Bonkers brushes that look like false teeth, a plastic feather and a cactus! Can YOU guess what these strange cleaning tools are used for? 

  • The household cleaning section of any store can be a bamboozling place 
  • There are so many weird and wonderful ones out there 
  • It’s not always immediately obvious just what task they are meant for 

By Rachel Halliwell For The Daily Mail

Published: 18:56 EST, 1 February 2017 | Updated: 19:02 EST, 1 February 2017

The household cleaning section of any store can be a bamboozling place when you’re faced with a overabundance of cleaning brushes. There are so many weird and wonderful ones out there, but it’s not always immediately obvious just what task they are meant for. Rachel Halliwell tests out a selection.

LOOKS LIKE... FALSE TEETH

BladeBrush (£6.50, josephjoseph.com)

What it’s for: Cleaning sharp knife blades safely. Does it work? This brush allowed my ten-year-old to do a brilliant job hand-washing her father’s expensive — and terrifyingly sharp — chef’s knives

What it’s for: Cleaning sharp knife blades safely.

Does it work? This brush allowed my ten-year-old to do a brilliant job hand-washing her father’s expensive — and terrifyingly sharp — chef’s knives, which he refuses to put in the dishwasher. Made light work of a dangerous task.

10/10

A PLASTIC FEATHER

Blender Blade Cleaning Brush (£5.99, lakeland.co.uk)

What it’s for: The looped set of bristles get every scrap of food out from under your blender blades.

What it’s for: The looped set of bristles get every scrap of food out from under your blender blades

Does it work? The first time I cleaned a blender, I needed stitches after slicing my finger. It’s a bit fiddly, but does the job without needing a trip to A&E.

8/10

AN OVERSIZED ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH

Sonic Scrubber Cleaning Tool (£16.99, lakeland.co.uk)

What it’s for: Oscillating up to 10,000 times a minute, the four detachable brush heads dislodge in-ground grime on hard and soft furnishings.

Does it work? Brilliantly. It brought the grout in my bathroom up a treat, and did the same for my kitchen taps. I even shifted a stain on the stairs carpet with the largest head and carpet cleaner.

10/10

Sonic Scrubber Cleaning Tool (left) and the Electronics Cleaning Brush (right)

A FELT-TIP PEN

Electronics Cleaning Brush (£6.50, oxouk.com)

What it’s for: Cleaning all the nooks and crannies of phones, camera equipment and computer keyboards.

Does it work? It’s fiddly, but the sharp silicone head got right inside the keys on my laptop, pulling out an impressive amount of ancient crumbs and dust.

7/10

A STYROFOAM WAND

Final Touch Decanter Cleaning Brush (£9, johnlewis.com)

What it’s for: As well as reaching inside decanters, this brush — made of plastic so it won’t scratch — can also be used to clean carafes and bottles.

What it’s for: As well as reaching inside decanters, this brush — made of plastic so it won’t scratch — can also be used to clean carafes and bottles

Does it work? Yes — if the opening to your bottle is wide enough. The rolled-up section on the end wouldn’t budge past the neck of my crystal decanter but, after a lot of jiggling about, it shifted tough residue on the bottom of an empty bottle of homemade cordial.

5/10

A BRISTLY MUSHROOM

Long Reach Dusting System (£40, oxouk.com)

What it’s for: It’s a cobweb duster that has stiff bristles to trap dust and spider webs — and one of three long-reach dusting attachments which fit on a collapsible 8 ft pole.

What it’s for: It’s a cobweb duster that has stiff bristles to trap dust and spider webs — and one of three long-reach dusting attachments which fit on a collapsible 8 ft pole

Does it work? Absolutely. It picked up webs I hadn’t even noticed were there and easily rinsed clean afterwards.

9/10

A MINI MANGLE

Natural Blind Brush (£10.99, lakeland.co.uk)

What it’s for: Dusting blinds.

Does it work? Finally, there’s an effective tool for cleaning blinds far better than my old technique of simply rolling them down and whacking them with a feather duster 

Does it work? Finally, there’s an effective tool for cleaning blinds far better than my old technique of simply rolling them down and whacking them with a feather duster. Time-consuming, but it works.

8/10

A CACTUS

Brush Up (£8, josephjoseph.com)

What it’s for: Cleaning glasses in the sink.

Does it work? A suction cup firmly holds this brush in the bottom of a sink full of soapy water, and you move the glass or cup around it

Does it work? A suction cup firmly holds this brush in the bottom of a sink full of soapy water, and you move the glass or cup around it. No good if your glassware or crockery is more than 14cm tall and it’s a bit fiddly getting the outside clean.

6/10 

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