Not a pleasant topic but it can happen to all of us....

I soak my loo brushes in bleach, and use them to give the under rim a good scrub, so wouldn't be without them.

I think it can be very difficult to clean a public loo, and honestly, best left to the staff (who I always tip if I see them!)

Someone on Gransnet posted (some years ago now) about cleaning their toilet brush by putting it in the dishwasher ... !

I can remember an episode of Kim and Aggie ( remember them?) where they advised putting the loo brush in the loo and soaking it in bleach and leaving for a couple of hours to clean it thoroughly. I don't use a brush as a rule, just a spray and loo paper, my OH does use the brush ( after being shown how to use it) so a good soak every week or so keeps the brush pristine. Plus replacing regularly.

Gosh! I clean mine by using bleach just like cleaning the toilet bowl. So many times reports of how people still don't wash their hands properly at varoius times of the day make me wonder about all these hands going into toilet bowls now!

A loo brush will never ever enter my house

Oh - I have to say in all my 60+ years I don't recall being ill after visiting any loos which had loo brushes in them. They can be vile and I don't understand people who have brown stained manky things sitting in their bathrooms, but keeping hands clean after loo visiting seems to have worked for me all these years.

Can we be a bit too precious about 'unclean' things? May be? (Says the woman who is OCD about clean loos and sinks )

Hate them with a passion, have one in my downstairs toilet for visitors. But I leave bottles of bleach alongside toilets otherwise.

I am a bit OCD about loo brushes. I think they are handy things for guests because I know I feel embarrassed if I leave skid marks in the pan and I think others do too.

My loo brush and holder has to be cleaned after every use though. I have to tell my partner to do the same. No way is he allowed to use it and then just plonk it back in it's container. He knows full well that even if he does rinse it afterwards I'll be around with disinfectant within 24hrs. I'd rather clean a loo brush/container than have to keep cleaning a stained loo after visitors tbh.

I agree loo brushes are filthy things. I keep antiseptic wipes by the loo for cleaning up a mess then rigorous hand washing.

I went into an airport loo directly after another lady recently. I couldn't believe that someone could blatantly walk out and leave such a disgusting mess. The seat, bowl and surround were spattered. I thought I was going to be sick?She had made no attempt to try and clean up.

Ana and Teetime. Totally agree.

Yes Ana and Teetime - I agree loo brushes are a health hazard. And yes, I have in the past reverted to a fistful of loo paper and rigorous hand-washing afterwards. I try to 'leave it as I would want to find'.

Exactly ana . Loo brushes are filthy things and that's why they have disappeared from public loos they are a place where bacteria and viruses can proliferate. I know some people will say they have them at home but what is OK at home is not necessarily OK in public places. I don't have one at home. In the Infection Control Manual I helped to write for the Health Authority I worked in the wording re cleaning loos was 'heavy duty paper held in a gloved hand'. So plenty of loo roll and a good hand wash will suffice in a domestic situation.

I don' like toilet brushes. If i'ts just the odd floater or splash on the bowl I'll scoop te floater up with toilet paper or scrub the splash off using te same. Quick flush, wash hands and problem solved!