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Turns out that linty buildup is v easy to fix.

Lol, here's something I'm not super proud of: You know that gross, linty residue that builds up in your hair brushes over time? Yeah, I used to think that was a sign that my brush was ready for the trash. In reality, tho, buildup just means it's time to give your hair brush a good ol' clean (something I had never done before—like, not even once). No, I don't mean just pulling the leftover hair from the bristles—which, yes, I do actually do each time, TYVM—I mean fully shampooing, soaking, and scrubbing your brushes until they're basically like new again.

I mean, think about it: You clean your makeup brushes and sponges every week or two to prevent bacteria and grime (or you should...), so why wouldn't you do the same with your hair brushes? And when you don't clean your hair brush and you use it anyway, you're actually distributing loads of product buildup and oil back into your hair. Cute, right? This all to say: For the love of god, don't be like me—you need to wash your brushes every 2-4 weeks if you, IDK, even remotely care about the health of your hair and scalp.

And to help you get there, I broke down the three best tutorials on YouTube for easy, effective cleaning. Keep reading for everything you'll need.

One of the most tried-and-true methods for cleaning a hair brush involves shampoo, a toothbrush, and a comb. One thing to keep in mind: Wooden hair brushes and natural bristles can't be submerged in water like plastic ones can, so make sure you separate your brushes before you get started. Here's what YouTuber-slash-hairstylist Liz Bumgarner does in the video above—plus, exactly what you'll need:

☆For plastic hair brushes: Throw your brushes into a dishpan, drop in a decent amount of mild shampoo, and fill up the bin with warm—not hot—water until your brushes are completely submerged. Let them soak for 10 minutes, then grab a toothbrush and gently clean any leftover hair and buildup from the bristles.

☆For wooden hair brushes: Fill up your basin with warm water and shampoo, and dunk each brush one at a time into the soapy water, cleaning the bristles with your toothbrush. The key here? Absolutely no soaking—just clean your brush, remove it from the water, and set it aside.

Here's where your ingredients preference really comes into play. The technique is pretty similar in this hair-brush cleaning tutorial from Kimberly Cherrell, but the addition of apple cider vinegar (ACV) makes it especially great for destroying oil and product buildup. Peep the video above and then keep reading for the full instructions.

If you feel like your hair brushes need some extra disinfecting, you'll love this tutorial from April Sunny. The key difference here? Shampoo is swapped for baking soda and vinegar to help clean and sanitize your brushes. Here's what you gotta know before you get started: