Your makeup brushes need more than a quick rinse: 7 free fixes (2026)

Makeup brushes collect pigment, oil, and damp product where the bristles meet your skin. A small amount of soap, running water, and a towel can handle the routine, as long as the water stays away from the handle and the brush dries fully. Good Housekeeping recommends different cleaning intervals for powder brushes, liquid or cream brushes, and makeup sponges. 1

1. Match the schedule to the product

Steps

Mark powder brushes for a wash once or twice each week.
Wash a brush used with foundation, concealer, or cream eyeshadow after each use.
Treat a makeup sponge as a daily-wash tool.
Move the wash forward when a brush feels stiff, looks coated, or changes the way makeup spreads.

Why it works: Liquid and cream products leave more moisture and oil in the bristles than most powders. A regular wash removes the residue before the next application. Good Housekeeping lists weekly to twice-weekly cleaning for powder brushes and daily cleaning for liquid or cream brushes. 1

Avoid this mistake: Do not use one weekly rule for every brush. A foundation brush and a loose-powder brush have different cleaning needs.

2. Wet the bristles and protect the glue

Steps

Hold the brush with the bristles pointing down.
Rinse the bristles under running water.
Turn the brush slowly so the water reaches the inner bristles.
Stop the water below the metal ferrule, the band that joins the bristles to the handle.

Why it works: The ferrule and handle contain the parts that hold the brush together. Keeping water below the ferrule limits the moisture that can reach the glue. Good Housekeeping specifically warns against getting water above the handle area during washing. 1

Avoid this mistake: Do not hold the brush under the tap with the handle pointing down. Water can run into the joint and loosen the glue over time.

3. Use a small amount of gentle cleanser in your palm

Steps

Put a small amount of a gentle cleanser you already have in one palm. Baby shampoo or plain soap are options listed by Good Housekeeping.
Set the wet bristles into the cleanser.
Swirl the brush in gentle circles across your palm.
Work the lather through the full brush head without flattening the bristles against your skin.

Why it works: The cleanser loosens makeup residue while the circular motion carries soap between the bristles. A gentle cleanser also gives natural-fiber brushes a less aggressive wash. Good Housekeeping lists baby shampoo for gentle cleaning and plain soap for breaking down liquid makeup. 1

Avoid this mistake: Do not pour a large puddle of soap over the brush. Excess cleanser takes longer to rinse and encourages rough handling.

4. Rinse until the water runs clear

Steps

Rinse the soaped bristles under running water while keeping the handle dry.
Press the bristles lightly with your fingers to help release trapped product.
Watch the water leaving the brush.
Repeat the wet-and-soap pass when the water still carries pigment or foundation.
Finish when the rinse water runs clear and the bristles feel free of slippery soap.

Why it works: A single quick rinse can leave pigment and cleanser inside a dense brush head. Repeating the wash only when the water remains cloudy matches the source's instruction to rinse again when the first pass is still dirty. 1

Avoid this mistake: Do not judge the brush by the outside surface alone. A clean-looking tip can still hold product closer to the ferrule.

5. Press out water instead of pulling the bristles

Steps

Hold the brush over the sink after the final rinse.
Use your fingers to press water gently from the base toward the tips.
Release the brush and repeat until it stops dripping.
Smooth the bristles back into their original shape.

Why it works: Gentle pressure removes loose water without putting a sharp pull on individual bristles. Shape also matters because bent or splayed bristles change how the brush applies makeup. Good Housekeeping recommends gently pressing out water and warns against hard tugging. 1

Avoid this mistake: Do not wring the brush like a wet cloth. Twisting and pulling can loosen hairs from the brush head.

6. Dry every brush flat on a towel

Steps

Spread a clean, dry towel on a flat surface.
Lay each washed brush horizontally on the towel.
Leave space between brush heads so air can reach them.
Leave the brushes overnight before using or storing them.
Turn a brush over only after the first side has dried, if the towel underneath feels damp.

Why it works: A flat position keeps water from traveling toward the handle while the towel absorbs surface moisture. Good Housekeeping's method leaves brushes flat on a towel overnight, with the brushes ready the next morning. 1

Avoid this mistake: Do not dry a wet brush upright with the bristles pointing up. Water can move toward the ferrule and handle as the brush sits.

7. Store dry brushes upright and retire damaged ones

Steps

Check every brush after it dries.
Put everyday brushes in a clean cup or another open container that keeps the heads from being crushed.
Keep travel brushes in a toiletry bag only for the trip, then remove them when you unpack.
Replace a brush when the bristles keep shedding or stay misaligned after washing and drying.
Keep a brush that still holds its shape and sheds normally in use; a properly washed and dried brush can last for years, according to Good Housekeeping. 1

Why it works: Open storage lets a dry brush keep its shape and avoids trapping it in a cramped, damp bag. A quick post-wash check catches a brush whose bristles or joint have stopped behaving normally.

Avoid this mistake: Do not machine-wash makeup brushes, even inside a mesh bag. Good Housekeeping says agitation can bend the bristles, submersion can loosen glue, and wooden handles can crack or split. 1

Start with the brush you use for liquid or cream makeup: wet only the bristles, work in a little cleanser, rinse until clear, press out the water, and leave the brush flat overnight. Keep vinegar and olive oil out of this routine; Good Housekeeping advises against both for brush cleaning. 1

References

1
This Is the Best Way to Clean Your Makeup Brushes
goodhousekeeping.com

1. Match the schedule to the product

2. Wet the bristles and protect the glue

3. Use a small amount of gentle cleanser in your palm

4. Rinse until the water runs clear

5. Press out water instead of pulling the bristles

6. Dry every brush flat on a towel

7. Store dry brushes upright and retire damaged ones

References

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