Why you should put your loofah in the microwave
... and use window cleaner on hair straighteners. Odd but ingenious ways to clean your beauty essentials
DIRTY hair brushes, straighteners, makeup brushes and nail clippers can cause problems ranging from acne to allergic reactions, say experts. And they all need to be cleaned in different ways. Here, MARIANNE POWER asks the experts to show you how . . .
LOOFAHS
THESE are a haven for bacteria — the dead skin cells they scrub so well from our body get caught up in the nooks where bacteria can feed on them.
‘the warm, damp environment of the shower is an ideal growth medium for bacteria and mould. Also, because loofahs take time to dry and may well retain dead skin cells, it’s a potential source of infection,’ says dermatologist dr Sam Bunting.
‘over-exfoliating can damage the skin’s vital barrier function, making it more susceptible to invasion by bugs harboured in the loofah.’
Plastic loofahs should be replaced at least every two months. to keep it clean, wet your loofah and put it on a medium heat in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. You can also try the washing machine or dishwasher. And keep the loofah in a dry place, say by an open window, rather than in the shower.
Natural loofahs can be prone to mould, but don’t clean them in the microwave. Wash thoroughly with soap and then leave them to soak in a litre of water with four tablespoons of vinegar for two hours, and dry them on a windowsill.
RAZORS
ON A reusable razor, stubble and mould can collect in the space where the blade cartridge attaches to the handle. If that mould gets in contact with the skin it can cause irritation.
Every two weeks, you should soak your razor for five to ten minutes in bleach or vinegar diluted in water and scrub it with a toothbrush.
And a moist blade kept in the shower, harbouring old hair and dead skin, can lead to ingrown hairs and irritation when shaving because the blade becomes blunt.
Clean blades by rubbing surgical spirit on a cotton pad, then towel dry. And always keep your razor on a dry surface.
‘Change a blade at the first sign that it starts to drag against the skin,’ says dr Bunting. ‘If used every day, ten days is a good rule of thumb. Rinse it in hot water after every use and air-dry.’
HAIRBRUSHES
PULLING out hairs from a hairbrush is just the first part of cleaning it.
‘Brushes collect dead skin cells from your scalp, grease from your hair, styling product build-up and dust,’ says hair and make-up artist Johanna dalemo.
‘Remove this once a month. Soak the brush in warm water with a little shampoo, then use a toothbrush to remove the build-up. Rinse the brush in clean water and allow it to dry naturally.’
And a good tip for removing hair knotted around a barrelled brush? ‘use small scissors to make one cut in a straight line from the base of the brush to the top, then pull the hair out,’ says Johanna.
STRAIGHTENING AND CURLING IRONS
HEAT protection sprays or leavein conditioners are vital to protect your hair against heat, but they leave a residue of product on hair straighteners and curling tongs. this stops the heat getting through properly and can dull hair.
‘Run a damp washcloth over the plates or barrel while they are hot. this will create steam, and that will help remove product buildup,’ says Johanna. ‘Ensure the cloth is made from 100 per cent cotton. Anything synthetic will melt.’
Spraying window cleaner onto the damp cloth will also clean them in an instant.
Alternatively, you could use a dry Brillo Pad to rub off old gunk from ceramic straighteners. ‘But be gentle,’ says Johanna. ‘And don’t use a Brillo Pad on metal products, as you’ll scrape the surface.’
As for your hairdryer — dust builds up in the back grille. use an old toothbrush to get rid of the dust when it’s switched off.
MAKE-UP BRUSHES
SPENDING money and time on cleansers for your face is wasted if you use dirty make-up brushes. If you don’t wash them regularly, dirt, oil and bacteria are all transferred to your face, every day.
this can lead to acne breakouts and also means your brushes don’t pick up pigment and work as well.
Brushes should be washed at least once a fortnight. Johanna advises using Johnson’s baby shampoo because its mild formula leaves brushes feeling super-soft.
‘Mix shampoo about the area of a 5p piece in a cup of warm water and put the brushes in. don’t swish the brush around — this might make the bristles go out of shape — just let them sit and absorb the solution.
‘then take the brush out, rinse thoroughly under the tap and swipe it back and forth on a paper towel,’ says Johanna.
lay them out flat to dry and reshape the bristles if necessary. Never stand the brushes horizontally while wet as water will drip down into the barrel of the brush and may loosen some of the hairs.
If you want a cheat’s way — use a cleansing wipe or an antibacterial hand wipe to lightly clean your brush after each use. or try readymade pro brush cleansers such as Mac Brush Cleanser (£11).
FACIAL EXFOLIATORS
IF You have spent almost £100 on a must-have facial exfoliation brush, but don’t keep it clean, you’ll spread bacteria, fungus and mould on your face — so clean it at least once a week. unscrew and remove the brush head. Squirt a few drops of antibacterial dish soap on your fingers or a toothbrush and scrub the bristles and crevices first. Rinse with warm water and let the brush head air-dry, separately from the handle, overnight.
‘And never share your cleansing brush,’ says dr Bunting.
NAIL CLIPPERS, EYELASH CURLERS & TWEEZERS
It Would never occur to most of us to clean our tweezers, or nail clippers — but bacteria and dirt can gather in these, too. It’s a good idea to wipe down these metal tools with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (£3.71, amazon. co.uk), which breaks down dirt and oil while also disinfecting.
Sterilising the tools is especially important if you share them.
‘You are not supposed to use eyelash curlers once you’ve put mascara on — it can cause lashes to break — but if you do, then make sure you wipe the rubber edges with a cotton stick that’s been dipped in soapy water, to get rid of any dirt or old mascara,’ says Johanna. ‘If you don’t it can lead to conjunctivitis and eye irritation.’
MAKE-UP BAG
DOES your make-up bag resemble a Jackson Pollock painting — a rainbow of exploded powders and smudged lipstick? If your bag has a waterproof material inside then flip it inside out, and use make-up remover wipes to clean it.
If you have a cloth bag, turn inside out, then stick it in the washing machine with your dark clothing.
Believe it or not, there’s also ways to disinfect your make-up, too. Put your lipstick in the freezer overnight to kill germs and bacteria. And you can disinfect pressed powders by spritzing with alcohol dispensed into a travel-sized spray bottle (£1.43, Superdrug).