How to Clean a Silicone Back Scrubber

To clean a silicone back scrubber, rinse it under warm running water after every use, rubbing the textured side with your hand to clear soap and skin debris, then shake it off and hang it to dry. Once a week, wash it with dish soap or body wash and warm water, scrubbing between the nubs with a soft brush. Silicone does not absorb water, so it is easy to keep clean, but soap film still builds up if it is never washed.

Why does silicone still need cleaning?

Silicone is non-porous, which means water and bacteria cannot soak into it. What does collect is on the surface: a film of soap, body oils and dead skin, especially between the raised bristles. Left alone, that film turns slippery or cloudy and can start to smell. A weekly wash removes it.

Cleaning schedule

The weekly wash, step by step

1. Fill a basin with warm water and a squirt of dish soap.
2. Lay the scrubber in and let it sit for a few minutes.
3. Scrub the textured side with a soft brush or an old toothbrush, working along the rows of bristles.
4. Clean the smooth side and the handles or loops with a cloth.
5. Pay attention to joins, where handles meet the band. Residue hides there.
6. Rinse thoroughly under running water, until it no longer feels slippery.
7. Shake it off and hang it by one handle to dry.

How do you remove cloudy film or odor?

• White vinegar soak. Mix one part white vinegar with about three parts warm water. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes, scrub, rinse well.
• Baking soda paste. Mix baking soda with a little water, rub it over the surface with a brush, leave it for a few minutes, rinse.
• Hot water. Many silicone items tolerate hot water, and some are dishwasher safe. Check the product's care instructions first, since handles or fittings may be made of other materials.

Avoid bleach unless the care instructions allow it, and avoid abrasive scourers and sharp tools, which scratch and tear silicone.

A long silicone scrubber

The Uexim silicone exfoliating back scrubber is a reusable silicone back scrubber designed to gently exfoliate and massage the skin in the shower or bath, with an anti-slip design for a secure grip. It comes in 60 cm and 70 cm lengths and in pink, purple, blue or green. The listing gives no care instructions, so stay with mild soap and warm water unless the packaging says more.

How should you dry and store it?

• Hang it by one handle so water runs off its full length.
• Keep it out of the direct spray between showers.
• Let air reach both sides. Do not leave it bunched on a ledge.
• Keep it away from sharp edges and hot surfaces.
• For travel, dry it with a towel and pack it loosely rolled.

When should you replace it?

• Bristles are torn or missing.
• The band has a tear or a weak spot. It can snap under tension.
• The surface stays sticky or tacky after washing.
• Discoloration or an odor will not wash out.
• A handle is cracked or coming loose.

Common mistakes

• Only rinsing, never washing.
• Leaving it folded and wet.
• Scrubbing it with steel wool or a stiff scourer.
• Using oily body scrubs on it without washing it afterward. Oil clings to silicone.
• Sharing it between people.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put a silicone back scrubber in the dishwasher?

Only if its care instructions say so. If they do not, hand wash it.

Can silicone grow mold?

Mold does not grow into silicone, but it can grow on soap film left on the surface. Regular washing prevents it.

Why does my scrubber feel slimy?

Soap and body oil have built up. Wash it with dish soap and a brush, and rinse until it squeaks.

How often should I replace it?

There is no fixed schedule. Replace it when it is damaged or will not come clean.

The bottom line

Rinse and hang after every shower, wash with soap and a soft brush weekly, and soak in diluted vinegar when it turns cloudy. Replace it if it tears or stays sticky.