How to Clean Pet Grooming Brushes, Combs and Deshedding Tools

A grooming brush pulls loose hair, dander, dust and skin oils out of your pet’s coat, and a lot of that stays in the brush. Pins clog, a greasy film builds up at the base of the bristles, and a dirty brush puts some of that back into a freshly brushed coat. Cleaning your grooming tools takes a few minutes and keeps them working. This guide covers brushes and combs, deshedding tools, and clippers and nail clippers.

It follows the care advice of two grooming tool makers, Wahl, in its dog grooming tools cleaning guide, and FURminator, in the care instructions for its undercoat deShedding tool. Check the instructions for your own tools first.

After every grooming session

Pull the hair out of the brush or comb straight away, while it is loose and dry. Wahl’s first step is removing any hair caught in the brush or comb.
Use the release button on self-cleaning slicker brushes and deshedding tools, which pushes the hair off the pins or edge.
Work stubborn hair loose from a pin brush or slicker with a wide-tooth comb, running it between the rows of pins from the base up.
Wipe it down. Wahl suggests keeping soft cloths in your grooming kit and setting aside a few moments after every grooming session to care for and clean your tools.

Washing brushes and combs

Wahl’s steps for slicker brushes, pin brushes, bristle brushes and combs are:

Remove any hair caught in the brush or comb.
Fill a sink or small bowl with hot water and add a small amount of antibacterial soap.
Soak them for 10 to 20 minutes.
Dry them with a soft cloth once they come out of the water.

A few more tips:

Scrub the base of the pins or bristles with an old toothbrush, where the oily film collects.
Rinse well so no soap is left to go back onto your pet’s coat.
Dry brushes bristle side down, on a towel, so water does not sit in the pad or the base. Let them dry completely before storing.
Wooden handles and natural bristles: check the label before soaking them. If in doubt, wash just the bristles and keep the handle out of the water.

If you groom more than one pet, give each its own brush, or wash the brush between pets.

Deshedding tools

A deshedding tool has a fine metal edge that pulls out loose undercoat. FURminator’s care instructions for its undercoat deShedding tool are:

Clean the edge with warm water and a mild soap if necessary. FURminator says cleaning can reduce the feeling of a dull edge, by reducing dander collection on the teeth of the deShedding edge.
Dry the tool completely before storing it.
Protect the edge. FURminator says its tool has an Edge Guard, locked into place with the FURejector button, so it does not need a cap when stored.
Do not drop it. FURminator warns that a fall may damage the tool’s teeth.

So a deshedding tool that seems dull often just needs cleaning. Handle the edge with care while you wash it.

Clippers and nail clippers

Wahl says nail clippers and pet scissors can be cleaned the same way as brushes and combs. For electric clippers, its steps are:

Unplug the clipper or turn it off.
Brush away hair and debris with a cleaning brush.
Clean all parts with a clipper spray and a damp cloth, or fully soak the blade if you have snap-on blades.
Let all parts air dry, then put the clipper back together.
Oil the blades. Wahl says to apply a small amount of clipper oil between the teeth on the rear rail and on the blade guide, and to wipe off the excess with a lint-free cloth.

Wahl advises cleaning clipper blades at least once a week, depending on how often you use them, and more often for dense or dirty coats. Never put the motor body of an electric clipper in water.

How often

Remove hair: after every grooming session.
Wash brushes and combs: whenever they look greasy or dusty, and after grooming a pet with a dirty or muddy coat.
Clipper blades: at least weekly if used regularly, as Wahl advises.

What not to do

Storing tools wet, which can rust metal pins, combs and blades. Both makers say to dry them.
Dropping a deshedding tool or storing it with the edge unprotected.
Soaking electric clippers or anything with a motor or battery.
Leaving soap residue, which ends up on your pet’s coat.

Clean up the hair, too

Brush your pet outdoors or on an old sheet, and the hair is easy to collect. For hair that ends up around the house, see how to get rid of dog smell in the house and pet hair and drool on the sofa, and for hair in your laundry, pet hair and odor in the washing machine and dryer.

Brushing before a bath keeps hair out of the drain. See how to clean the bathtub after bathing your dog.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit has gloves, an enzyme odor product, an absorbent powder and a UV black light in one pouch, for the accidents and smells around the house. It is not for your grooming tools: wash those with soap and water as above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I clean a dog brush?

Pull out the hair, then soak the brush for 10 to 20 minutes in hot water with a small amount of antibacterial soap, as Wahl advises. Scrub the base of the pins, rinse, and dry it with a soft cloth.

How do I clean a FURminator?

Release the hair with the FURejector button, clean the edge with warm water and a mild soap if needed, and dry the tool completely before storing it, as FURminator advises.

Why does my deshedding tool feel dull?

Often it is just dirty. FURminator says cleaning can reduce the feeling of a dull edge by reducing dander collection on the teeth.

How often should I clean clipper blades?

Wahl advises at least once a week, depending on how often you use them, and more often if you clip dense or dirty coats. Oil the blades after every cleaning.

Sources

Wahl UK: Dog grooming tools: cleaning and hygiene guide
FURminator undercoat deShedding tool care instructions, as published on 1800PetMeds’ product page

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow your tool maker’s instructions. If you notice sores, redness or parasites while grooming, talk to your veterinarian.