The toilet brush may be one of the least glamorous things to do in your home, but it's still worth having one that isn't completely off-putting. That's because it's a tool that – like it or not – is always on display and sits next to the toilet.
If you're interested in what your bathroom looks like, "you want it not to be so ugly when you sit there," said Scott Henderson, a Brooklyn-based industrial designer who has created cleaning products for companies like OXO and Casabella.
Fortunately, many designers and manufacturers have gone beyond functional scrubbers and are now making toilet brushes that are more attractive. Some are even in the Museum of Modern Art's collection – like the Excalibur toilet brush designed by Philippe Starck for Heller in 1993, which protects a user's hand from splashes like a sword guard. (Unfortunately it is no longer in production.)
"That was a very inspiring piece for me as a young designer," said Henderson. "The goal is to transform the everyday so that it becomes something you want as opposed to something you just need."
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Should your toilet brush be a statement? That depends on your creative vision, said Henderson. Some designs offer a light color or touch of humor while others take a back seat.
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How does it fit next to the toilet? Mr Henderson suggested looking for "the most modern, but also the smallest and easiest to stow away".
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Do you mind seeing the brush? Some storage canisters are open while others have a cover, and some act like a clam shell when you lift the brush.
Merdolino toilet brush
Plant-shaped toilet brush by Stefano Giovannoni
$ 62 at Alessi: us.alessi.com
Black marble toilet brush from Nexus
Covered brush with marble canister
About $ 30 at CB2: 800-606-6252 or cb2.com
Compact toilet brush and canister
Plastic brush with an automatically opening canister
Over $ 16 at OXO: oxo.com
Nameek's freestanding toilet brush holder Gedy
Thermoplastic resin brush in different colors
Starting at around $ 38 at Build with Ferguson: 800-375-3403 or build.com
Ekoln toilet brush
Stainless steel brush with stoneware container
Over $ 7 at Ikea: 888-888-4532 or ikea.com
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