How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes: Step-by-Step Guide
on September 21, 2026

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes: Step-by-Step Guide

Are your brushes looking a little... grimy? We've been there. You get caught up in all the fun of blending and buffing, and don't realize your brushes need some TLC.

When it's time, use this step-by-step guide to refresh your brushes.

How to Clean Makeup Brushes in 8 Steps

Cleaning makeup brushes requires a delicate touch. You want to be thorough without damaging your brushes. Follow these steps below for pristine brushes every time:

1. Extend the collapsible grip on your Miracle Brush Cleansing Palette and slip it between your fingers

2. Squirt a small amount of your Miracle Deep Cleansing Gel onto the palette

3. Add a little warm water to the Cleansing Palette

4. Take your dirty brush and gently swirl it around the Cleansing Palette surface and over the silicone ridges

5. Continue until all product and buildup are removed from the bristles

6. Point the bristles down and rinse with warm water (If the water is not running clear, repeat steps 2–5 until it does)

7. Carefully squeeze excess water from the bristles with your fingers

8. Place the brush on a flat surface until it's completely dry

Repeat all steps for every brush, using new gel and water each time.

Brush-Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts

Do

Don't

Wash brushes every 7 days

Wait until brushes look visibly grimy

Use a gentle cleanser formulated for brushes

Use dish soap or hand soap — harsh formulas weaken bristles

Rinse with bristles pointing down in warm water

Soak the whole brush head (water loosens the glue)

Squeeze out excess water and dry flat

Dry brushes standing upright while wet

Use fresh gel and water for each brush

Reuse dirty cleaning water across brushes

Why Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes Matters for Your Skin

Unfortunately, makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria. Product residue, skin oils, and dirt build up on brush bristles, which can easily clog pores, cause breakouts, and irritate skin. Dirty brushes can even lead to fungal or bacterial infections, such as a staph infection.

How Often Should You Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

To protect your skin and makeup brushes, we recommend cleaning them every 7 days — even if you don't do your makeup often. The longer dirt and oil sit on your brushes, the easier it is for bacteria to grow.

While it can be a good idea to wash them more frequently, this could cause more wear and tear on the brushes. However, our Cleanse + Extend Collection uses gentle ingredients and materials to treat brushes with the utmost care. And Real Techniques' brushes are made with high-quality, long-lasting materials. So if you want to clean your brushes after every use, just be sure to use our specialty products and follow the steps above.

The Best Soap for Cleaning Makeup Brushes (and What to Avoid)

Many people make the mistake of using dish soap or hand soap to clean their brushes. This can be detrimental, as those soaps have harsh formulas that can weaken bristles. That means your brushes might go from soft to coarse or become misshapen.

Only use gentle cleansers to clean your brushes, like the Miracle Deep Cleansing Gel. This gentle cleanser is specifically formulated for makeup brushes, making it the best way to clean them and keep them in perfect condition. And brushes in excellent condition mean smoother makeup application and stunning results.

Additional Resources

Trusted, non-commercial reads to go deeper:

•       American Academy of Dermatology: How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes — dermatologist-backed brush hygiene guidance, including how often to wash and how to dry brushes safely.

•       American Academy of Dermatology: Skin Care for Acne-Prone Skin — expert guidance on choosing and applying products without triggering breakouts.

•       U.S. FDA: Cosmetics — federal hub for cosmetic safety, labeling, and recall information.

•       Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials — physician-reviewed articles on skin health and cosmetic hygiene.

•       Lab Muffin Beauty Science — a chemistry-PhD-run blog explaining the science behind makeup formulas and application.

 

About the Author

Veronica Booth

Veronica is a style and beauty writer with over six years of experience specializing in skincare and makeup. She's reviewed and written about a wide range of products, and believes skincare and makeup are for everyone, whether you simply need a face moisturizer or want to contour like a pro. For her, beauty is about self-expression and fun, but she emphasizes the importance of proper technique and high-quality products that are kind to skin and valuable investments.

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes: Step-by-Step Guide FAQs

How often should makeup brushes be cleaned?

Every 7 days is a safe rule, and dermatologists recommend every 7 to 10 days at minimum. Brushes used with liquids and creams benefit from the most frequent washing.

What happens if I never clean my makeup brushes?

Product residue, oil, dead skin, and bacteria accumulate in the bristles, which can clog pores, trigger breakouts, irritate skin, and in serious cases cause fungal or bacterial infections like staph.

Can I use dish soap to clean makeup brushes?

It's not recommended. Dish and hand soaps are formulated to strip grease and can weaken bristles, leaving them coarse or misshapen. Use a gentle cleanser made for makeup brushes.

How should I dry makeup brushes after washing?

Squeeze out excess water, reshape the bristles, and lay brushes flat on a towel until completely dry. Never dry them upright — water runs into the ferrule and loosens the glue.

Why can't I soak the whole brush in water?

Submerging the brush head lets water seep into the ferrule (the metal band), dissolving the adhesive that holds the bristles. That causes shedding and can separate the head from the handle.

How long do makeup brushes take to dry?

Most face brushes dry overnight (roughly 6 to 12 hours) when laid flat in a well-ventilated spot. Dense brushes take longer; wash them in the evening so they're ready by morning.

How do I clean makeup brushes quickly between uses?

Spot-clean by spritzing an instant brush cleaner onto the bristles and wiping on a clean towel until no pigment transfers. Spot-cleaning supplements — but doesn't replace — a weekly deep clean.

Should makeup sponges be cleaned as often as brushes?

More often, ideally. Damp foam is especially hospitable to bacteria, so rinse sponges after each use and deep-clean them at least weekly.

When should I replace a brush instead of cleaning it?

If a brush still sheds, smells, stays stained, or has splayed or scratchy bristles after a proper deep clean, the materials are breaking down and it's time to replace it.

Can dirty makeup brushes cause acne?

Yes — dermatologists cite dirty brushes as a common contributor to breakouts because they redeposit oil, dead skin, and bacteria onto your face with every use.