How To Clean The Toilet Brush – The One Item That Gets Forgotten

You’ve squirted the Domestos, scrubbed the bowl, wiped down the seat and the flush button, and mopped the floor around the base. Your toilet is sparkling. Job done, right? Not quite. There’s one thing most people overlook every single time — and it’s sitting right there in the corner, harbouring all the bacteria you just scrubbed away. We’re talking about the toilet brush. If you’ve never stopped to think about how to clean the toilet brush, you’re not alone. Most people don’t. But if you want a truly hygienic bathroom, this is a step you simply can’t skip.

Why Cleaning Your Toilet Brush Actually Matters

Think about what your toilet brush does for a living. It scrubs the inside of the bowl, gets down into the U-bend, and removes bacteria, stains, and grime every time you use it. And then, most of the time, it goes straight back into its holder, wet and full of everything it just cleaned off.

That holder becomes a breeding ground for bacteria pretty quickly. The moisture, the warmth, and the organic matter left on the bristles create the perfect conditions for germs to multiply. So while you think you’re cleaning your toilet, your brush is actually reintroducing bacteria every time you use it. Not ideal.

The good news is that learning how to clean the toilet brush properly takes very little time and effort. Once it becomes part of your routine, you’ll wonder how you ever skipped it.

How to Clean the Toilet Brush: Step by Step

Step 1: Rinse It While You Flush

This is the easiest habit to build, and we mention it in our 6-step toilet cleaning checklist for good reason. After you’ve finished scrubbing the bowl, don’t just pull the brush out and put it away. Instead, hold the brush in the bowl as you flush. The clean water rushing through the bowl will rinse off the bulk of what’s left on the bristles. It takes two seconds and makes a real difference.

Step 2: Let It Drip Dry

Once you’ve rinsed the brush during the flush, wedge the handle between the toilet bowl and the lid so that the bristles hang over the bowl. Let it drip dry for at least 10 to 15 minutes before putting it back in the holder. Putting a wet brush back into an enclosed holder is exactly how you end up with a smelly, bacteria-riddled bathroom accessory. This simple step dramatically reduces that risk.

Step 3: Disinfect the Brush

Once a week, ideally at the same time as your regular toilet clean, you want to properly disinfect the brush. Here’s how:

Pour a small amount of hospital-grade disinfectant like Domestos directly into the toilet bowl (not the holder). Swirl the brush around in it, making sure the bristles are fully coated. Leave it to sit for a few minutes so the disinfectant can do its work. Then rinse it off during the next flush and leave it to drip dry as described above.

For an extra layer of hygiene, you can also pour a small amount of disinfectant directly into the brush holder. This keeps the holder itself sanitised and prevents any germ build-up at the base where moisture tends to collect.

Step 4: Clean the Holder

Knowing how to clean the toilet brush means knowing how to clean what it lives in. The holder is just as important as the brush itself. Every week or two, take the holder to the sink or outside and rinse it out. You can use hot water and a splash of disinfectant or a diluted bleach solution. Let it dry completely before putting the brush back in. If you notice a build-up of grime or an unpleasant smell, it’s worth giving it a more thorough scrub with an old brush or sponge you can discard afterwards.

Pro Tips from Our Cleaning Team

Choosing the right holder.

How you store your toilet brush matters. Opting for a closed container may look tidy but it’s a breeding ground for bacteria. Best to choose a ventilated holder with airflow or drainage so any moisture can evaporate, keeping the brush hygienic between uses.

Keep disinfectant in the holder.

One of our favourite tricks, is to leave a small amount of Domestos at the bottom of the brush holder at all times. This keeps the bristles sitting in a mild disinfectant solution between uses, which helps keep bacteria at bay without any extra effort on your part.

Replace your brush regularly.

Even with regular cleaning, toilet brushes don’t last forever. If the bristles are splaying out, discoloured, or the brush is holding onto an odour that won’t quit, it’s time to replace it. Most brushes should be replaced every six to twelve months, depending on how frequently they’re used.

Use gloves.

It sounds obvious, but always wear rubber gloves when cleaning and disinfecting your toilet brush and holder. You’re dealing with bacteria, and protecting your hands is just good practice.

When to Call in the Professionals

If you’re keeping on top of how to clean the toilet brush and following the steps in our bathroom cleaning tips guide, your bathroom should stay fresh and hygienic week to week. But sometimes life gets busy, and cleaning falls by the wayside. That’s where we come in.

At Simply Spotless, our professional cleaners are trained to tackle every part of your bathroom, including the bits most people forget. We use hospital-grade disinfectants and follow a thorough checklist to make sure everything is cleaned and sanitised properly, not just the surfaces that are easy to see.

If you’d like a no-obligation quote or want to book a regular home clean, reach out to our team today. We’d love to help you keep your home spotless, from the toilet bowl to the brush and everything in between.