How to Clean a Comb?

How to Clean a Comb?

If you want to have beautiful and healthy hair, it is necessary to take care of the comb. After combing, pieces of skin, dandruff, sebum, remains of styling agents, etc. remain on the comb. Comb, like many other hygiene items, requires careful care. Over time, it accumulates plaque. Using such a comb is not very pleasant and even harmful.

The comb is recommended to be cleaned at least once every two weeks. If the hair is long, then the plaque and lumps of hair appear much faster. How to clean combs quickly and effortlessly?

We have picked up useful tips on how to clean hair combs at home.

Why Should We Clean Combs?

It is obligatory to cleanse the comb regularly. This procedure will not take long but will help extend the life of the accessory. Professional hairstylists and hairdressers recommend that you renew your hair accessories at least once a year. There are several important reasons for this:

  •       Comb and brush cleaning, even thorough and regular, is not capable of killing all pathogenic microflora;
  •       When using a massage comb, the scalp should be massaged to enhance blood circulation and improve hair growth. In the course of use, the teeth are getting blunt and bent, and the comb fails to cope with the task;
  •       Non-professional combs can be easily damaged.  Various cracks become sources of pathogens, and also hurt the scalp and hair.
  •       Over time, the comb teeth start to electrify the hair.

Cleaning a Comb from Wood

How to Clean a Comb
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The wooden comb must be cleaned carefully, as natural materials are more susceptible to external influences and easily become unusable.

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But when working with wooden accessories, you should know they cannot contact with water for a long time. The wood gets stratified in water and this way you can spoil the comb.

Why Should We Clean Combs
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Cleaning combs should start with the removal of major contaminants: hair and dirt.

Wood is easy to clean with alcohol. You may use any alcohol for this purpose, it can be a cosmetic tonic or vodka. You can replace the alcohol with hydrogen peroxide.

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Moisten the tampon and wipe each comb tooth with it. Alcohol can easily remove grease and dirt stuck to the comb. After the procedure, let the comb dry properly.

How to Clean a Comb from Plastic?

How to Clean a plastic comb
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Many people want to know how to wash a comb made of plastic because this is the material that manufacturers use most often. Plastic combs are the easiest to clean. Practically any means will be suitable for cleaning such a brush.

First, prepare the comb for cleaning by removing the hairs with a toothpick, scissors, or a sharp nail file. Pour a little shampoo and a tablespoon of ammonia into a container with warm water and leave your plastic comb in this solution for an hour.

During this time, all the grease, dirt, and particles of hairstyling agents remaining on the comb will dissolve, leaving you only to rinse it well. Working with an ammonia solution, do not forget the gloves to protect the skin from the corrosive substance.

Cleaning a Metal Comb

Metal remains a very popular material for combs. Manufacturers apply a special coating to such combs to minimize the damage to hair. Its durability determines the service life of the product. It is advisable not to damage the protective cover when cleaning.

If you use the comb with the metal teeth, it is important to carefully dry the accessory after washing, otherwise, it will be covered with rust. And the cleaning procedures are very simple.

You may use ordinary washing powder. It quickly dissolves the accumulated fat. Apply a small amount of powder to your toothbrush and rub off the dirt, then rinse off and dry the comb.

Or you may dissolve the powder in warm water and dip the accessory there. Wait an hour, rinse and dry the comb.

How to clean a Metal Comb
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How to Clean a Hairbrush?

This instrument is more difficult to handle than its more traditional counterparts. In this case, the ideal choice is a toothbrush. Besides, a mascara brush can be also an option.

A toothbrush or mascara brush must be thoroughly washed in warm water before you use it as a hair comb cleaner. With the help of this tool, it is possible to get rid of all the hairs that remained in the comb, as well as grease and other contaminants. The removal of dust particles is facilitated by the soft bristles, which are also good for cleaning the massage comb.

how to clean a hairbrush
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Cleaning and disinfection

hair comb cleaner
everydayhealth

A lot of household means can help clean a comb include the following:

  •       Dishwashing liquid. You should dissolve it in water and put the comb in it for ten minutes. Then rinse it properly and let it dry.
  •       Shampoo and ammonia. Take a liter of water, add 1 tablespoon of ammonia and 2 tablespoons of shampoo. Stir everything thoroughly until foamed. Then dip the brush and comb for half an hour.
  •       Baking soda is a good hair comb cleaner.  Add some water to baking soda to obtain the consistency of the mush. It should be applied to the comb and wiped with an old toothbrush. If the dirt remains, the procedure should be repeated.
  •       Any antiseptic. Disinfection can be carried out with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You can also use cologne or toilet water.

How to Keep Our Makeup Brushes Clean

How to Keep Our Makeup Brushes Clean
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Everyone knows that cleaning hairbrushes and combs regularly will prevent them from becoming linty. But what about the brushes we girls use for makeup? 

Do they have to be cleansed?

The answer is of course they have! These tools get in contact both with different cosmetics products (e.g. powder, eye shadows, etc.) and our face’s skin which means that natural skin oils tend to sit on those brushes, too.

Is it possible to free them from dirt yourself like a pro? Definitely! And here’s the top method of how you do it.

  1. Take a cup/glass and fill it with warm water. Note that it must not be hot to not damage the bristles! Squeeze in a dollop of any gentle shampoo
  2. Place the instruments into it. Swirl the makeup brushes in this mixture and softly rub the bristles to take away the dust
  3. Rinse and delete the excess liquid
  4. Lay them flat to dry

Instead of a shampoo, don’t hesitate to work with the simple Dawn soap since the procedure is completely the same, and your makeup tools will be 100% clean, too!

By the way, to prevent your tools clean longer, follow several simple tips:

  • Cleanse the hair care instruments weekly since the rests of the makeup products remain on the bristles after each use
  • Wash the tools every month
  • Keep an eye on your brushes to know when it’s time to throw them away

Hairbrushes And Combs Maintenance Tips Every Girl Would Like to Know

Hairbrushes And Combs Maintenance Tips Every Girl Would Like to Know
Photo by ANDI WHISKEY on Unsplash

To make our hair care tools such as combs and brushes work longer, we recommend everyone to follow very simple but extremely effective instructions. You will see that your tools will become free from dust and other debris much faster and remain clean much longer!

  1. Never wash your brushes in hot water. It can ruin the gentle bristles and the item will become useless
  2. Don’t use aggressive cleaning products. Choose mild soap or shampoo instead. You can find those in any shop actually!
  3. When you shop for brushes/combs, pay attention that they must be properly and tightly covered with the package. Avoid buying tools that are sold uncovered since it’s the easiest way to contaminate them!
  4. Wash your hairbrushes every month or more often if they need that
  5. For storing your brushes, find a place with the normal humidity level
  6. Change your brushes and combs every two or three years
  7. Go to the shop and buy a special hanging brush organizer with deep pockets. Like this, all of them will be kept upright and safely hidden from dust
  8. Keep the brushes and combs with the bristles part up

These simple tips will allow you to keep the brushes free from lint and other unpleasant debris longer so that you won’t have to shop for them too soon!

Tips to Keep a Comb Clean

how clean a comb
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A good hairbrush is a guarantee of hair health. It is not less important than a shampoo or conditioner. In this case, the term “good” means not only the quality but also the condition of the accessory. Some useful tips will help you keep the comb clean:

  •       Get in the habit of daily hair removal and weekly cleaning.
  •       A comb for daily care should be changed every 3-4 months.
  •       Do not use a comb with fallen or broken teeth as it will destruct the hair structure.
  •       Periodically disinfect the accessory. You can use chemicals, alcohol or men’s cologne for this.
  •       Try to have your own comb, it is first and foremost a personal hygiene item.
  •       If you carry a comb in your bag, then keep it in a cover.
  •       After combing wet hair, always let the comb dry well.
  •       If you want to give your comb a light pleasant aroma, add a few drops of the essential oil to any cleaning solution. The best choice will be orange, lemon, or rose oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

After using a comb for a while, you may notice that its bristles have become dull and somewhat dusty. How to clean the comb and return it to the original look?

Check out these and other questions and answers below!

There are several questions regarding this issue that are being asked most frequently.

How to clean hair brushes with vinegar?

How to clean hair brushes with vinegar
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To clean and disinfect your hairbrush, apply some vinegar. Take a bowl of water big enough for your brush to be placed inside. Mix a cup of warm water with one cup of vinegar and stir properly, then submerge your brush into this cleaning agent.

Let the brush float there for twenty minutes approximately. Like that, vinegar will delete any dirt, dust or even germs from your comb.

After you take your comb out, rinse it thoroughly and dry with a towel.

Clean your hairbrushes with vinegar whenever you need to meticulously clear them from any external impact.

How to clean a hairbrush lint?

Lint is another problem that the owners of brushes have. It appears because the hair we leave on the brush works like a magnet for the tiny particles of dust from outside.

To get rid of it, take several easy steps.

Remove all the hair from your comb.

How to clean a hairbrush lint
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Wash it under the running warm water or use a bowl for this purpose. Apply any mild washing liquid like baby shampoo or an ordinary shampoo on your comb and, using a toothbrush, scrub it thoroughly. 

Water and shampoo will soften the fuzz in the hairbrush and it will be partly removed itself and partly with your fingers and the toothbrush.

If your brush is made of plastic, soak it into clean water to rinse. Otherwise, if it’s wooden, rinse it carefully under running water instead.

This is the fastest and effective way of how to clean the lint off your hair brush.

How to clean a hairbrush with a dryer sheet?

You can basically use different washing agents to deal with dirt within your comb bristles. 

As an option, try some dryer sheet if you have a really difficult case of comb pollution.

To do that, take a bowl of warm water, add two dryer sheets in it and put your comb (or brush, or all the combs you have) into this mixture.

clean your wooden comb

Let everything soak for a couple of hours.

Then rinse meticulously and dry with a towel or cloth. Then you can leave your combs to air dry.

Done! 

What is the best way of homemade cleaning for my comb?

If you realized that your combs and brushes must finally take a bath, there is a fast and easy solution for this task.

Fill you bathroom sink with warm water (a quarter of the sink is enough). Add a quarter cup of Borax and stir thoroughly until it is dissolved. 

Add a bit of a dishwashing agent to make the mixture foamy and stop the water when the sink is three-quarters full.

Remove the hair from the brushes and combs and immerse them all into the soapy and foamy treatment solution for half an hour or so.

When you take them out, rinse your brushes carefully and dry.

38 thoughts on “How to Clean a Comb?”

  1. Hi! I’m in trouble with my hairbrush folks! I’ve been using it for several months by now and it looks really dirty now. But I can’t just wash it, it doesn’t work! How do you sanitize hairbrushes? Any other ideas except for washing?

    • Hey! Got the same issue. What I do is to remove all the hair from it first. Then I put it into the bowl and cover with hot water (not boiling!). After that, I mix in 1 tbsp dish soap and the same amount of white vinegar (it kills bacteria perfectly). It’s ok to leave your combs and brushes like this overnight or at least for an hour. Then rinse them (I use an old toothbrush to dust off the debris), shake well, and leave to dry. I hope it will help!

  2. How do you deep clean hairbrushes? Is there a way to delete the build-up from them?

    • For deep cleansing, try to apply a blend of vinegar and any washing detergent like dish soap or mild laundry product. If you immerse your brushes into that solution for a night and then scrape off the build-up with an old toothbrush, it may help to cleanse the item.

  3. Hi! It’s been years that I’m trying to find a method of cleaning brushes and combs. Nothing works as well as I could have it! Maybe some of you know: What do hairdressers use to clean combs? Thanks in advance!

    • Hey! My hairdresser used to apply Barbicide but she once told me it’s not good for the brushes with natural bristles. I also know that they use some sort of sanitizing spray and dry sanitizer which they put into the drawers with the brushes, but I don’t know the labels, sorry.

  4. How do you sanitize a comb? I was advised to spray it with hand sanitizer but it has alcohol and I don’t think it is safe for the hair. Any other ideas on what to apply?

    • For safe sanitizing, go for the ordinary vinegar, white one to be precise. It works perfectly as a natural germs and bacteria killer and it won’t harm your locks.

  5. How do you clean a comb with baking soda? Does it work well? Did anyone try it? Thanks a lot for your help!

    • Hello.

      It’s very simple. Just dissolve 1 tsp of baking soda in a small amount of water and submerge the comb for 15-20 min.

      Then just brush the build-up off with any old toothbrush you can find.

  6. Hey there! Please, I need a tips for someone who is experienced in comb care! What is the easiest way to clean a comb? I need a really FAST  and SIMPLE method. thanks!

    • Hi! I’d recommend washing it in a water& dish soap solution (as an option, you could add some vinegar to it). It takes like 1-2 hours if the comb is not super dirty, and the result is always brilliant!

  7. Hey guys! I have just combed my doggo with a nit comb, and now I need to somehow clean it (the comb). Does anyone know how to clean a nit comb? Any tips, maybe? Shall I wash it? Use alcohol? Just give it a good scrub or, maybe, boil? I will be super grateful for any ideas! Thanks!

    • Hey! Well, if the comb looks fine and pretty clean, I usually just wash it in hot water and scrub it with a nail brush (of course, I don’t use that brush later for cleaning nails!). But you can also make use of an old toothbrush instead. Only ensure that the teeth of the comb are clean after washing it! My advice is to hold it up to the bright light and check the bristles carefully. 

      Hope it will help!

  8. Hello everyone! I’m here with a huge issue and I need your help! Please tell me how to clean a pressing comb. I don’t use it that often, but it apparently needs a good wash now! I’m afraid to ruin it if I do anything wrong, so I will really appreciate the accurate and working suggestions, not like “well, dunno… try to do this or that, maybe, it will work…”. Thank you all so much in advance!

    • Hi! First of all, how badly did it get dirty? If it is not super covered with build-up, then you can just wash it in hot water with soap using a brush to clean the bristles.

      But if everything got worse, then you will need a special mini-wire metal brush and a homemade cleaning solution made of baking soda and vinegar.

      Simply submerge the comb into that soda-vinegar solution for half an hour (or longer if the tool is very dirty), and then go through the teeth with a metal brush until all the black gunk is gone. 

      Only remember that the electric pressing comb must not be submerged entirely into the solution, otherwise, you will destroy the device! I would also not advise you using any relaxers because they tend to cause more damage than good.

      Good luck!

  9. How to clean a hot comb at home? Are there any special tools or products needed for that?

    • Well, I’m not sure, but I guess you can just brush it with a metal bristle brush…Honestly, I’m not a pro when it comes to all this styling stuff. Better go check it on the Internet.

  10. I have quite an uneasy question. How to clean a comb with dandruff so that it won’t get to other family members’ combs and brushes? By the way, is dandruff contagious at all?

    • Hi! Well, first of all, dandruff is not contagious, so relax. Second, it is quite easy to clean the comb you are talking about if you follow several steps:

      pull all the hair out of the comb manually. Yep, it’s tiresome, but you can use a toothpick to help yourself, and anyway, it will be easier to wash it hair-free later rather than dealing with a hairy clog.

      When the comb is clean, clean it up with a special solution. I use a mix of baby shampoo, tea tree essential oil, and baking soda plus vinegar. Apply that to the comb’s pad and bristles and let it stay for twenty minutes or so. And then just rinse.

    • Well, I guess you can just scrub them with an old toothbrush and some soap to delete the build-up and grease, and then rinse and dry.

      At least, that’s what I do when I clean mine.

  11. Hey there! Please, tell me people how to clean a comb with lots of gunk?! I literally can’t get through it! Sounds awful, I know, but it’s an old comb that I do love and I wasn’t using it for quite a long time. Don’t want to just throw it away because of that.

    • I’d say you need to soak it in soapy warm water for a while to let that build-up get softer to be able to remove it easily. Just hot water and soap, and submerge the comb into the solution. And then only vigorous scrubbing will help, I guess.

      Good luck!

  12. Can anyone share a secret of how to clean a comb roller? No matter what I do, it gets covered with hair extremely fast, and then it’s a nightmare to clean that out! Please, help!

    • Oh, I understand you perfectly! The biggest problem is to remove that hair. I use a rat tail comb for that since nothing else helps, and then I just cut the lifted hair with scissors. But still it takes time.

      So after that is done, prepare a cleaning mixture (1 tsp shampoo, baking soda, and one cup water), and brush it into the comb’s bristles. Make sure you reach to the very base! Well, that’s it. Rinse the comb roller and let it dry.

    • As far as I know, no special solutions are needed, but honestly, I have no idea of how to do that step by step since I never had to clean one. Sorry!

    • Hi! I usually wet the comb under the running warm or hot water until it is totally wet, then I add a bit of any mild dishwashing product (grab the liquid one, it’s better!) and rub it into the comb. Well, and then I just rinse it!

    • I only know the method when you need to take a clean cloth, dip it in any natural oil like coconut or olive, and rub it all over the comb. 

    • I suppose it’s the same method as usual: clean all the hair off, and wash the comb brushing it actively with any cleaning product. But I’d recommend using a solution of baking soda and vinegar since it helps to fight the dandruff as for me.

  13. I have a handmade Japanese kushi comb, and it’s time to clean it now. Does anyone know how to clean a kushi comb safely? 

    • A friend of mine used to brush it with a soft toothbrush and some essential oil (I guess, she used Camellia, but I’m not sure). So just apply the oil and distribute it over the comb using a brush. Then wipe it out with a clean cloth.

  14. I use hairspray and other similar stuff often, so how to clean hairspray out of a comb, do you know?

    • My optimal remedy is warm soapy water! I just fill the bowl, add some liquid soap or shampoo until it creates a foam, and then I “bathe” my comb. Works perfectly, as for me.

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