plain jane Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I had someone come by this evening and they decided to "help" the dc brush their teeth.:glare: This somehow ended up with all the toothbrushes being dropped into the sink and various other mishaps and I would like to disinfect them. I just replaced their brushes last night and don't want to spend the money for new ones unless I have to. What is the best method for this? A soak in hydrogen peroxide? A trip through the dishwasher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secular_mom Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I soak mine for 30 seconds or longer in a small cup with enough Listerine to cover the bristles. I'm sure using peroxide would be just as good. I remember seeing a consumer report about using the germ-killing mouthwashes being just as good as using some special gadget that was supposed to disinfect them. They showed lab reports and everything. :) HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Peroxide or boil them. The dishwasher will allow anything 'flying around' in there to get into the little grooves in the bristles which may not be any better than where you are now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I usually boil ours when I think they need disinfecting. It does soften up the bristles a bit, but it kills those germs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 Peroxide or boil them. The dishwasher will allow anything 'flying around' in there to get into the little grooves in the bristles which may not be any better than where you are now. Ewww. Hadn't considered that one. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Ewww. Hadn't considered that one. Thanks! LOL! I have learned way too much since having a child with a compromised immune system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 We boil them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anneinco Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Does the boiling also work when the child has been sick? Or is it better to just replace? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 After a nasty few rounds with a stomach bug that we kept passing around, I disinfected my house with bleach, including toothbrushes. I gave them a quick dip and a really good rinse. Of course I didn't run a culture to see if it worked, but we couldn't taste the bleach afterwards. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 After a nasty few rounds with a stomach bug that we kept passing around, I disinfected my house with bleach, including toothbrushes. I gave them a quick dip and a really good rinse. Of course I didn't run a culture to see if it worked, but we couldn't taste the bleach afterwards. Terri You wrote that you kept passing it around - did the same people get it more than once? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 How long do you boil them? Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danybug Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I replace ours after any illness and normally about every 4-6 months. If I want to just disinfect than I will soak them in rubbing alcohol for a little while. Thinking of bacteria on toothbrushes just grosses me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I replace ours after any illness and normally about every 4-6 months. If I want to just disinfect than I will soak them in rubbing alcohol for a little while. Thinking of bacteria on toothbrushes just grosses me out. There was a Myth Busters about this. I wish I remembered more, but they had the toothbrushes in another room - not in a bathroom w/toilet - and they still gathered bacteria in a short amount of time. All of immediately through our toothbrushes away. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 You asked if the same people got it more than once. Yes, it seemed so, but it's been a while. I just know that I got really, really tired of cleaning up vomit and spent an entire day bleaching our house. Coincidence or not, that was the end of it. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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