Changing the toilet brush is part of bathroom hygiene. We’ll tell you how often it’s recommended and what you should consider from a hygiene standpoint.

When cleaning the bathroom, using a toilet brush to clean the toilet is essential. The bristles effectively remove dirt, bacteria, and germs. However, hygiene is only ensured with a clean toilet brush. It’s important to clean it regularly and replace it if necessary.

Changing the Toilet Brush: Why It’s Important

Changing the toilet brush is important from both a hygiene and health perspective. With the brush, you can remove dirt and deposits when cleaning the toilet. However, the toilet brush itself gets dirty, and germs and bacteria accumulate on the bristles.

The deposits removed from the toilet remain on the toilet brush, and with each cleaning, you redistribute them back into the toilet bowl. The germs can not only act as potential pathogens, but sometimes the toilet brush can also start to smell bad. Therefore, you should both regularly clean the brush and replace it when necessary.

How Often Should You Change the Toilet Brush?

For hygiene reasons, it is recommended to change the toilet brush every three to six months and dispose of it with residual waste. The following factors determine whether you can use the toilet brush for a longer or shorter period:

  • The number of residents in the household. If you live with many people, you should change the toilet brush more often.
  • The frequency of use of the toilet brush also plays a role. If you are often away and rarely at home, you don’t need to change the toilet brush as often. It’s enough to use a new one every six months. However, it’s different if you spend a lot of time at home and regularly clean the toilet.
  • It is also advisable to change the toilet brush after a gastrointestinal illness.
  • If the toilet brush is already very worn and looks unhygienic, you should also throw it away.
  • Silicone toilet brushes are more durable than traditional bristle brushes. This is because they do not deform and clean better. However, silicone is questionable from an environmental perspective.
  • If you do not clean your toilet brush regularly, it is advisable to replace it more quickly.

Changing the Toilet Brush: How to Extend Its Lifespan

By cleaning the toilet brush hygienically as described above, you can extend its lifespan. It is best to clean the brush after each toilet cleaning. Here’s how to do it:

  • Soak the toilet brush in the toilet bowl or its holder with toilet cleaner or a few tablespoons of vinegar or citric acid. If you soak the brush in its holder, add water.
  • Let it soak for about 30 minutes.
  • Then flush the toilet or pour the water from the holder into the toilet. Use the flushing water to clean the toilet brush.
  • Don’t forget to clean the toilet brush holder as well. The best way to do this is to mix a little water with a few drops of vinegar.

Note: From a hygiene standpoint, it is recommended to wear gloves during cleaning and not to clean the toilet brush in the sink.