Brush smells like musty gym clothes - can it be salvaged?

[bduke]

Hello, everyone. After lurking on and off for a few years, I decided to register and make my first post.

I have a Vulfix 405B (pure badger) that I've used as my only brush for several years. I got sick at the conclusion of a weekend trip a few months back, so my wife did all the packing. She didn't know not to seal my damp brush in a plastic Ziploc bag. And since I was sick I didn't think about unpacking my stuff until 2 days later--at which point the brush smelled like wet gym clothes that were left in a plastic bag for several days. I have washed it with dish detergent a few times, and soaked it in white vinegar, all to no avail. Whenever I wet the brush again, it stinks. Even over the smell of vinegar and the remnants of D.R. Harris Marlborough soap.

Is there anything I can do to clean this brush of whatever mildew/bacteria has taken over, or is it ruined?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[pcumby]

I had a huge Silvertip restore that was so smelly from cigarette smoke you could detect it across the room
At the advice of a few members here I lathered it up with some Tea Tree oil shampoo and it worked like a charm
I lathered it and let it sit full of lather for a few hours

The brush works perfectly and after a few test lathers with some Proraso soap it smells fine

 

[Gray Wolf]

Lather it up with your favorite soap, and let it sit overnight. Look for a post here at B&B about how to break in new brushes, it should work for getting the funk out.

 

[Gigster]

I had the same problem several months ago. Here's what I did. . . .

1. Soak the brush in warm tap water for several minutes.
2. Lather the knot with liquid dish soap or shampoo.
3. Place lathered brush in warm tap water for 5 - 10 minutes.
4. Rinse knot thoroughly.
5. Lather the knot with the most fragrant shave cream or soap you have. Make sure you work the lather into the knot.
6. Leave the lather in the knot and let it hang/sit for 24 hours
7. Rinse the knot of residual lather.
8. Allow the knot to dry for 24 hours.

You should be good to go. If not, repeat the process.

You can also do a vinegar and water soak (1 part vinegar to 1 part water) between 1 and 2 above. If you do, make sure you thoroughly rinse the knot before hitting it with shampoo or liquid dish soap.

 

[malocchio]

this one is easy...sallys carries it...

 

[shipr]

A brush can sometimes smell funky if it doesn't dry out completly, I like the vinegar and water soak followed by a soap/shampoo wash.

 

[bduke]

Thanks, gentlemen. Yesterday I washed it in Dr. Bronner's liquid tea tree oil soap, let it soak overnight in a vinegar solution, washed it with dish detergent this morning, and am now letting it dry. If that doesn't do it, I'll try the Ship Shape.

And if I still smell it after all that, I suppose I'll have a reason to buy that Simpson Duke 2 I've been wanting. (don't work, don't work, don't work...)

 

[Matt555]

Before buying anything, try just switching it around in some hot water and dish soap several times.

 

[PugslyCat]

And if I still smell it after all that, I suppose I'll have a reason to buy that Simpson Duke 2 I've been wanting. (don't work, don't work, don't work...)

I do believe the conservative approach here is to assume the old brush is a write off and proceed with ordering the new brush.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Just use it a few times.

 

[California Cajun]

Hello, everyone. After lurking on and off for a few years, I decided to register and make my first post.

I have a Vulfix 405B (pure badger) that I've used as my only brush for several years. I got sick at the conclusion of a weekend trip a few months back, so my wife did all the packing. She didn't know not to seal my damp brush in a plastic Ziploc bag. And since I was sick I didn't think about unpacking my stuff until 2 days later--at which point the brush smelled like wet gym clothes that were left in a plastic bag for several days. I have washed it with dish detergent a few times, and soaked it in white vinegar, all to no avail. Whenever I wet the brush again, it stinks. Even over the smell of vinegar and the remnants of D.R. Harris Marlborough soap.

Is there anything I can do to clean this brush of whatever mildew/bacteria has taken over, or is it ruined?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Try OxyClean.

 

[Deltaboy]

Ship shape or good soap like Dawn will get the FUNK out.

 

[thatonesmine]

As long as the brush is not loosing any hair's. A good method is:

1) Shampoo.
2) 3 to 1 ratio Vinegar or a Borax soak for between 3/5 mins.
3) Warm water rinse.
4) Palm lather with hard shaving soap.
5) Rinse.
6) Apply a good hair conditioner, leave for 5 mins.
7) Rinse in very cold water.
8) Shake dry, strop on a dry towel. Comb through.
9) Leave to dry at least 48Hrs.

Charles U.K