How do you clean your grooming kit?

[NellRosk]

So before I go away on Sunday I'm determined to clean my grooming box out as it's not fair to expose the people looking after my horses next week to the disgusting biohazards that are my brushes! What are you top tips for getting grotty brushes sparkly clean again? I want to throw them all out/ incinerate them but unfortunately don't have enough money for a new grooming kit!

 

[catkin]

bucket of hottish water and horse shampoo - scrub brushes, rinse under tap, leave to dry on a towel preferably outside in the sun. If there is loads of hair at the bottom of the bristles then scrape through between the clumps of bristles with a clean hoofpick or similar, it will easily come out once the brush is washed.

 

[*hic*]

dishwasher

 

[misskk88]

I have always left them to soak in hot water and washing up liquid or similar (depending on quality of brush or if it is natural hair etc), given them a good shake/ 'brushed' them out as I would when grooming horse (i.e to get hairs out), and then rinsed them using a hose on a high power setting to shift any stubborn leftovers. will use wet wipes or wet sponge to clean the plastic tops once the dirt and grease has soaked for a bit!

I also tip everything out of grooming box and wipe around it with wet wipes (washing machines for a grooming bag that cant be wiped clean, chucked intp a pillow case if it has any big metal buckles which may get damaged during washing). Perhaps simple, but works for me

 

[eggs]

I put mine into the outer cover of a dog bed, zip it up and put it through the washing machine at 40o

 

[Equi]

Buy a new one, then it is clean! weee!

 

[bakewell]

Some of mine have wood backs so I can't washing machine them but I do a good manual clean as above. I put them in a tray with barbicide
http://www.beautyexpress.co.uk/barbicide-disinfectant-pbhygiene28/ same as at the hairdresser, every couple of days. Stops the nasties and cross-contamination.
I use cheap sponge scrubbers for dock/ sheath etc stuff and throw them away though, which is really bad for the environment

 

[pennyturner]

I'm a terrible scruff, so I generally let the dirt gradually transfer to my car boot, then throw away the car every few years

When I had to (youngsters with lice - yuck), I soaked them in a bucket of milton.

 

[NellRosk]

bucket of hottish water and horse shampoo - scrub brushes, rinse under tap, leave to dry on a towel preferably outside in the sun. If there is loads of hair at the bottom of the bristles then scrape through between the clumps of bristles with a clean hoofpick or similar, it will easily come out once the brush is washed.

What is this 'sun' you speak of? I'm in Yorkshire and it's been dull and gloomy all week! But thanks for the tips!

dishwasher

I think I value my life too much to do that in my house, can just about wash horse stuff in the washing machine but I fear the dishwasher may be a step too far!

I have always left them to soak in hot water and washing up liquid or similar (depending on quality of brush or if it is natural hair etc), given them a good shake/ 'brushed' them out as I would when grooming horse (i.e to get hairs out), and then rinsed them using a hose on a high power setting to shift any stubborn leftovers. will use wet wipes or wet sponge to clean the plastic tops once the dirt and grease has soaked for a bit!

I also tip everything out of grooming box and wipe around it with wet wipes (washing machines for a grooming bag that cant be wiped clean, chucked intp a pillow case if it has any big metal buckles which may get damaged during washing). Perhaps simple, but works for me

Thanks, sounds very meticulous! Deffo sounds like it'll get my minging brushes clean

I put mine into the outer cover of a dog bed, zip it up and put it through the washing machine at 40o

Ooh that's a good idea, we have plenty of dog beds! I guess a pillow case would work too.

Buy a new one, then it is clean! weee!

You don't know how much I want a shiny new grooming kit but just can't afford one! (Or justify buying one when I have a perfectly good, albeit gross one!)

 

[acorn92x]

I use a bucket of warm water with either Virkon or more commonly, Hibiscrub, rub them in my hand to get the real dirt out and then let them soak for half an hour or so then let them dry in the sun

 

[AAR]

Scrub them in a bucket of shampoo/fairy liquid. I am a clean freak and do mine quite often. My horses get bathed once a week before hunting. Nothing worse then wanting to flick them off in the morning and making them dirtier then they were before!

 

[NellRosk]

Scrub them in a bucket of shampoo/fairy liquid. I am a clean freak and do mine quite often. My horses get bathed once a week before hunting. Nothing worse then wanting to flick them off in the morning and making them dirtier then they were before!

Yes I'm at the point where brushing is a pointless activity as my brushes are so greasy and dirty!!

 

[supagran]

I use a bucket of warm water with either Virkon or more commonly, Hibiscrub, rub them in my hand to get the real dirt out and then let them soak for half an hour or so then let them dry in the sun

I once left a body brush in a bucket with hibiscrub overnight and next morning there weren't any bristles!

 

[poiuytrewq]

I stick all mine in the washing machine- very clanky but does a good job and is easy! I have a cheap horse machine in my garden shed.

 

[fiwen30]

The plastic and rubber backed brushes get soaked in hot water and fairy liquid for a bit, scrubbed together to get rid of the dirt and then rinsed clean and left to dry. The wooden backed ones get the same, but without the soak.

 

[acorn92x]

I once left a body brush in a bucket with hibiscrub overnight and next morning there weren't any bristles!

:| That's a bit scary! Was it a brush with natural bristles, like goat hair or anything like that?

 

[exracehorse]

I don't. Haven't cleaned it since my daughter took it to PC camp 4 years ago!

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Scrape it out with curry comb and hoof pick and put it in the washing machine!