How to Clean Shower Brush | Keep It Fresh

Shower brushes collect soap scum, dead skin, and hair with every use — and when you don’t clean the brush, you’re just spreading that buildup back onto your skin. Knowing how to clean a shower brush properly takes about five minutes, and you likely already own everything you need. Here’s the routine that actually works.

What You’ll Need To Clean Your Brush

Gather these basic supplies before you start. Most are already in your bathroom or kitchen.

• Dish soap or gentle liquid soap — dish soap cuts through body oils and soap scum better than hand soap.
• Baking soda — optional, for stubborn buildup or musty smells.
• An old toothbrush — for scrubbing between bristles and around the base.
• A clean towel — for drying.

Skip the harsh chemicals unless your brush is visibly stained. Plain soap handles the weekly routine fine.

Step-By-Step Cleaning Routine

Work through these steps in order. The whole process takes less than five minutes once you’ve done it a couple of times.

1. Remove trapped hair and debris. Pull out stray hairs and lint from the bristles with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb after each use. Do this before washing, not after — wet hair clings worse.
2. Rinse the bristles under warm water. Hold the brush head-down and run warm (not hot) water through the bristles to loosen surface soap scum.
3. Work soap into the bristles. Apply a small drop of dish soap directly onto the bristles, then massage it in with your fingers or scrub gently with the old toothbrush. Focus on the base of the bristles where buildup collects.
4. Scrub stubborn spots. For hard water stains or soap residue, make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub with the toothbrush. Rinse again with warm water until the water runs clear.
5. Shake out excess water and air-dry. Shake the brush firmly, then place it bristle-side-down on a clean towel in a ventilated area. Leave it until completely dry — overnight is ideal. Storing a damp brush invites mildew.

Following these steps removes the oils and grime that make bristles clump and lose their scrubbing power. For the step-by-step process in visual form,

Water-Safety Warnings To Check First

If you’re eyeing your brush and wondering whether it’s safe to submerge, check these parts before you do.

• Wood handles — never soak these. Wood swells, cracks, and warps when submerged.
• Glued joints — where the bristle pad meets the base, prolonged soaking weakens the adhesive.
• Rubber parts — some rubber degrades or discolors with extended water exposure, especially in hot water.
• Electric brushes — never immerse the handle or motor unit. Clean only the detachable head.

For brushes without these components, a deeper soak works fine. Just don’t leave a wood-handled or glued brush sitting in water while you do something else.

When To Deep-Clean Versus Replace

A monthly deeper clean keeps your brush in good shape between replacements. Mix a diluted bleach solution only if your brush materials tolerate bleach — check the label first — and follow the exact dilution instructions on the bleach bottle. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, since the fumes are dangerous.

If the bristles are permanently bent, frayed, discolored, or shedding, cleaning won’t restore them. The brush’s scrubbing power drops once bristles lose their firmness, and no amount of washing brings that back.

These limitations matter when you shop for a replacement. If you’re in the market, our tested roundup of the best brush for shower use flags which handles survive water exposure and which ones don’t.