How to clean makeup brushes and sponges without damaging them

Makeup tools collect product, oil and moisture every time they touch the skin. Cleaning them is less about creating an elaborate “brush bath” and more about removing residue without trapping water where it can weaken the tool. Brushes and sponges need slightly different routines.

Before you begin

Wash your hands, clear a clean drying area and check the maker’s care instructions. Prepare lukewarm water, a mild cleanser and a clean towel. Very hot water, harsh solvents and vigorous twisting can shorten a tool’s life.

Cleaning makeup brushes

1. Hold the brush with its bristles pointing down and rinse only the tips under lukewarm running water.
2. Work a small amount of gentle shampoo or brush cleanser through the bristles. Keep water away from the ferrule—the metal or plastic join between bristles and handle—as much as practical.
3. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. Do not pull hard on the bristles.
4. Press out moisture gently with a clean towel and reshape the brush head.
5. Lay the brush flat with the bristles extending over a counter edge so air can circulate. Drying it upright while wet can direct water toward the glue.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing makeup brushes every seven to ten days. A brush used with a wet formula, on irritated skin or by a professional may need a different hygiene schedule.

Cleaning makeup sponges

1. Wet the sponge completely with clean, warm water.
2. Massage in a small amount of mild liquid cleanser for about 15 seconds.
3. Rinse while repeatedly compressing—rather than tearing or wringing—the sponge until the water is clear.
4. Press it in a clean towel and leave it uncovered in a ventilated place until fully dry.

AAD guidance recommends cleaning a makeup sponge after every use. A damp sponge sealed in a makeup bag has no chance to dry properly, so make air-drying part of the routine rather than an optional last step.

What not to do

• Do not share brushes or sponges.
• Do not store them while wet or crowd damp bristles into a closed cup.
• Do not use a microwave, boiling water or an improvised disinfectant unless the manufacturer explicitly permits it.
• Do not assume a spray cleaner replaces periodic washing when residue remains in the tool.

When cleaning is no longer enough

Replace a sponge that has deep tears, permanent deformation, persistent odour or visible growth. Replace a brush that continues shedding, has a cracked handle, sharp edge or loose ferrule. If a tool was used during an eye or skin infection, follow professional advice about disposal and replacement.

For cleaning and replacement guidance across brushes, sponges, razors, nail tools and heated devices, use the Beauty Tool Cleaning and Replacement Guide.

Bottom line

A sustainable cleaning routine is short enough to repeat: wash, rinse, reshape and dry in open air. The goal is a reliably clean tool, not a complicated ritual.