How to Clean and Disinfect Makeup Brushes? | Simple Routine That Works

For the full breakdown, see our best Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner guide.

Dirty brushes collect oils, dead skin, and old product that can irritate skin and dull your makeup application. Washing them properly takes about five minutes, and most people only need to do it once a week. The full routine for cleaning and disinfecting makeup brushes comes down to three steps: wash, rinse, and dry flat.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather a few everyday items before you begin. You don’t need specialty products — things already in your bathroom work fine.

• Gentle shampoo or a clarifying shampoo (baby shampoo works well)
• Lukewarm water — hot water can damage bristles
• A clean paper towel or microfiber cloth
• 70% isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting (optional but recommended)

Skip the dish soap for natural-hair brushes — it strips the oils that keep those bristles soft. Synthetic brushes tolerate it fine, but shampoo is still the gentler choice for both types.

The Step-by-Step Wash Routine

Start by wetting only the bristle tips, not the whole brush head.

1. Run lukewarm water over just the bristles, holding the brush head pointing downward so water flows away from the ferrule — the metal band that connects the bristles to the handle.
2. Put a small drop of gentle shampoo in your palm or a silicone mat, then swirl the wet bristles in it until they lather.
3. Work the suds through the bristles with your fingers, focusing on the tips where makeup and oil collect.
4. Rinse under lukewarm water until it runs completely clear. Keep the brush angled down the whole time.
5. Press the bristles into a paper towel to pull out excess moisture. Don’t wring or twist them.
6. Reshape the brush head with your fingers and lay it flat on a towel, with the bristles hanging slightly off the edge of the counter so air reaches them from all sides.

Never stand brushes upright in a cup to dry. Water seeps down into the ferrule and weakens the glue that holds the bristles, which leads to shedding and loose brushes.

How to Disinfect After Washing

For a deeper clean — especially if you’ve used a brush on a breakout or shared brushes — add a disinfection step after the wash.

Spray the bristles with 70% isopropyl alcohol until they’re lightly saturated, then let them air dry completely on the flat drying position.

How Often Should You Wash Each Brush?

Not every brush needs the same schedule. Washing too often wastes time; washing too rarely lets bacteria build up. Here’s the breakdown that dermatologists recommend:

If a brush touches broken skin, a cold sore, or an active breakout, wash and disinfect it immediately — don’t wait for the scheduled cleaning day.

The One Mistake That Ruins Brushes

Most brush damage comes from water getting into the ferrule. When glue softens, bristles fall out and handles can crack or swell. The fix is simple: always keep the brush head angled downward during washing and drying. That one habit extends the life of your brushes more than any fancy cleaner.

If you wash brushes regularly but still find they shed or lose shape, try bathing them less often or switching to a gentler shampoo. Some natural-hair brushes only need washing every few weeks, even for wet products, if you use a daily spray-on brush cleaner between washes.