I Put My Hairbrush in the Dishwasher, and Here’s What Happened

I’m loyal to many of my favorite products — once I find something I really like, I stick to it — which is why I’ve had the same hairbrush for years. However, with daily use and layers of hair product buildup, it’s definitely seen better days, and it can be a tricky item to clean.

That’s why, when I came across this unconventional hack on Apartment Therapy to clean your hairbrush in the dishwasher, I knew I had to give it a try. Here’s how it went.

According to appliance brand Whirlpool, it’s safe to wash hair brushes and combs in your dishwasher as long as they’re made of plastic or metal. You should never wash brushes made of wood or with natural bristles, as they can melt or warp in the dishwasher. 

First I had to clean out any hair from the hairbrush, as I didn’t want it to clog up the dishwasher filter. After that, I loaded up the dishwasher the way I normally would and slid the hairbrush in the utensil holder on the bottom rack, handle-down. While the original article suggested placing the hairbrush on the top rack, I decided to place it in the bottom utensil rack so any residue or hair wouldn’t end up falling on the dishes below. (Whirlpool recommends cleaning brushes in an otherwise empty dishwasher, but I’ll have to try that next time.) I ran the dishwasher with regular dishwasher detergent.

While my brush did come out of the dishwasher looking refreshed, I noticed that there was still some built-up residue around a few of the bristles. It was significantly less than before running through the cycle, but noticeable nonetheless. Additionally, because my brush is filled with air and has a small hole, a lot of water got stuck inside the brush’s paddle. I’m a little worried about how well it’ll dry out, and whether it could potentially grow mold or mildew inside.

While I think this hack is an easy way to give your hairbrush a quick refresh, beware of the style and material of your hair tools. I’d definitely try this hack again with a non-padded brush or comb, or in an entirely empty dishwasher to see if it would get a better clean, because as it was, the tiny grooves and bristles didn’t get as deep of a clean as I was hoping for. In the meantime, I’ll be trying this hairbrush-cleaning trick instead.