The 7 Best Toilet Brushes of 2024, According to Testing

Nov 11, 2024

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Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock

A sturdy toilet brush is arguably one of the most important tools in your housekeeping arsenal. But with so many options available, how do you pick a good one that won’t flush your money down the drain?

Effective cleaning power is everything in a toilet brush, says Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. “Look for a brush with sturdy bristles that can effectively scrub away stains and dirt from the toilet bowl,” she says.

Mock also says to consider design, noting that the best toilet brushes minimize your contact with germs and bacteria. “Consider features like a drip tray or holder that allows the brush to dry properly between uses, reducing the risk of bacterial growth,” she says.

Using a clay face mask as a substitute for the yucky stuff on a test toilet, we scrubbed away to find the best toilet brushes. We let the mask dry for two minutes before attempting to remove it, testing any included cleaning solution, brush heads, or features.

We examined the brushes after 24 hours of storing them in their containers to see if there was odor, mildew, or excess water. Other factors we considered were ease of use, maneuverability, durability, and overall value.

The sponge head is preloaded with cleaner so you can get right to scrubbing.

The disposable brush heads are not eco-friendly.

The Clorox Toilet Wand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit contains everything you need to scrub and sanitize your toilet in one box. The kit comes with a handle, disposable sponge heads prefilled with bathroom cleanser, and a storage container to hold it all. All you have to do is attach one to the handle and start scrubbing.

During our testing, we found that the lightweight toilet brush had a long handle that was comfortable to grip and maneuver to reach all around the inside of the toilet. We loved how simple it was to connect and detach the brush heads. We did have to touch the clean one to firmly attach it to the brush handle, but we didn’t have to go near it after it had been used—we simply pressed the button to release the scrub head into the trash.

The integrated cleaning solution on the brush head lathered up nicely in water, and it scrubbed away the clay mask easily. The slim design of the sponges made it easy to reach under the rim to clean, too. The bowl was clean in about five scrubs, and the brush head didn’t leave behind a single scuff or scratch, even with added pressure.

Once the brush head was removed, it was easy to store the handle in the front of the storage container—it had a small hole to hold the handle upright, while the extra sponge heads were kept inside. We do wish the disposable scrub heads were more sustainable and eco-friendly, but because of its lightweight, easy-to-use design and effective cleaning performance, this toilet brush earned its place atop our list of best brushes.

Product Details: Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 4.41 x 15.31 x 4.75 inches | Weight: 12.48 ounces

The sturdy plastic bristles cleaned effectively.

It’s better to air dry first before storing in its container.

The design of this IKEA toilet brush is simple, yet effective. Attached to the long straight white handle is a sturdy brush head made from gray plastic bristles, which were concealed when we inserted the brush in the white plastic holder.

The handle offered a comfortable grip and stored easily in the container. The brush head was able to reach all parts of the toilet and it effectively removed the clay mask. It did take a few extra scrubs, but we were pleased with the results. Even when we used some pressure, the bristles looked like they were brand-new after cleaning, so we were impressed with the durability of this budget-friendly tool.

The included container seemed sturdy and while it did tip over when we nudged it with our toe during testing, it’s easy to stow in a corner where this is unlikely to happen. We did notice the brush was slightly damp and had a slight odor after drying, and there were a few drops of water in the container, which also had a slight smell. It’s probably best to let this air dry before storing, but there was no evidence of mold.

If you’re looking for a simple yet effective toilet brush that won’t fall apart after a couple of uses, this is the one. Even better, if you have a large house with numerous bathrooms, this is an affordable option to be able to keep a toilet brush in each bathroom.

Product Details: Material: Polypropylene plastic and steel | Dimensions: 14.375 inches tall | Weight: 5 ounces

During our testing, we found the brush and bristles to be sturdy, and it’s biodegradable.

It can be tricky to connect the brush to the handle.

This toilet brush doesn’t look like your ordinary toilet brush. Rather than bristles, this eco-friendly toilet brush has scrub heads made from coconut husks that are gentle yet abrasive enough to scrub away toilet grime.

We found that it was easy to attach the scrub heads, which are made from biodegradable coconut husks. We just pressed the button to extend the claw and applied slight pressure to attach it to a sponge head. We liked that the bamboo handle was over a foot long, which made it easy to clean the toilet.

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.

The brush cleaned every bit of the clay mask from the bowl and beneath the rim. We found that the thin brush head made it easy to reach under the rim and the roughness of the coconut husks made for a quick cleanup.

The scrub head left some small smear marks on the porcelain, but otherwise, we saw no scratches. The scrub head proved to be quite sturdy—it didn’t detach from the handle during use and it didn’t disintegrate as we thought it might. The used head comes off very easily—just press the button to release the sponge head into the trash.

Product Details: Material: Bamboo, steel, coconut husk | Dimensions: 5 x 16 x 4 inches | Weight: 1.26 pounds

The bristles are sturdy and clean well, plus the canister is self-closing.

The straight handle makes it difficult to get into the S trap.

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.

We were impressed at how well the plastic bristles cleaned off all the mask. The bristles were stiff, but they didn’t do any damage to the toilet. The handle was straight and can maneuver well within the toilet, but without a contoured design, it’s difficult to get the brush head into tighter spots. We did appreciate how easy it was to clean off the brush with just a bit of water.

Overall, we found the Oxo easy to use, clean, and store. When storing it, we found it was completely dry after 24 hours with no odors or mildew. A curved handle might make it even easier to maneuver, particularly to get into the S trap of a toilet, but for cleaning inside the bowl, it’s quite effective.

Product Details: Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 6 x 17 x 4.75 inches | Weight: 0.7 pounds

The electronic scrubbing action needed little effort on our part to clean the toilet.

The storage hook didn’t secure the brush very well.

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.

This electric toilet brush had a wide handle that offered a firm, comfortable grip, plus it extended so we didn’t have to bend while cleaning. We loved how it spun and scrubbed away at all the nooks and crannies of the toilet. While we wouldn’t quite call cleaning the toilet “fun,” it’s certainly a lot quicker and easier to do it with this tool.

This brush looks bulky, but it reached tight spots easily. It comes with three different scrub heads: a large head, a small flat one, and a tapered one. We found the large one was difficult to use without spraying water from the toilet all over. The tapered scrub head made quick work of the dried-on clay mask—no pressure was needed, we just turned it on and let it work. The toilet brush was easy to clean, too—we just dipped it in water to rinse off the scrub head.

Despite the powerful action of the durable bristles, we didn’t see any scratches, scuffs, or other damage to the bowl. The powerful silicone bristles would also be quite useful for cleaning grout and other bathroom surfaces—provided you use a different brush head, of course. We liked that the bristles felt barely damp after letting them dry for 24 hours—they smelled of plastic but not mildew.

The heads were easy to switch out without a mess. It took a bit of effort to attach the extension to the handle, but it wasn’t difficult. We couldn’t get the storage hook to fasten the brush properly to hang it though, so storage could be an issue.

Product Details: Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 5 x 17 x 4 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds

The angled bristles reach under the rim for a deep clean.

The dense bristles don’t dry quickly.

The Oxo Good Grips Toilet Brush with Rim Cleaner impressed us with its design during testing. The brush’s design made it super easy to clean under the toilet rim. The main part of the brush head is dome-shaped and easy to reach around the toilet, but the selling point is the separate group of blue bristles that angle upward to fit right under the rim.

It was easy to store this toilet brush in the included clamshell container—we simply pulled the brush out of the container when we were ready to use it, and the clamshell stayed open until we placed the brush back into the container.

We did notice that the brush was still quite wet after 24 hours and smelled musky (as did the container) even though it has a drip tray and ventilation slots. It would be better to let the brush air dry before storing it back in the clamshell container to avoid mildew growth.

We found it comfortable to grip the long handle during cleaning. Even when applying pressure, the bristles didn’t scratch the toilet bowl. A few swishes of clean water were all it took to clean off the brush, though it will likely need a deeper clean to get into those dense bristles.

Product Details: Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 5 x 18.5 x 5 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds

The caddy has a disc of diatomaceous earth in the base, which absorbs water while preventing bacteria and mold growth

It’s recommended to replace brush heads and stone discs every six months.

Tough on toilet grime but more gentle on our planet, this is the best toilet brush for those looking for an eco-friendly option. The Grove’s toilet brush is made from recycled aluminum and recycled plastic. The recycled plastic brush head is replaceable, so it’s easy to remove and replace.

What truly sets this toilet brush apart from the rest is the caddy. The body of the caddy is made of plastic, and the base includes a stand that is filled with a disc of diatomaceous earth, which is a natural rock with absorbent properties. The rock absorbs the excess water from the brush head and also resists mold and bacterial growth.

It’s recommended that both the bush head and the stone be replaced every six months, or every four months if you use the toilet brush more frequently.

Price at time of publish: $30

Product Details: Material: Recycled aluminum, recycled plastic, and diatomaceous earth | Shape: Rounded brush head | Dimensions: Not listed | Features: The stand is filled with natural rock that absorbs water | Caddy Included: Yes

The Clorox Toilet Wand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit wowed us with its performance and ease of use. We especially love that there was no cleanup—we simply discarded the scrub head when we finished cleaning.

We tested 16 toilet brushes at our lab in Des Moines, Iowa. We started by placing the brush in their included storage containers (where applicable) and bumped into them several times, noting if they tipped over or were sturdy enough to stay upright.

We then tested the durability of the brush and bristles, applying pressure on the brush at several different angles in our test toilet to see how sturdy it was and whether the bristles scratched the inside of the toilet bowl.

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.

We observed how well the brush was able to reach within the toilet and under the rim. For brushes with multiple heads, we each head to see which ones worked best. For electric models, we recorded the total runtime for cleaning. We noted how much and where clay mask residue was left in the toilet bowl with each brush.

After cleaning the toilet bowl, we cleaned the toilet brushes by swishing them in a bucket of water. We shook out the excess and let them dry in their storage containers. For those with disposable brush heads, we noted how easy it was to detach and dispose of the used brush. After 24 hours, we inspected the toilet brushes left in their containers, noting any odors, signs of mildew, and/or any excess water that collected in the storage container.

After testing all products, we made the final choices for our best toilet brushes list based on ease of use, performance, maneuverability, durability, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock

“Look for a brush with a slightly curved head and medium-sized bristles,” Mock says. Even when selecting a hand-held electric scrubber, comfortable and sturdy handle is essential for effective cleaning.” You’ll also want the handle to be long enough so that it keeps your hands a safe distance from the toilet bowl.

We liked the Clorox Toilet Wand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit because the handle was long and it was easy to add and remove the brush head with just the touch of a button—no need to come anywhere near the dirty brush head. We were also happy to see that the Oxo Good Grips Toilet Brush with Rim Cleaner lived up to its name and offered a good grip as did the tapered handle on the Boomjoy Toilet Brush, though we wished the latter were a bit longer.

“Choose a toilet brush made of high-quality materials that can withstand regular use and cleaning without wearing out quickly,” Mock says. The toilet brushes that made our list are mostly made with either plastic or silicone bristles, which are quite durable.

The two notable exceptions are our best overall pick, the Clorox Toilet Wand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit, which is with cleanser-filled disposable brush heads, and the Tushy The Conscious Toilet Brush, which is made from coconut husks.

You can hang a clean toilet brush on a hook to air dry, but Mock likes a storage container for keeping it handy yet discreet. “Use a brush holder or stand to store it upright with the brush head facing down for air drying,” Mock says. She adds that for hygienic purposes, you should avoid placing it directly on the floor or any other surface in your bathroom. Make sure to clean the storage container regularly to avoid mold or mildew growth.

We found the Polder Sleek Stainless Steel Toilet Brush with Caddy was easy to maneuver and cleaned the toilet well. However, the brush’s rod was too long to store properly in its container. It tipped easily when bumped, plus there wasn’t enough room for the brush to dry properly, so mildew growth could be an issue.

We liked that the Tilswall Electric Spin Scrubber came with several scrub head options, but we couldn’t find a way to change them out without actually touching the brush. Though it cleaned up the clay mask, we found that two hands were needed to grip this long brush when it was held at certain angles. We would have also preferred there to be an included storage container.

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.

Toilet brushes are usually made with either silicone or plastic, and both work well to keep your toilet bowl clean. “Silicone is more hygienic and durable, but plastic brushes are more affordable,” Mock says. “Choose based on your preference and budget.”

Even if you’re diligent with cleaning and disinfecting your toilet brush after each use, you should still be sure to regularly replace the brush. Mock recommends replacing the brush every six months to a year—but go ahead and do it sooner if it smells or looks damaged.

Mock recommends toilet brushes with medium-sized bristles on a slightly curved head. Above all, make sure the toilet brush you choose feels comfortable and works for your toilet. “Ensure that the brush fits well into the toilet bowl and can reach all the necessary areas for effective cleaning,” Mock says.

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens. To compile this list of the best toilet brushes, Barbara analyzed lab insights from our testing site in Des Moines, Iowa. She also consulted Marla Mock, President of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, for expert insight on choosing the best toilet brushes.

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.