It might also be time to clean your hairbrush when you see a buildup of debris on the brush cushion. Remove hair from the cushion daily. The soft bristles are very close together so they are better suited and more effective with short-hair, but with both long and short, we did notice an improvement after using the brush on our cats' fur. The long-haired cat wasn't thrilled with the experience, but their fur was smoother, softer, and silkier after brushing with the bristle side. On the other hand, the pin side was immediately welcomed and adored by the long-haired cat, who reveled in the feeling of the pins. This side took out some of her excess loose hair and detangled her long hair well, except for any matted and knotted fur.

Wire Coat: A coarse, short coat that feels harsh and bristly to the touch, like an Airedale Terrier.If you have a very dirty brush, you might need to use an old toothbrush to clean the base and bristles. It's known that brushing your hair is beneficial to its health — it can stimulate the scalp, distribute natural oils to the hair, detangle knots to prevent breakage, and more — but doing so doesn't guarantee cleanliness. Why? Because when your brush is filled with excess hair, it's also filled with an accumulation of dust, product buildup, oils, and dead skin. Don’t entirely submerge a wooden brush. This could damage the wood and finish. Just submerge the bristles, as described above for a brush with a padded base. That being said, you may need to tweak our technique depending on whether your brush has natural bristles or synthetic bristles. Kate says, “Natural bristles are usually made from boar hair or bamboo and tend to need more frequent cleaning with gentler detergents. Synthetic brushes are made from plastics, so are easier to care for, which means we can use stronger detergents.”

It’s recommended to clean hairbrushes at least once a month - ideally weekly - particularly if you use a lot of hair products, have an oily scalp or a condition such as dandruff,” says Kate. Don’t forget about your toothbrush! It may be even more important to kill germs on a toothbrush than to clean your hairbrush. After all, the toothbrush actually goes into your mouth. Brush Off those Cleaning Woes Cleaning your hairbrush is a simple step you can take to ensure you're keeping your hair nice and clean. But how often should you be cleaning it? We spoke with a few experts to help us determine the answer. How Often Should You Clean Your Hairbrush?Clean the bristles. All of the debris and dust may be more apparent after washing it, which is the perfect time to grab your toothbrush, and scrub between the bristles to remove the buildup. If you use the washing machine, throw some other items in there too. Not only is it more eco-friendly, but it’ll muffle the sound of the brush banging inside the washing drum. No matter how often you use your hairbrush, it has the ability to act like a sponge. This means it can trap all sorts of residue in its bristles, both from your hair and from the environment. But never fear, because not only is avoiding this scenario refreshingly straightforward, but removing hair routine residue from your brush’s bristles can also be oddly satisfying.

Lint is a common sight on the cushion of a hairbrush or teeth of a comb. But that’s not the only thing that can live there. With the FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool, humans who share their home with a cat or two can reduce the amount of fur found throughout the home. This tool has a stainless steel comb, with very small teeth, that glide through the topcoat and into the undercoat, safely eliminating loose hair and cat dander.

What Are the Benefits of Cleaning Your Hairbrush?

Long Coat: Long and coarse with an undercoat—like an Irish Setter—or silky and long without an undercoat, like an Afghan Hound. Taking good care of your hair is essential for making it look its best. We wash and brush our hair regularly and style it to keep it looking healthy and well-kept. So now you know you need to clean your brushes, how do you get started? It’s not as fiddly as you might assume, all you need are: your hairbrush, warm water, baking soda, shampoo or dish soap and a toothbrush. The heads of the pins have rounded tips, so the brush is particularly gentle. Our testers with short-haired dogs didn’t collect quite as much fur, but all dogs seemed to be less bothered by this brush, particularly the soft-bristled side. So what’s lurking in between the bristles of our brushes? (We know you want to know). There’s the hair we’ve shed (which can be anywhere between 50 to 100 strands a day) plus, any product build-up that’s accumulated along the way (hello, dry shampoo).

The Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Dog Brush is effective, versatile, and suitable for a variety of dog coats. One side has stainless steel pins that can help untangle knots and collect loose hair, particularly for dogs with long, curly, or wiry fur. On the flip side, the brush head has soft nylon bristles for fluffing and for short coats. The bristles also help spread your dog’s natural oils throughout the coat for shiny, soft hair. The heads of the pins have rounded tips, so the brush is gentle against the skin, and the nylon bristles are very soft so most dogs don't seem to notice when they are being groomed with that side.

The squishy handle of the GoPets Professional Double-Sided Pin & Bristle Brush makes it easy to hold and switch between sides. Coat texture and length vary greatly among cats, even if they are siblings, so this two-in-one combination is exceptionally convenient if you have more than one cat in your home. It's one of the softest cat grooming brushes we've tried and is suitable for use on cats of any age. If you have a senior cat, you may start to notice that self-grooming is becoming more difficult for them to manage. This brush can be very beneficial for keeping the skin and coat in shape by collecting dry skin flakes, dirt, and hair that has already been shed. This grooming tool is ideal for both long- and short-haired felines, as well as virtually all dog breeds. The sturdy, comfort-grip handle is designed to prevent slipping and wrist strain. Also, bear in mind if the base of the brush is made from wood because soaking it in water could damage the material. Simply put: more than you think. Both Anabel and Kate recommend aiming for every two to four weeks.