnlewis.com/joseph-joseph-flex-lite-toilet-brush-pack-of-2-grey/p113385836

It says to wash in warm soapy water???

OP posts:
Jobwelldone · 30/04/2025 07:32

FrenchandSaunders · 30/04/2025 07:30

Dishwasher ….

😂

soupyspoon · 30/04/2025 07:32

I dont have one. The cleaner complains I think. But Im not getting one. Toilet paper above the line and then just bleach it if theres a bit of a stain.

Original poster
YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:33

soupyspoon · 30/04/2025 07:32

I dont have one. The cleaner complains I think. But Im not getting one. Toilet paper above the line and then just bleach it if theres a bit of a stain.

That's what I do now. But I'm thinking I'm missing something

OP posts:
ThisUsernameIsNowTaken · 30/04/2025 07:33

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Jobwelldone · 30/04/2025 07:34

I have those Joseph Joseph silicone brushes & they get under the rim.

To clean, I squirt bleach into the toilet bowl and leave the brush sitting in it for a couple hours

Original poster
YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

😂As pp said it's not only me that doesn't have one!
So glad MN is here for these questions I wouldn't ask IRL

OP posts:
Tbrh · 30/04/2025 07:35

I've honestly only had that happen once and I threw it away. I don't think it's a common thing! What I really want to know is how people clean their toilet without one

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 30/04/2025 07:36

Plastic handle and disposable cleaning pads are the cleanest I think.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/253941921?srsltid=AfmBOooHLMwVi-Yl4V1FZdk00keOQnk6LstiT-GhNATbRhhudTKZf8jn

Stripeyanddotty · 30/04/2025 07:37

I have ikea toilet brushes. If there are skid marks I scrub them off and then flush again holding the brush under the flushing water.
Brush then put back in its little pot.

soupyspoon · 30/04/2025 07:37

YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:33

That's what I do now. But I'm thinking I'm missing something

Show quote history

I did used to have one but I didnt like it sitting there in its gloop, because bleach turns things orange as well so even though it was clean it looked like it had shit on it.

Then in addition, they end up all wonky and horrible, its another thing on the floor cluttering up the place.

I havent missed it.

soupyspoon · 30/04/2025 07:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Someones got out of bed the wrong way!!

Its a chat forum about housekeeping

Did someone swap your toilet brush with your toothbrush? Is that why you're in such a mood?

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 30/04/2025 07:39

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 30/04/2025 07:36

Edited

Like this…..

Toilet brushes - what am I missing
Original poster
YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:41

I will take a look at those, thank you!

OP posts:
Fearfulsaints · 30/04/2025 07:42

I have a rank traditional one. It's not really used to clean poo so it doesn't get covered in poo. It's used with limescale remover to help remove limescale. I live in a hardware area and it's a battle in one loo.

notwavingbutsinking · 30/04/2025 07:48

YourFairCyanReader · 30/04/2025 07:29

So do you rinse them in the toilet itself? And never clean them anywhere else

Yes, I hold the silicone brush under the running water during the flush and it comes away clean.

We do get limescale buildup (hardwater area) but that is easily sorted with a quick weekly rub over under the water line with a toilet bowl pumice.

myplace · 30/04/2025 07:55

Bleach doesn’t remove anything, it just leaches the colour so you can’t see it. And kills marine life.

If You hold the brush end in the jet of water of the flush, or scrub the sides as you flush, anything on the brush is rinsed away. You can use washing up liquid as well.

We use brushes for scrubbing, they scratch stuff off, they don’t hold it.
Think of your toothbrush when you finish. It doesn’t have mouth gunk stuck to it!

We’ve been totally brainwashed by cleaning companies.

myplace · 30/04/2025 07:59

I’m a bit shocked about people flushing the scrubby bit. Pee, poo and paper is the rule that prevents blockages!

flushable wipes aren’t really flushable.

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 30/04/2025 08:02

I use a toilet brush for cleaning, I put bleach in and leave for 10 mins then scrub the bend with it, I then flush and rinse in the flush water. There is only me who uses it.

queenofthesuburbs · 30/04/2025 08:02

I bought a silicone one and it’s absolutely useless in terms of cleaning anything that might have dried. 🤢
I just use bleach. It cleans by itself