Some toilet brushes and their holders can be long, gangly contraptions, but not this one from Oxo. The slender handle is wider at the top for a comfortable grip, and the brush head fit into a compact orb of a self-closing container— the door flipped itself open and shut when we removed or replaced the toilet brush in the holder. The setup looked rather sturdy, but it did tip over when we nudged it, so be sure to store this in a corner where it can’t be overturned. Bristle type: Most toilet-brush bristles are made of nylon, and we prefer this stiff plastic material for scrubbing. Silicone brushes are less common and a bit more expensive; they’re flexible and easier to clean, but they don’t scrub as well. The way bristles are set in the brush can also affect how long the brush takes to dry, so watch out for dense, criss-crossing bristles that trap moisture and grime. Then, we applied a thin layer of clay mask around our test toilet bowl and under the rim. After letting it dry for two minutes, we used the brushes to clean the toilet bowl. We used any integrated cleaning solution that came with the toilet brush, but otherwise we relied on the wet brush alone to clean the clay mask. Shape of the toilet-brush head: Depending on which areas of your toilet get the dirtiest, you’ll want a toilet-brush head that’s shaped to reach under the toilet rim. Look for a design that has a curved head or long bristles, which allow a brush to fit easily into tough-to-reach places.

Key details – Materials: Plastic; Dimensions: 37 x 9 x 9cm (HWD); Replaceable head? Yes; Mounting style: Free standing Cleaning the toilet is no one’s favorite chore. We tested nine toilet brushes — both non-disposable and disposable — and brush-plunger combos and chose the SimpleHuman model as the best toilet brush because of its useful and clever design, cleaning power and mess-free storage. We also recommend the OXO – Good Grips, a hygienic budget option, and the best disposable toilet brush from Clorox makes cleaning the toilet and brush a mere minute-long process. Important features to consider Bristles vs. silicone: There are two kinds of brush heads that make up the majority of the toilet brushes on the market: plastic bristles and silicone. While both kinds of toilet brushes will get your toilet bowl clean, most silicone brushes require a little more effort and wrist maneuvering than those with plastic bristles. Traditional plastic bristle toilet brushes are easy to use, clean well and are more readily available at local stores. On the other hand, silicone brushes trap less water in the brush head and can be more durable than traditional plastic bristle brushes. Brush head shape: Germs can get trapped and be forgotten under the rim of the toilet. Look for brushes with a rim cleaner or ones that have a shape that can easily be maneuvered to reach under the rim. Round, bristle and silicone brush heads were the easiest to maneuver in our tests. Cleaning with flat silicone brushes took a little more effort than we would like.

Key details – Materials: Plastic, bamboo; Dimensions: 37 x 9 x 9cm (HWD); Replaceable head? No; Mounting style: Free standing The Simplehuman Toilet Brush with Caddy was sturdy, but it was also quite uncomfortable to hold and difficult to maneuver during cleaning. It didn’t have an impressive performance either— we found it smeared the clay mask around rather than actually cleaning it. Wall mount: This will be particularly useful if you’ve got pets roaming the house, or if you want to be able to clean the floors without moving your toilet brush around.

After spreading a sunflower butter paste onto the inside of a toilet bowl and allowing it to air dry for 20 minutes, each brush was used to clean the bowl with no additional toilet bowl cleaner (except for the Clorox ToiletWand, which has cleaner built into the scrubbing head).We chose 14 toilet brushes that best represented what is on the market and put them all through the same performance and ease-of-use tests. The toilet brush was comfortable to hold, but because there was no contour to the handle, the grip felt a bit slippery. The brush itself fits nicely in the slot in the base, but there is a bit of a learning curve with remembering to press the button at the tip of the handle to remove it. We liked how easily it slipped into the container, which is weighted at the bottom to prevent tipping. You have to love a cleaning product that does the dirty work for you. Just charge up this Bell + Howell cordless brush, attach one of the three brush heads, and touch the button to start it spinning and scrubbing your toilet. A silicone toilet brush with a flexible head gives the best cleaning results, plus it’s more hygienic than a bristle brush. Traditional toilet brushes are prone to getting clogged with germs, dirt and loo paper, making them pretty unhygienic and horrible to use. Silicone brushes solve the majority of Mumsnetters’ qualms about toilet brushes. How do you clean a toilet brush?