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How to Clean Makeup Brushes (DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner)

Clean your makeup brushes easily with this cheap DIY cleaner!

Jan 17, 2019 10 comments

How to clean makeup brushes and diy makeup brush cleaner

2 Ingredient DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner Without Olive Oil

Ok, I’ve seen quite a few DIY makeup brush cleaner projects all over Pinterest and I have to admit, they scare me! Why? Because they’re using vinegar or alcohol which may cause bristle damage or lead to the bristles drying out; something we don’t want.

That’s why I’m going to show you how to clean makeup brushes in a way that will keep the bristles healthy for as long as possible. This DIY makeup brush cleaner is completely safe to use, and it works like magic!

Pouring dawn dish soap into a small bowl next to makeup brushes

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner Supplies:

Dirty Makeup Brushes
Antibacterial Dish Soap (Dawn is the most gentle)
Hair Conditioner or Olive Oil
Container for Mix
Paper Towels
Rubber Band
Access to a Sink

Get your dirty makeup brushes laid out and ready to be washed. Then, take your container or plate and add equal parts antibacterial dish soap and hair conditioner or olive oil.

Adding hair conditioner to diy makeup brush cleaner mixture

How This Homemade Makeup Brush Cleaner Works

Your antibacterial dish soap eliminates the need for vinegar or alcohol because it will do all the disinfecting for you while the conditioner or olive oil will help to keep your brush bristles from drying out.

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Swirling a makeup brush in the DIY makeup brush cleaner

Step 1.

Once you have your DIY makeup brush cleaner ready, take one of your brushes and swirl it into your mixture. It won’t take long for your mixture to look a little like this…

Dirty diy makeup brush cleaner

Step 2.

Swirl each makeup brush in the mixture until they’re as clean as you can get them.

Now, swipe your brush (one at a time) back and forth several times on your hand to get the excess makeup out.

Swiping makeup brush over palm of hand

Step 3.

Now, turn on your faucet and use warm water (not hot!) to rinse each brush while swiping it over your hand.

Using water and swiping makeup brush over palm of hand

Step 4.

Once the water runs clean, set your brush aside. Repeat until you’ve rinsed all of your brushes.

When you’re finished rinsing all of your brushes, pick them up one at a time and “walk” the excess water down the length of the brush to help dry it. Repeat with each brush.

Drying makeup brushes

Step 5.

Once you’ve removed the excess water from all of your brushes, gather them up and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Drying makeup brushes with a paper towel

Step 6.

Now, here’s the important part. Do not let your brushes sit on the counter or upside down in a glass to dry! This will only keep the water in the handle of the brush which will lead to a breakdown in the material. This will cause your brush to lose bristles!

Instead, take a rubber band or other object and wrap the tops of the brushes with it.

Holding makeup brushes together with a rubber band

Step 7.

Now, use a wall hook (the top of the faucet works too if you’re not going to use it) to hang your brushes, bristles down, to dry.

Hanging your brushes bristles down will help the water to seep out of the brush entirely. Hanging them this way will also help your bristles to maintain their natural shape.

Hanging makeup brushes upside down with a wall hook

That’s How to Wash Makeup Brushes & Make Your Own Brush Cleaner

I hope you enjoyed my DIY makeup brush cleaner and I hope it helps the next time you think about cleaning out those expensive little tools. This is definitely a cheaper alternative than the store-bought makeup brush cleaner!

Remember that you should be washing your makeup brushes at least once a month! This easy DIY should make it easier to keep up with that.

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