Not every tired-looking brush is done.
Clean what you can, retire what you can’t.

Check how this one is meant to be cleaned

Find the care instructions before you reach for water or cleaner. A plastic brush, a cushioned brush and a dryer filter can all need different treatment, and what works for one can ruin another. Take off only the parts the manual says come off.

Keep a note of what you tried

Keep the model name, the instructions and the receipt together. When something goes wrong, jot down the problem, what cleaning you tried and whether the maker sells parts or does repairs. Then a replacement has a real reason behind it, not just an age.

The brush is full but otherwise fine

• Lift the hair out gently and clean it the way the maker allows.
• Let it dry properly before putting it away.
• If the tips are rough, teeth are broken or the pad is damaged, stop using it on your hair and ask about a part, a repair or a replacement.

A clip won’t close smoothly any more

• Look at the teeth, the hinge and the spring without forcing anything.
• If the clip is intact, just clear the hair out of it.
• A crack, a sharp edge or a spring that’s giving up means it’s done.
• Wiping it won’t fix that, so stop testing it in your hair.

An appliance is damaged or acting strangely

• Switch it off and unplug it.
• If the cord, plug or casing is damaged, or it has overheated, cut out or got wet, leave it out of use and contact the maker.
• Don’t open it, tape a cord or plug it in to see what happens.

Brush: buy for the job that was awkward

When a brush does need replacing, think about the hair state it’s meant for, the tooth design and how it feels in your hand.

Read the detangling brush guide.

Dryer: weigh care against controls

Compare weight, controls, attachments and whether you’ll actually keep up with the cleaning it asks for. For faults, servicing and spare parts, the maker is the one to ask. Nobody can inspect an appliance from a description of your hair.

Read the hair dryer guide.

1. Clean within the tool’s limits

Sort the tools that can be washed from the ones that only take a wipe. Remove hair gently, follow the care directions exactly and let anything washed dry fully. Check the teeth and pad again afterwards. Clean isn’t the same as repaired.

2. Wipe and check a clip that’s still sound

Keep your fingers clear of the hinge and spring. Use only as much moisture as the material can take, dry it and store it where it won’t get crushed. If the teeth are sharp, the body is cracked or the spring sticks, stop.

3. Look it over before the next use

Only inspect an appliance when it’s unplugged, cool and dry, and stick to the checks the manual describes. Anything that looks wrong goes to the maker or an authorized repairer. A look can’t rule out a fault inside.