How to Clean and When to Replace Your Toilet Brush

Professional cleaning experts and microbiologists are warning consumers about the hygiene risks associated with poorly maintained toilet brushes, citing the potential for significant bacterial growth and cross-contamination within bathroom environments.

According to reporting from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on April 3, 2026, plastic bristle brushes are particularly susceptible to hygiene issues because they are porous, allowing them to easily accumulate bacteria if they are not cleaned and replaced frequently.

Jason Shipway, a cleaning business owner based in Bunbury, Western Australia, notes that a majority of the toilet brushes he encounters while cleaning residential homes are pretty gross.

There’s this massive bacteria biome just festering in the toilet-brush holder

Jason Shipway

Microbiological Risks and Contamination

The health risks associated with these tools stem from the types of pathogens they collect during use. Helen Stratton, an associate professor of microbiology at Griffith University, explains that any viruses or bacteria passing through the human gut can end up on the toilet brush.

This includes common illness-inducing bacteria such as enterococci and E. Coli. Stratton notes that if a person is suffering from a gastroenteritis or gastroenteric disease, those specific pathogens will potentially be present on the brush.

The primary risk of contamination occurs when the brush is moved between the toilet bowl and the holder. Stratton warns that water can splash during this transfer, depositing pathogens onto other bathroom surfaces.

Once these contaminants land on the floor, the wall, or the toilet seat, they can be easily picked up by the next person using the facility.

Recommended Cleaning Protocols

To mitigate these risks, various cleaning and disinfecting methods are recommended depending on the desired level of sterilization and the products available.

For a high-level disinfection, a solution of liquid chlorine bleach and hot water can be used. Real Simple reports that this method can eliminate 99.9% of bacteria on both the brush and the holder. This process requires the brush to soak for approximately one hour. the use of a plastic bucket is recommended over the toilet bowl for this purpose.

Alternative methods for disinfecting include:

• Using an all-purpose disinfectant spray on the brush and letting it rest over the toilet bowl for 10 minutes before rinsing.
• Adding two to three caps of bleach directly into the toilet bowl and soaking the brush for one hour.
• Cleaning the brush weekly with a disinfectant solution, such as white vinegar.

For immediate maintenance, ABC News suggests keeping the brush down in the toilet bowl and using a water flush to rinse off contaminants after every use.

Replacement Cycles

Cleaning alone may not be sufficient to maintain hygiene over the long term due to the porous nature of the bristles. Martha Stewart recommends that toilet brushes be replaced every 6 to 12 months to ensure they remain hygienic.

Failure to replace the brush regularly can lead to a situation where the tool introduces more germs into the toilet than it removes, according to Helen Stratton.