We all know that toothbrushes and spinbrushes are a breeding ground for bacteria; but sometimes we just focus on cleaning our teeth and forget about cleaning our brush too!
How to Clean Your Toothbrush – the Best and Easiest Cleaning Tip:
Cleaning your toothbrush is important for the health of your whole family and a good lesson to teach your kiddos, the sooner the better!
Remember, when you use an unclean toothbrush, your brushing your teeth with all of those germs that are hanging out in the bristles! Gross!
These germs can be nasty; causing seasonal viruses, flu and the common cold! Who needs that? No-one!
(…and let’s not forget, these germs can also cause the dreaded debilitating disease: the ‘Man-Cold’ as well!! Insert eye-roll here!!
)
….Haha – just kidding!
However here are some quick and easy tips to keep your toothbrush clean and be a germ-buster!
The Best, Easiest Way to Clean Your Toothbrush:
Step 1: Before brushing your teeth wash your hands with warm water and soap. This will help prevent transmitting bacteria from your hands to your toothbrush…This is a really good tip to remind your kiddos!!!
Step 2: Before you brush your teeth run the bristles under hot running water and rub with your thumb to loosen any food particles (gross!). Do this again after brushing your teeth as well.
Step 3: After brushing your teeth, sanitize the bristles by placing the toothbrush head in a cup of mouthwash (you only need to cover the bristles) for 30 seconds…swish the brush back and forth a few times and remove. Throw out the mouthwash and rinse the cup in hot water. It’s a good idea to do this daily especially if you have been sick.
Step 4: Store your brush where it can air dry. Remember to wash the toothbrush handle with soap and water regularly too!
Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Clean
Also your toothbrush or spinbrush head should be replaced every 3 months due to wear and tear!
Now you have a clean toothbrush!
*…and now you are an official Germ Buster!*
Heather Luckhurst is the publisher and owner of the Design and Lifestyle website 
Bonny Yokeley says
January 9, 2013 at 5:09 pmSince I have a terrible cold right now, I was thinking about throwing out my toothbrush the moment I started feeling better, so when I saw your heading on a linky party, I knew I’d better read it. I hadn’t thought of the first three steps before. Sad. And Gross. Thanks. I will teach my boys these steps too.
Heather SettingforFour says
January 9, 2013 at 10:53 pmThanks Bonny – glad you will be able to teach your boys these tips!! Get well soon!
Diana - FreeStyleMama says
January 9, 2013 at 6:08 pmGreat tips!!!
Heather SettingforFour says
January 9, 2013 at 10:53 pmThanks Diana!!
[email protected] says
January 9, 2013 at 6:23 pmSuper tips Heather, I need to teach my boys this for sure. Totally laughed at your “man cold” comment…I have a c-section and walk the county fair two weeks later, he gets a sniffle and has to be doted upon constantly! {geesh}
Heather SettingforFour says
January 9, 2013 at 10:54 pmThe ‘man cold’ is terrible isn’t it? On us – haha!! 😉
Maureen Hayes says
January 10, 2013 at 4:58 amGood tips and so I portent, especially with the flu epidemic we have going on this year! Thanks for sharing.
Ashley @ Domestic Imperfection says
January 10, 2013 at 5:04 amMan cold, lol. I’m going to be gross and admit that I have never cleaned my toothbrush. I even let my kids use it when I can’t find theirs (which is often). This sounds so easy though, I was expecting a much more labor intensive process. I might even be able to remember to do it once a month or so, lol.
Diana Louse says
January 10, 2013 at 5:13 amThanks for the tips! Didn’t even think of putting the toothbrushes in mouthwash (yes, I did do an eyeroll re the “man cold”–our household just experienced one!).
[email protected] The Picket Fence says
January 10, 2013 at 7:46 pmThat’s a good way to do it–we stick ours in the dishwasher.
Olivia says
January 11, 2013 at 3:42 amI always spray my toothbrush with peroxide before I use it. I feel it is good for my gums and whitens my teeth. I rinse it in warm water and put the toothpaste on then spray. When done I rinse the brush in warm water again.
Rachel @ The Philosophers Wife says
January 11, 2013 at 3:33 pmGreat tips! And so timely…it seems like everyone I meet right now is either sick, or just getting over being sick. 🙂
Jenn "Rook No. 17" says
January 12, 2013 at 4:55 amStarting some new toothbrushing traditions with the kiddos tonight!
Jenn
Mary Beth says
January 13, 2013 at 2:27 amLove these tips! Thanks for sharing, Heather.
malia says
January 15, 2013 at 5:47 amThis is one of those things I never thought about… but now I will. Thanks Heather!
Sparkling says
January 21, 2013 at 1:40 pmI’m convinced it was the toothbrushes and toothpaste that let us share strep like it was our job when we were little. No one ever thinks about the toothbrush! And what abut the toothpaste everyone shrares?