How to Clean Makeup Brushes with Vinegar

Co-authored by Joseph Harwood

Last Updated: February 5, 2023

Vinegar is a great natural cleaner that can tackle a wide variety of cleaning projects, including your makeup brushes. Don't worry about them smelling like vinegar. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer, so once they dry, you won't smell the vinegar. You can use the vinegar to actually clean the makeup off your brushes, or you can use it to disinfect them once you've gotten the makeup off.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning Brushes in Vinegar

1
Create the solution. Place a cup of warm or hot water in a mug or jar. Add about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Pour in 1/2 a teaspoon of dishwashing soap. Stir it in to make sure the solution is mixed well.
- You can also just use two parts vinegar to one part water, skipping the soap.
2
Swirl the brushes in the solution. Swish each brush in the solution. Move it around until you can see that it's clean, and then take it out to rinse in cool water. Repeat for each brush, washing and rinsing each one separately.

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3
Let the brushes air dry overnight. On a clean paper towel, dab the brush a few times gently to get rid of the extra water. Smooth out any bent bristles with your fingers, reshaping the brush. Place the brushes flat on the paper towel to dry. They can sit out overnight to dry.^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Vinegar for Disinfecting

1
Run the brush under water. Start by rinsing the brush under running water. Make sure the tip is down towards the sink, so the makeup runs out. Also, try to mostly just get the bristles under the water, as the water can weaken the glue and the finish on the brush.^{[2]
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2
Rub some shampoo into the brush. To clean the brush, use a bit of baby shampoo. You can use other shampoos, but baby shampoo is gentler. Rub it into the brush, using your fingers or by swirling the brush around your palm. Rinse the shampoo out, working until the water runs clear.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Joseph Harwood
Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
Expert Interview. 22 September 2022.}^{[4]
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3
Create a vinegar solution to disinfect the brushes. Add one part water and two parts vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar) to a bowl or jar, giving it a swish to mix it up. Swirl the brushes in the solution for a minute or so, trying to mostly get the bristles. Once you're done, run them under water again to get the vinegar out.^{[5]
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4
Dry the brushes overnight on a paper towel. Pat the brushes gently on a paper towel to get most of the excess water out. Use your fingers to shape the bristles into the correct shape if they're bent. Lay the brushes on a paper towel to dry overnight.^{[6]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Should you wash makeup brushes with shampoo?

Joseph Harwood
Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
Joseph (JoJo) Harwood is a Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert, Artist, CEO of Joseph Hartwood Ltd, and Creative Director of Team Baron Group. With over 15 years of experience, they specialize in all aspects of beauty, digital media production, and supporting diversity and inclusion efforts in businesses. JoJo has pioneered YouTube content and branding, with over 100 million views on their YouTube tutorial content and was the first and only winner of Simon Cowell's You Generation Competition. They studied an MSc in Cosmetic Science from the London College of Fashion, combining a technical understanding of cosmetics with beauty expertise.

Joseph Harwood

Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert

Expert Answer

That's not a good idea—shampoos today are formulated to cover your hair in silicone, so you're essentially putting that silicone on your makeup brushes as well. You're better off buying cleaners that are designed for makeup brushes specifically.
Question

What else can I use besides vinegar?

Tymia Yvette
Makeup & Lash Artist
Tymia Yvette is a Makeup and Lash Artist and the founder of Tymia Yvette Beauty LLC, a makeup artistry and lash extension company focused on customized beauty services based in Baltimore, Maryland. Trained by MAC Cosmetics, Tymia's work has been featured in the Bravo A-List Awards 2008, the BET Honors Award Show in 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2011, 2012, and 2013, and the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2014. She has also provided makeup and lash services for the Betsy Royal Casting Agency and the Baltimore Raven's cheerleading squad from 2010 to 2012. Her clients include Terrence Howard, Torrey Smith, Lester Holt, Adrienne Lofton, and Natasha Hastings. She has been awarded WeddingWire's Couple's Choice Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Tymia Yvette

Makeup & Lash Artist

Expert Answer

You can clean makeup brushes and tools with alcohol or brush cleanser, which should actually be more effective options than vinegar.
Question

Will it work if it's dirty with blood?

Community Answer

Yes, vinegar can remove blood stains.