Today I was at a local antique shop and found a sweet glass handle badger hair brush. The hair looks new maybe used once. But! I still wanna clean and sterilize it. I have cleaned my brush 100 times but never have sterilized an used one. Any suggestions on what to use? Is barbicide or on a brush?
I have several vintage brushes with the original knot. I used antibacterial hand soap and have had zero issues.
I will recommend a better product that I have found through thorough use to be better than the home remedies (and I have tried them all) because this product is designed for the fashion industry where high priced natural hair brushes are cleaned on a very frequent basis. http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/135/307/Products/Accessories/Tools/Brush-Cleanser/index.tmpl It is a little expensive, but you use it like a shampoo and it will clean and disinfect your brush safely. By it directly from MAC so that you get the best price. Now you take a small amount and apply to the entire brush and let it sit for about a minute and then rub the brush until lather develops. Thoroughly rinse the brush with distilled water and repeat the process after about 30 minutes for the second application. After the second rinse, shake the brush and let dry for a day. Your brush will be safely cleaned and disinfected and ready to go.
I soak in dish-wash-detergent for a few minutes. Brush my palm and rinse good. Then I soak in clear vinegar for a few minutes, brush my palm and rinse good. The a quick soap-rinse in the end. Hasn't failed me. Costs "nothing".
Soak brush in very warm water. Clean brush with Dawn dish-washing liquid (I use an old, soft toothbrush to gently clean the "rim" and brush the hairs). Rinse with warm water. Let soak in a vinegar\water solution for a few minutes. Rinse with warm water. Once I have done the above, I may lather up some cheap shave soap\cream to get rid of any vinegar smell if I feel that it is necessary. If I had a really expensive brush then I might try some of those products link above...but I don't feel that it is necessary for any of mine.
Lots of great suggestions so far. I've only bought/cleaned 2 used brushes so far, but for both I separated the hairs and put hand sanitizer throughout the head. I then squeezed the head in my hand and worked the sanitizer into the hair. Afterwards, I rinsed thoroughly and let the brush air dry. I am far from a germaphobe, so some of you may want to be more thorough. I figure that both of my used brushes have not been used in years (possibly decades) and any microscopic dangers deceased years ago.
