Okay, nobody wants to think too much about cleaning their toilet. But when it comes to the health of you and your family, can you really be too careful? As one of the biggest potential breeding grounds for bacteria, they need to be considered.
Opting for a cheap and cheerful toilet brush might sound like a bargain, and sure, you’re only cleaning your toilet with it”¦ but it could be letting dangerous diseases linger, eventually entering the air that everyone who visits your bathroom breathes.
Don’t freak out – we’ve got you covered. From the traditional housewife’s favorite to a more modern and sanitary take on a “brush” there are several to choose from in our list of the best toilet brushes out there. Just scroll down to find yours!
Best Toilet Brush Reviews
Designed to prevent the build-up of bacteria at any point, the Oxo Good Grips toilet brush features a canister drip tray, with integrated ventilation slots that allow any water to drip through and quickly evaporate. No moist bed for bacteria here!
Ideal for bathrooms on the smaller side, its compact footprint tucks neatly away, with a curved handle that allows a comfortable and secure grip. You’ll be able to clean as thoroughly as possible, without sacrificing your arm in the process.
Sturdy blue bristles make up a tapered brush head that allows for deeper than normal cleaning, reaching right under the rim of the bowl and all of those usually hard to reach places. Scrub aggressively without any breakage!
The handy canister door automatically swings open when you lift the toilet brush out of the holder, neatly storing the brush out of sight when it is not in use. The small entry point also pushes any excess water out of the bristles when it is reupholstered.
Not satisfied with your purchase? No worries! The Oxo Better Guarantee ensures that any issues can be resolved without any hassle, whether you want to repair, replace or refund your item.
Pros:
- Rust free brush with stainless steel staples to hold strong bristles
- Deeper clean thanks to flexible necked brush with tapered head
- Storage is sanitary with a drip tray and ventilation slots that promote evaporation
- Compact design that fits in the smallest bathrooms
Cons:
- Uses plastic bristles – silicone would be more hygienic
Available in more than ten attractive colors, this stylish toilet brush and storage from mDesign is discreet and simple, keeping your bathroom floor clean and dry. A non slip foam base avoids scratching, keeps the brush secure and prevents accidents.
You wouldn’t even recognize this as a toilet brush holder – it has a distinctive and attractive yet compact design that fits into any bathroom easily. Bristles are sturdy, with a durable, rustproof handle; good quality materials at an affordable price.
Stored carefully out of sight, the canister is protective, as is the disc fitted to the handle which guards the user against splashing water when the brush is in use. Deep clean your toilet without fear of coming into contact with anything unpleasant.
With a simple screw on design, replacement bowl brush heads are budget-friendly as well as more hygienic, allowing you to prevent the build-up of bacteria by swapping them out on a regular basis, without any difficulty. Even kids can do it!
As it’s made from such sturdy materials and because you can replace the heads as often as you want, this is a brush that is sure to last you for years to come. That’s more than you can say about the majority of models on the market!
Pros:
- Fifteen colors to choose from – match your bathroom
- Unassuming, discrete design that doesn’t look ugly
- Easily fits in small spaces
- Replaceable heads for long-lasting, sanitary use
Cons:
- Silicone bristles would be better than plastic
Why do I need a deluxe toilet brush, we hear you cry? Because it’s the cleanest way to tend to your bathroom messes! You’ll truly appreciate the hands-off operation of the pedestal style brush kit, which opens automatically as you lift the brush.
The convenient lid moves with the brush so you never have to touch the holder apart from when you’re cleaning it; the heavyweight base of this attractive holder prevents water (and bacteria) from reaching your floor by keeping everything upright!
Screw off heads allow you to replace only the spent bristles, so there’s no need to fork out for a whole new brush set when things get too dirty to use. The bristles are sturdy, but won’t scratch or dent your porcelain like a lidded scrubber would.
Rust resistant and high quality plastic prevents corrosion and keeps everything in good condition for long periods, whilst the elegant metallic finish complements any bathroom, as does the space saving, compact size of this set generally.
It actually looks stylish in the corner of any bathroom, easy for guests to find without appearing ugly or discolored: deluxe stainless steel is shined to a perfect polish and far easier on the eye than dirty plastic alternatives.
Pros:
- A classier alternative to the standard toilet brush
- Replaceable heads for a sanitary approach to scrubbing
- Rust resistant elegant metallic finish – looks good in any bathroom
- Fits anywhere, even in the smallest of spaces
Cons:
- Silicone bristles would be less accommodating of bacteria growth
Too squeamish to properly maintain a traditional toilet brush set? Never fear, this environmentally friendly yet disposable alternative allows you to scrub your toilet with rainforest rush scented sponges that conveniently pop off and into the trash.
A hexagon shaped sponge head can easily reach under the rim or difficult to reach places, allowing for a deeper, faster clean that simultaneously removes any calcium deposits, rusting or stains, to have your bowl looking brand new again.
As they’re already prefilled with industry standard Clorox cleaner, they not only remove stains and eliminate germs but scrub far better than a standalone brush could, small enough to get into any of the nooks and crannies of your toilet.
No need to keep a dirty, germ ridden toilet brush in your bathroom, with this convenient caddy that stocks not only the patented cleaning wand but up to sixteen disinfecting refill heads, so you always have a few months’ worth of supplies to hand.
Voted the number one best-selling toilet want kit in the 2019 Good Housekeeping Product Awards, this starter kit is perfect for a new bathroom setup. You get a want, a caddy and six refills, which is just enough to decide if you want to keep using them.
Pros:
- Refill heads are sanitary and preloaded with the perfect dose of Clorox cleaner
- Easily scrubs under the rim, around the bowl, and in the flush hole
- Freshens your toilet in a matter of seconds – just a few swishes and swirls required!
- Easily brushes away limescale, rust, or calcium stains, without excess scrubbing or scratching porcelain
Cons:
- Not as good for the environment as using a silicone brush
Last but certainly not least we have an incredibly popular brush from the popular Mr Siga, a reputable manufacturer of bathroom cleaning supplies. This bad boy not only contains a bowl brush, but it also has a sleek and stylish plunger!
A fancy dual compartment holder is convenient and space saving, as well as sanitary – there’s no chance for bacteria ridden water to pool around your brush or plunger, as neither ever touches the bottom of the caddy. Moisture is easily tipped away!
Strong bristles do not deform easily; dense nylon thoroughly scrubs and pushes underneath the under rim and other tucked away areas. Water will easily drip away, never clinging on long enough for any microbes to grow and fester.
Compact and low profile, this is ideal for residential, commercial OR industrial applications: pick one up in either black or white to suit the aesthetic of any bathroom. Even those on the smaller side will be able to accommodate this!
Sturdy and secure, the solid caddy won’t tip over or spill any liquid on your floors – the ventilation tray beneath the brush and plunger captures any water and encourages it to evaporate, stopping bacteria from reproducing at all times.
Pros:
- Sleek, contemporary monochromatic design
- Space saving and multi functional – works well in small spaces
- Ventilated drip tray prevents bacteria growth, plunger and brush held in place
- Attractive and sanitary – one of the best solutions to toilet hygiene problems
Cons:
- Could be improved with the use of silicone bristles on the brush head
Buyer’s Guide
You might think that as long as it can be used to scrub, any old toilet brush will do. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong: there are a few factors to consider when it comes to picking out a good one. Things that a decent toilet brush should be:
Durable
It goes without saying that when you’re scrubbing your toilet, you should be giving it your all. A brush that can’t stand up to some serious rim action is not worth buying, as it will only make the mess worse as opposed to cleaning it up.
As they are regularly exposed to both water and cleaning products, it’s important to pick a material that can withstand both. Most people have long favored strong plastic – that’s both the bristles and the handles – but now there’s a new brush on the block.
Some manufacturers were incorporated silicone into brushes, using the scratch-free and easily cleaned material because it takes better care of your toilet and lasts longer, as well as being more flexible which is handy for hard to reach areas.
Hygenic/Sanitary
Much as silicone toilet brushes are rated best for being able to withstand bleach and scrub successfully, they’re also supported by scientific evidence that suggests using them is the most sanitary way to buff up your bathroom.
According to Jeremiah Johnson PhD, assistant professor in the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s microbiology department, silicone is known to attract less microorganisms as a less porous and more resistant material than plastic.
It has been more frequently utilized in medical equipment in recent years, which further evidences its hygienic nature. It also dries a lot quicker than plastic, allowing less time for microbes to gather on a warm, moist surface.
Low Profile
Nobody wants to ruin their calm, peaceful bathroom with an ugly and unpleasantly discolored toilet brush taking up too much room. A brush and holder with a smaller, sleeker footprint that can tuck in beside your toilet is the best idea.
That being said, just because it’s hidden away doesn’t mean you can forget about it or let bacteria fester! Be sure to take it out of its corner, scrub the entire area and give the brush and holder a thorough cleaning on a regular basis.
You can find them in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, so there’s bound to be one that fits your space. Circular, square and triangular holsters are all available, either open or closed depending on how discrete you want them to be.
Easy To Maintain
If you didn’t know before (don’t beat yourself up!) then you do now: toilet brushes themselves need to be properly cleaned and cared for, as do the holsters or containers you store them in.
What did you expect? You’re using them to scrub residue from your pee and poop! There are all kinds of nasties in there, and if you don’t regularly disinfect both then your toilet is only ever going to get dirtier, not clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are toilet brushes unhygienic?
They can be, yes, if not used and maintained in a very strict way. In fact, quite a few professional cleaners are of the opinion that you shouldn’t have one at all, because most regular people won’t look after them in a way that defeats bacteria.
For instance, do you put the brush back into its holder wet? If yes, stop! Right now! Any bacteria present in your pee or poop is clinging to that water on your brush. You need to let it dry off so there isn’t a nice warm place for bugs to thrive.
This is why getting a silicone brush is widely recommended by most toilet brush advocates. Not only do they dry a lot faster than their plastic counterparts, but they’re also far less porous materially, so don’t get as moist in the first place.
What do professionals use to clean toilets?
That depends on the professional! Even experts have their favorite products, but there’s no one way to clean a toilet properly, only factors to focus on when choosing your method. Simply following these instructions is all you need to do:
Get yourself a bleach-based disinfectant, such as Clorox’s toilet bowl cleaner – be sure you coat the entirety of the bowl, focusing in particular underneath the rim, where hidden nasties are often overlooked.
Once that’s been liberally applied, you then use a toilet brush to scrub everywhere, being as thorough as you can: places to give special attention include around and inside the bowl, underneath the rim, and in the bend if possible – don’t force it!
After you’ve given it your best scrub, let it all sit for five to ten minutes, then flush everything away. Struggling to afford the aforementioned cleaner? Straight bleach and hot water is the next best thing.
What is the most hygienic toilet brush?
A silicone one, according to scientists! As opposed to the popular plastic varieties, brushes with silicone bristles not only clean better but also repel bacteria from their water-resistant, non-porous surface, preventing opportunities for growth.
It’s also possible to clean your toilet with a disposable “brush” system with removable heads, like the Clorox ToiletWand in our list above. This can be a more sanitary solution to keeping the same brush for months, especially for larger households!
Some people even forego a brush altogether, going for a hands-on “wear thick rubber gloves and scrub with fingernails” approach. It definitely works, but that can also be far too gross and anxiety-inducing for some people.
Why do hotels not have toilet brushes?
Primarily because there are so many people coming in and out of hotel bathrooms every single day. The combination of huge traffic and germs not just from the toilet bowl but also strange fingers on the handle is enough to make anyone feel queasy.
It’s impossible to thoroughly clean a toilet brush, especially when so many people are touching it on such a regular basis. It’s easier just to let the professional cleaning staff come in and do their thing when you’re gone”¦ don’t worry about the stains, but maybe leave a tip!