cleaning grooming brushes

[dottylottie]

how do you all clean your grooming kit? i can’t remember the last time i gave mine a clean, and since father christmas is bringing me a new bag to put them in instead of their old tool box it seems a shame to put them in all grotty? (and better for the horses, obviously lol)

i don’t have a dishwasher, and putting them in the washing machine would mean i won’t make it to see christmas day lmao

ETA: bonus points if it’s an indoor method!

 

[Snow Falcon]

Milton sterilsing fluid followed by a warm shower?

 

[Quigleyandme]

You can’t clean a horse with a dirty brush. I just wash mine with washing up liquid or inexpensive family shampoo, rinse well and dry on the Stanley. Work the WUL/shampoo well into the bristles with your hands or another brush.

 

[ITPersonnage]

hibiscrub

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'm going to try putting mine in the washing machine next time, I think but that doesn't sound like it will help you ?

I usually use horse shampoo!

 

[dottylottie]

I'm going to try putting mine in the washing machine next time, I think but that doesn't sound like it will help you ?

I usually use horse shampoo!

i’m not even allowed to put my shoes in there, so i’ll live vicariously through you and hope they come out sparkling?

i could always try the launderette??

 

[HashRouge]

Soak in warm soapy water for 15-20 mins, as it helps to soften and lift out the dirt. Then give them a bit of a scrub using a rubber curry comb or something similar and a bit more soap, rinse thoroughly and leave them to drain on the draining board. I usually end up sticking them on the radiator once they've drained as they take ages to dry out otherwise.

Washing machine is by far the most effective, but I've only been able to do that when I was working as a groom and we had a special yard washing machine.

 

[dottylottie]

Soak in warm soapy water for 15-20 mins, as it helps to soften and lift out the dirt. Then give them a bit of a scrub using a rubber curry comb or something similar and a bit more soap, rinse thoroughly and leave them to drain on the draining board. I usually end up sticking them on the radiator once they've drained as they take ages to dry out otherwise.

Washing machine is by far the most effective, but I've only been able to do that when I was working as a groom and we had a special yard washing machine.

thankyou!

✍?move somewhere with yard washing machine?

 

[Nudibranch]

Fairy (or alternative brand!) always works well I find. I chuck everything in a trug of hot soapy water, use the various brushes to clean each other and then rinse also in hot water.
Leave to drain outside for a bit then put somewhere warm to dry. Don't forget to leave bristle brushes on their backs to dry - especially any real hair ones.

 

[Rowreach]

Hot water, a spoonful of washing powder, swoosh them round a bit, rinse and dry off naturally (I give them a shake and lay them on an old towel. Squeaky clean brushes in seconds.

 

[mini_b]

Get a pet laundry bag and put them all inside that.
wash
Then do a hot rinsey clean wash on machine after.
you’ll have fuzz in the bag but will be easier to remove with curry comb from brushes cos it won’t be grimy.

 

[KJ94]

Has anyone ever tried power washing them? Always been tempted to try ?

 

[Lady Jane]

I use mine when I wash my horse, use different brushes so they all get a clean - but it means they aren't all clean at the same time. Or put them in bucket of hot water and shampoo and scrub them agaisnt each other.

 

[J&S]

I do exactly the same as Rowreach.

 

[dottylottie]

thankyou everyone!

has anyone got any experience with the kbf-99 brushes? does washing a certain way supposedly ruin the anti bacterial properties? in all honesty the ones i have are ancient and they’re probably not doing what they should anyway?

nevermind, googled it! for anyone wondering, warm soapy water and they remain effective indefinitely supposedly, absolutely no bleach

 

[atropa]

Don't forget to leave bristle brushes on their backs to dry - especially any real hair ones.

:| I've always left them drying bristle down so the residual water wasn't at risk of weakening the points where the bristles are fastened in, have I been doing that completely wrong all this time? ?

 

[eggs]

I put mine inside a duvet cover and pop them in the washing machine.

 

[HannahB]

Horrible habit of mine but I brush the worst of the hair out with a curry comb then use a different brush every time to scrub out the water buckets. At least they never get a chance to become too grimey and just for the record I do make sure the water is always clean ? Wish i could get away with using the washing machine..

 

[Spotherisk]

To dig out hair from body/dandy brushes, use a fork. Works really well.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'm going to try putting mine in the washing machine next time, I think but that doesn't sound like it will help you ?

I usually use horse shampoo!

If they are proper wooden backed brushes, that will ruin them.


I put my Haas brushes into warm water with shampoo in it , bristles down , but not fully submerged. Then scrub them with my fingers and with a curry comb. Rinse with fresh water and hang up to drop dry.

 

[ycbm]

Is washing brushes a thing? I never knew. I make sure they are dry and scrub them hard on a sharp edge and watch the dirt fly out.
.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I just buy new brushes ? I do wash my haynets though ?

 

[Flying_Form]

how do you all clean your grooming kit? i can’t remember the last time i gave mine a clean, and since father christmas is bringing me a new bag to put them in instead of their old tool box it seems a shame to put them in all grotty? (and better for the horses, obviously lol)

i don’t have a dishwasher, and putting them in the washing machine would mean i won’t make it to see christmas day lmao

ETA: bonus points if it’s an indoor method!

Hibiscrub, hot water, let them all soak in a feed bucket, take them out and blast the dirt off them with a hose - works like a charm and disinfects too!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I'm going to try putting mine in the washing machine next time, I think but that doesn't sound like it will help you ?

I usually use horse shampoo!

My wife puts her grooming brushes in the washing machine with some washing powder & it cleans them pretty well. For peace of mind leave the house while they're in the machine because the sound is horrendous. They bang & clatter around the drum. I suggest you put them in a pillowcase or similar to deaden the sound.

 

[ponynutz]

Soap, disinfectant, and water and then take a metal curry comb and brush up and down to 'scrub'

 

[dogatemysalad]

Warm water with diluted shampoo, rub them with a rubber curry comb, splash of white vinegar in the final rinse, shake, leave to drain bristle side down and then turn over each time I walk by.

 

[dottylottie]

If they are proper wooden backed brushes, that will ruin them.


I put my Haas brushes into warm water with shampoo in it , bristles down , but not fully submerged. Then scrub them with my fingers and with a curry comb. Rinse with fresh water and hang up to drop dry.

thankyou! i have a couple of them on my shopping list (not christmas list lol, the family is a firm believer in elbow grease and think nice brushes are pointless), which ones would you say you use most? i’m not sure which 1/2 to start with!

 

[dottylottie]

Is washing brushes a thing? I never knew. I make sure they are dry and scrub them hard on a sharp edge and watch the dirt fly out.
.

this is what i usually do! but i like to make sure they’re washed between different horses

 

[dorsetladette]

I use hot water and a nice smelling disinfectant (can't remember the name) then leave then to dry bristles down on the draining board.

 

[Sossigpoker]

thankyou! i have a couple of them on my shopping list (not christmas list lol, the family is a firm believer in elbow grease and think nice brushes are pointless), which ones would you say you use most? i’m not sure which 1/2 to start with!

Whatever you do , don't fall for the "a set for a certain colour" gimmick as it's just a marketing trick.
The Schimmel is my go-to , it removes mud and dirt and scurf like nothing else.
I also have a couple of the body brushes, I think they're called Parkour and Military.
But I mainly use the Schimmel , in the summer I follow up with one of the body brushes too.