apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I wash mine off and store it under the kitchen sink - the handle makes a great garbage-disposal un-jammer (which is how it gets used more often than not)

I do keep mine on the floor next to the toilet and the toilet brush, which does have a holder. But I will now steal a couple of pots from the yard and stick them in there. Thanks for the idea!

I bought the OXO holder and it is worth every dime not to have to see the plunger! And there is a space between the wall and toilet, so it just scoots all the way to the back and I barely even know it is there!

I have the OXO too and keep it in the same place. Though every time I use the plunger I feel somehow that I should be scrubbing it. (I'm going to be really embarassed if everyone else scrubs their plunger.....)

I bought a small trash can to hold the plunger, and store it in my linen closet -- washing it after every use, of course.

I wash off the plunger & store it in the utility closet.

Clorox makes a covered plunger that I'm sure is cheaper than OXO's though perhaps not as sleek in design.

I, too, am a large fan of my OXO thingy. Definitely recommend. Though now I have to add Making a Plunger House with an Enchanted Door to my bottomless list.

OK, I have to ask: where and how do you wash your plunger?

the terracotta pots are perfect--thanks for the idea.

could we please, please remove plastic from the equation? not green, not sustainable, however recycled.

I like the idea of a plunger cover. But what about the toilet brush, which is also icky and needs a cover? Then I have two covered things on the side of my toilet to maneuver around as I clean. And even though they are covered, they still have an ick factor. And the covers don't match. I want a combo plunger, toilet brush cover, one sleek design. Ahhh... a girl can dream. :)

I used to store mine in the cut-off bottom of a bleach bottle. Happens to be exactly the right size. It's not the most attractive solution, but I can just throw it out when it gets too gross.

I really like the terra cotta pot idea. A terra cotta saucer might be even better. My plunger currently lives on the floor way back in the corner behind the toilet. I typically spray it with dilute bleach solution after using.

This is one of the many reasons why I love having a garage.

I have an OXO toliet brush cleaner with it's little storage thingy, but I have a regular old industrial plunger that gets put on the floor behind the toliet. I also don't have to use it much, luckily.

I put mine on a cheap salad plate that i bought from target.

This is a gross post, but I read it anyway. I would just like to add a few things: don't ever buy a "cute" mini plunger, because they don't work. You need the big utilitarian one from the hardware store with a long wooden handle. And if you are ever in a serious plunging situation, read up online on the proper way to plunge. It's all about the angle and the suction.

And also, it's not just old toilets that get clogged. Anyone with kids surely knows this.

Seriously...please put it in the closet. It's a tool, and a disgusting one at that.

the flower pot isn't a bad idea, but the "patina" looks icky

I have a white Good Grips one that comes a containment base and it fits perfectly in the cabinet under my sink. It looked too tall at the store, but it squeezes into the back with a few inches to spare. Out of sight and out of mind.

Yeah, a flower pot is OK, but not a gross dirty one like that one.

Ours just sits between the sink and toilet...yeah it's in plain sight, but at least when we need it, my toilet won't be flowing water everywhere while I try to open the contraption. Same with the toilet brush - it's sitting right next to the plunger.

The problem with using a flower pot or whatnot is that especially in a small bathroom, you'll never see the thing from the side and instead always be looking down at it thus not really hiding anything. Oxo etc. are like those knit TP roll covers, you still know what is under it and in my opinion, it just draws more attention to the thing. Just wash it (in the tub with a spray cleaner and water pressure), put it in a plastic bag and store it under the sink or in a closet.

Why on earth does anyone keep plungers/toilet brushes sitting in plain view, where children and/or pets can get at them? And, where anyone can see them? I don't care what kind of holder they're in. Put them away somewhere, for Pete's sake.

And, as for "washing" them? How? Where? In the sink? With a sponge? Where does the sponge go then? Back by the sink?

Lowe's sells one-use, disposable plungers. Two in a pack. For about $7.00. Use one, throw it away, have a clean one on hand for next use. Makes terrific sense to me.

First of all it needs to be washed and disinfected after use. When completely dry then store. I read your intro and no mention of cleaning it really made me gag.

I think they're pretty easy to wash - just pour some bleach in the toilet after it's finally flushed properly, and let the plunger marinate for a little while. Shake dry (gently) into the toilet and then stick the plunger back under the sink onto some sort of washcloth or paper towel.

Granted, I don't think we've ever used our plunger for anything but unclogging the bathtub/sink, but in our bathroom, I'd rather have it on the floor.

It's tucked in about three inches of space between the toilet and the wall and you can't see it unless you're right on top of it. Closet space is precious and over packed and the towels would probably fall on it (ewww).

I have washed plungers when needed. My preferred technique is to put it in the sink and run VERY hot water, while touching everything as little as possible.

I like the planter idea...would love to see it in a glossy white.

Once the clog is gone, I add cleaning solution (generally bleach, borax or white vinegar) and swish it around, then leave it to set for about ten minutes. Then gently shake the water off it and store it in a small plastic container (like a Cool Whip container, but slightly larger) under the bathroom sink, safely hidden til needed again. I have a separate one under my kitchen sink.

I use the bleach in the toilet routine. Cleans the toilet and plunger at the same time. I keep a small qt size bottle under the sink in upstairs bathrooms. The plunger has never been needed in our master bath, but the kids have managed to clog theirs a few times. After bleaching, I flush the toilet, rinsing the plunger. Air dry on a cloth rag (also under the sink). Replace. If it is an especially dirty job I soak the plunger, scrub and dry.

All the mini plungers, disposable plungers, etc don't really work when it comes to when you need a plunger. Those are really nice to look at, but prepare to pay the bill to fix the floor while you are trying to turn off the water and calling a plumber. Putting it completely far away from where you would ever use it is also stupid...it's not something you can pause while you try to find it.

I admit the toilet brush has a little plastic thing it sits in but it you can still see what it is. I don't care to hide it - if you are in a bathroom, you pretty much expect to see those things. I'm never going to walk use someone else's bathroom and then be disgusted because I actually had to KNOW they had a plunger. I'd rather freaking know where it is so I can fix the problem myself rather than have to get someone else to. I would find that more embarrassing, imo.

One of our toilet brushes sits in an old vase big enough to hide it. Fancier flower pots than terra cotta would work and be decorative. My toilet brush came with it's own holder, that's my favorite options. We have those come shaped covers with theopen back from Target for the plungers.

As for the gag reaction some folks have, people, it's life. Life is a bit dirty. You aren't gonna die from the germs even if you don't sanitize your plungers, presuming you only handle the handle and you are not severely immune suppressed or something. You are certainly welcome to scrub and sterilize as much as you like, but remember that over sanitizing is how we have evolved super-bugs, antibiotic resistant strains of germs (like staph) that CAN kill you.

I disagree with those suggesting it be hidden out of sight in a closet somewhere. Trust me (because, unfortunately, I know) it is mortifying to experience a clogged toilet as a guest at, say, your boyfriend's parents' house and then to find no plunger anywhere. Much worse than being visually reminded of reality by a plunger is to be unprepared when reality inevitably strikes.

The person who said keep it in the garage has never really needed a toilet plunger. And the people who are grossed out about cleaning it must not own good old Playtex (or other equally good brands) rubber gloves. Clean water in the bowl, pour in bleach, marinate (great word; thanks "asinner") then get down in there with a wad of toilet tissue which dissolves pretty quickly but also flushes away, and wipe it clean. Where to "hide" it? Under the bathroom sink. If you have a pedestal sink, the flower pot looks cool. Maybe one not quite so aged.

I just put mine on the floor, even without a full cleaning (I just swish it around in clean toilet bowl water). What's wrong with that? I don't plan to eat off the bathroom floor, and I clean it often enough. The thought of putting it in the sink to clean (I brush my teeth up there!) or putting it in a container where bacteria can grow grosses me out way more. How is that better than setting it on the floor?

I agree with everyone who said that it is much better to have the thing in plain sight. Imagine the lost minutes of nasty water running out of the bowl, possibly soaking your bathroom rug, while a guest frantically searches for the plunger, too embarrassed to ask for help. Eeewww!

Ok im sitting here eating ice cream reading all of your comments... Not only am I grossed out, but you people are so freakin hysterical! Im laughing so hard my husband keeps checking to see what the hell is going on... hahaha.\
Ok im laughing because I can relate(andits soo funny). This is a very familiar fight in my house. Our house is old and husband clogs it three times a week! I scream at him because he uses it then wraps it in a towel and throws it in the closet!!! IN THE HALLWAY--NOT A UTILITY CLOSET!!!get my drift? Ok so i yell , and he yells whats the big deal and then i grab it and put it in the bathtub and run very hot water and pour bleach and then it dries and then i scrub the bathtub. Then i grab the plunger, wrap the bottom in a clean white rag and place it behind the toilet. The rag gets thrown in the washer once every couple of weeks with the cleaning ladies' rags. So, it is a clean rag that i put on a clean plunger. its not a dirty rag that gets put in the bathroom where my kids can get to it. and everyone knows what it is that is hidden behind toilet- its no secret and i just hope if a guest uses it , they clean it and put it right back.

all of this is because I havent remembered to buy anything cuter!

http://www.oxiclean.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=6adc5a02-451d-de11-a920-001d091bb843

Ok people quit whining and get some clean on.
I use this product to clean my plunger & brush after every use. It's 100% Hydrogen Peroxide, in a spray gel form, so it sticks to whatever it's sprayed on.

I spray the plunger or toilet brush over the tub after use, then I wash with hot water, then spray again and let it drip in the tub/shower (so that it doesn't mold in the holder). Then, I spray the tub.
Nothing cleans better than Hydrogen Peroxide (it's what they use in hospitals to clean wounds).
I use this to clean my sinks, my tub, my shower doors – everything. It takes tea and coffee stains out of my unsealed kitchen sink. Spray bleach over it and leave it to soak on your grout, and it will be white again.

I never have to use chemicals. It's so strong, I even dilute each bottle with 1/2 water.

After spraying, let it sit for 20 minutes, then come back and NO scrubbing should be necessary.

It's non-toxic, (so it won't hurt your lungs, your kids' lungs, or the water you're putting it into).

You can also use this on your clothes to get out old yellow T-shirt underarm stains, blood, coffee, pomegranate juice. Just let it sit on the stain, or soak it (but never in sunlight).