Every brush that touches your face collects oil, dead skin cells and bacteria with every use. Most people rinse them under the tap once a week, watch foundation pigment swirl down the drain, then leave them sitting wet in a pot for hours. That habit is exactly what a makeup brush cleaner device is built to replace. A small motor spins a brush head inside a bowl of water and cleaner, throws the residue out of the bristles by centrifugal force, then on many models spins the brush dry again in mid air.
Below are the best makeup brush cleaner devices for home use, ranked after comparing ten of the most reviewed units in the category. We looked hard at the things buyers actually complain about: whether the collars fit their handles, how many passes a cream brush needs, how long the brush stays wet, how loud the motor gets and whether the machine itself becomes a bacteria problem. Every pick here has real drawbacks listed, because the difference between a good spinner and a disappointing one rarely shows up in the listing photos.
Top 3 Picks for the Best Makeup Brush Cleaner Devices
RICRIS Electric Brush Cleaner and Dryer
- 26000 RPM spin-dry
- 8 silicone collars 3-30mm
- USB and battery power
Senbowe Upgraded Brush Cleaner
- Wash and dry in seconds
- 8 collars from 3mm to 30mm
- One-button operation
Luxe Electric Brush Cleaner with Dock
- Three spin speeds
- USB charging dock
- Fast drying for dense brushes
If you want the short version, the RICRIS wins on review volume and drying speed, the Luxe wins on build quality and speed control, and the Senbowe is the cheapest way into the format. All three are bowl spinners with collars, which is the design that actually works.
Quick Overview of All 10 Devices (October 2026)
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| RICRIS Electric Brush Cleaner and Dryer |
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Check Latest Price |
| Senbowe Upgraded Brush Cleaner |
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| Luxe Electric Brush Cleaner with Dock |
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 Alyfini Vortex Brush Cleaner |
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 Kleem Electric Brush Cleaner Kit |
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 Genstlooe 3-in-1 Cleaner and Dryer Station |
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 OctHope 3-in-1 Cleaner with Dryer Holder |
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 Azang Brush Cleaner Kit with Solution |
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 ipalmay Vortex Brush Cleaning Machine |
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 Cbsrvmlp Compact Cleaner with Dryer Holder |
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Check Latest Price |
Two columns in that table deserve a note. Wash and dry is not the same thing on every machine: several units spin-dry in about 30 seconds, while the three-in-one stations run a hot-air timer of two to five hours. And a bowl that washes several brushes at once still has to be emptied and refilled every few rounds, which is the single most common complaint in this category.
1. RICRIS Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine
RICRIS Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine – Super Fast Clean and Dry Make Up Brushes – Automatic Cosmetic Brush Spinner Washer Tools
26,000 RPM motor
8 silicone collars for 3-30mm handles
USB or 2 AAA batteries
6.3 x 5.51 x 3.94 inches
Pros
- Cleans and spin-dries a brush in seconds
- 8 silicone collars covering 3-30mm handles
- Runs on USB or batteries so it travels
- Uses far less water and soap than hand washing
Cons
- Collars leave gaps at some handle sizes
- Double-ended brushes have no adapter fit
- Over-spinning can splay or dry out bristles
- No USB adapter included
This is the most reviewed brush cleaner on our list by a wide margin, with over 20k ratings, and the reason is simple: the 26,000 RPM spin-dry is genuinely the fastest way I have seen to get a wet brush back into service. Dip, spin in the bowl, lift, spin in the air, done. The whole cycle takes seconds rather than minutes.
The 8 silicone collars run from 3mm to 30mm, which covers most handles you will own, and the body is small enough to live permanently on a vanity. It runs from USB or two AAA batteries, so it moves between the bathroom and a travel bag without complaint.
Where it falls short is collar fit, and this is the most common thread in the reviews. Handles that sit between two sizes will not seat properly, and once a collar is fitted it can be stubborn to pull back off again. Double-ended brushes are a genuine gap: no adapter on this list handles them.
A minority of owners also warn that repeated long spins can leave bristles feeling dry, frayed or permanently splayed rather than soft. My advice is to run the short cycle and use the dryer for extraction rather than for a full minute of screaming spin. Treat the rinse as a two-pass job and this machine earns its counter space. If you are just starting out and want a full brush set to clean, our guide to the best makeup brush sets pairs well with it.
Who this suits best
This is the pick for anyone cleaning a real collection rather than three basic brushes. The drying speed is what justifies the purchase, because it lets you wash on Sunday and use the same brush on Monday morning without an overnight wait.
It is also the safest first device to buy if you own natural hair bristles and worry about damage, provided you keep cycles short. The four-star spread in its ratings comes from collar fit rather than from cleaning quality.
Where it disappoints
Buy it expecting a fast spin, not a deep soak. Very heavy cream and liquid foundation still needs two passes and a manual massage afterwards, because the machine strips loose residue far better than it dissolves product that has bonded to fibre over years.
The bowl is small, so you will empty and refill it every few brushes, which is the same complaint editorial testers raised about this style of machine. If you own twenty or more brushes and want one pass, look at a batch-washing station instead.
2. Senbowe Upgraded Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer
Senbowe Upgraded Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine, Electric Cosmetic Automatic Brush Spinner with 8 Size Rubber Collars, Wash and Dry in Seconds, Deep Cosmetic Brush Spinner for All Size Brushes
Automatic wash and dry cycle
8 rubber collars from 3mm to 30mm
Powered by 2 AAA batteries
6.3 x 5.51 x 3.94 inches
Pros
- Lowest entry cost of the bowl spinners
- Collars cover 3mm to 30mm
- Simple one-button three-step routine
- Effective on everyday powder brushes
Cons
- AAA batteries not included and no USB option
- Results depend heavily on using real cleaning solution
- Some handle diameters still fall between sizes
- Spin can be weak on cream products
Senbowe is the entry point. It does the same three-step routine as units costing several times more: fit a collar, drop the brush into soapy water, spin, then lift and spin to dry. Nearly 10k ratings at 4.2 stars tells you the format works, not that this is a fragile toy.
Its selling point is collar coverage. Eight rubber sizes from 3mm to 30mm is the widest spread in the budget group, and the manufacturer claims compatibility with the large majority of brushes sold. In practice that claim holds for standard eye, blush and powder brushes.
Two things to plan around. It runs on two AAA batteries, which are not included and cannot be recharged, and reviewers are consistent that a proper brush cleaning solution produces dramatically better results than ordinary liquid detergent. Plain dish soap will work, but expect to run the cycle twice.
On heavy cream or liquid brushes the motor can feel underpowered, so owners of dense foundation brushes often keep those by hand. If you mostly use powder, this is a clean, uncomplicated way to keep brushes fresh.
Who this suits best
The person who wants the mechanism, not the accessories. You do not get a bottle of solution, a wall plug or a storage tower, but the core wash-and-dry cycle is there and it works on the brush types most people actually use daily.
It is also a sensible first purchase for someone unsure whether a device fits their routine. Nothing about this one is precious, so if it sits unused on a shelf for two months you have lost little.
Where it disappoints
The battery situation is the main friction point. A rechargeable unit costs more but removes the recurring trip to a drawer of batteries, and USB models also tend to spin more consistently under load.
Its drying is adequate rather than fast. If you need a brush usable within minutes, step up to a model with a faster motor or higher spin speed.
3. Luxe Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner with Charging Dock
Luxe Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner, Pink, USB Charging Station, 3 Adjustable Speeds, Cleaner to Instantly Wash and Dry Your Makeup Brushes
Rechargeable wand and charging dock
3 adjustable spin speeds
8 Luxe brush collars included
Break-resistant bowl and AC cable in box
Pros
- Three speeds let you match spin to brush size
- Dock doubles as storage so the wand is never missing
- Large dense brushes dry in seconds
- Handles round and most eye and powder brushes
Cons
- Bowl rim traps water and is awkward to rinse
- Loose docking lets the wand fall out
- Rubber grommets fit only some brushes
- Weaker on liquid and cream than powder
The Luxe is the best electric makeup brush cleaner on this list for control. Three adjustable speeds let you drop the spin for a delicate eye brush and crank it for a dense powder brush, which is the single feature that separates a thoughtful device from a generic one.
It also looks like an object you would leave out. The wand charges in a dock that doubles as countertop storage, so unlike loose USB spinners it is never missing when you need it. Owners cleaning five or more brushes in a session report finishing in a few minutes each.
The criticisms here are engineering rather than cleaning. The dock is loose, so a light bump can send the wand into the sink, and the splash-guard rim around the bowl holds water after a rinse, which makes emptying and washing the bowl more awkward than it should be.
Large foundation brushes using cream or liquid products need two or three passes rather than one, and soapy water needs a second clean-water pass to avoid leaving a film behind. Also worth knowing: several buyers note the bowl is not the break-resistant glass the listing implies.
Who this suits best
Anyone who cleans a full collection regularly and wants to control the spin. The speed settings genuinely reduce the risk of splaying natural hair bristles, because you can slow down for the fragile ones and speed up for the tough ones.
It also suits a shared household. The docked design reads as an intentional vanity object rather than a gadget, and the higher rating in this group reflects that polish as much as the cleaning.
Where it disappoints
If your main problem is a small basin and a splash guard, this is not the answer. You will be rinsing around a rim that keeps water, and you will be catching the wand when it slides out of the dock.
Owners of very large cream-product brushes still do those by hand. The machine is at its best on powder, blush, concealer and eye brushes, which is still the bulk of most collections.
4. Alyfini Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine Vortex Bowl
Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine, Powerful Friction Make Up Residue Remover
Rotating water vortex in silicone bowl
One-button no-battery operation
USB powered with fixed cable
3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches
Pros
- Turns an hour of hand washing into 30 to 40 minutes
- Runs quietly
- Removable silicone bowl keeps water away from the motor
- Also works on makeup sponges
Cons
- Needs repeated passes for liquid and cream
- No wall plug included and the cord is fixed
- Touch button triggers accidentally
- Bowl is small and needs frequent emptying
The Alyfini works differently from the collar spinners. Instead of gripping a handle, a high-speed motor creates a rotating water vortex inside a silicone bowl, and the brush sits in the moving water. That means no collar sizing to get wrong, which is a real advantage if your collection has odd handles.
Owners report turning a job that takes about an hour by hand into 30 to 40 minutes, and the batch approach works well because you can drop several brushes into the flow at once. It also runs quietly, which matters in a small bathroom, and the silicone bowl detaches for rinsing.
It is also the pick that handles sponges best on this list. Beauty blenders go in without an adapter, which is more than most devices here can claim, and the flexible bowl does not crush them.
The consistent caveat is that cream and liquid products need several runs and bristles can stay discoloured afterwards. Powder and eyeshadow brushes come out well; heavy foundation does not. Other reported friction: the touch button triggers when you are tipping the bowl, the USB cable is fixed and no wall plug is included, and the bowl is small enough that you empty it every few brushes.
Who this suits best
Small-countertop homes, and anyone who travels. The body measures about 3.5 inches a side and needs no batteries at all, so it is the easiest of the ten to pack and the simplest to plug in anywhere.
It is also the best choice here for beauty sponges and powder puffs, since there is no collar to fit and the bowl flexes around an irregular shape.
Where it disappoints
If your brushes are cream and liquid focused, this is not the machine. Repeated passes on heavy foundation are the most common complaint, and several owners simply keep doing those by hand.
A fixed cable is a real nuisance over years, and some units report weak spinning or failing to power on. Check the return window before you commit.
5. Kleem Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine
Kleem Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine | Automatic Makeup Brush Washer & Spinning Dryer with Free Cleaner Shampoo | Dual-Fiber Bristles for Eyeshadow & Foundation | Made in USA | Black
100 plus spins per second
Wash and spin-dry in about 30 seconds
8 collars and collar stand included
60 ml of cleaner shampoo in the box
Pros
- Very fast 30-second wash and dry cycle
- Complete kit with bowl stand collars and shampoo
- One reviewer cleaned 30 brushes in under 15 minutes
- Users with oily skin report fewer breakouts
Cons
- Collar sizes are uneven so some brushes will not fit
- Weak spin-dry compared with 26000 RPM models
- Still splashes at the sink and needs several passes
- Some units had small plastic parts break quickly
Kleem is the most complete box on this list. You get the bowl, the spinner, a stand for the collars, eight flexible collars and a 60 ml bottle of brush shampoo, so nothing else needs buying before the first wash. For a beginner that removes every decision.
Speed is its headline too. The sonic rotation runs at more than 100 spins per second and a full wash and dry cycle takes about 30 seconds. One reviewer cleaned 30 brushes in under 15 minutes, which is the fastest batch claim on this list.
The build is the weak point. Reviewers report small plastic parts breaking off after short periods, and the collar set is unevenly sized, with several collars too large and none small enough for some handles. There is also a documented case of the included shampoo causing a severe skin reaction, so patch test it on a brush you do not love.
The spin-dry is weaker than high-RPM machines, and it still makes a mess at the sink. Expect several passes before a heavily used brush is fully clean, and check that the bottle of shampoo actually arrives with your order.
Who this suits best
First-time buyers, and anyone who wants a single box that solves cleaning without a follow-up purchase. Having the shampoo and the collar stand included removes the two things people forget.
Owners with oily or acne-prone skin report fewer breakouts after a few weeks of regular use, which is the outcome most people are actually buying this for.
Where it disappoints
If you want the fastest dry on this list, this is not it. The spin-dry is gentle, which is kind to bristles but leaves you waiting longer than a high-RPM spinner would.
Build quality is the main reason its rating sits below the group. Test the collars against your actual handles before you commit to a full collection.
6. Genstlooe 3-in-1 Electric Brush Cleaner and Dryer Station
Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine 3-in-1 Automatic Deep Cleaning Tool with USB Portable Cosmetic Brush Cleaner for All Brush Sizes and Sponges
3-in-1 wash dry and storage station
LED touch display with timer
Sonic pulse deep cleaning
Batch washing plus USB-C charging
Pros
- Highest rated pick in the roundup at 4.6 stars
- LED timer makes the cycle easy to follow
- Handles small eye brushes through kabuki and sponges
- Sonic action pulls old product from deep in the bristles
Cons
- Drying runs on a 2 to 5 hour timer not seconds
- Lid ridges too narrow for thick powder brush handles
- Some holes too rigid for thicker handles
- Instructions take a moment to understand
This is the highest rated device in the roundup, and the reason is the mechanism. Rather than spinning a single brush, the station uses a high-frequency sonic pulse to clean several handles at once through a silicone top grid, so you wash a full rotation in one load rather than one brush at a time.
The LED display with touch selection and a countdown timer is unusually good interface design for this category. You set the cycle, watch it count down, and can move on. Owners credit it with pulling years of built-up foundation out of bristles while leaving them soft, with no shedding after repeated washes.
The catch is drying. It is a timed hot-air cycle of two to five hours rather than a 30-second spin, which means this is a set-and-forget station for overnight or all-day drying, not a between-clients tool. The inverted top shield doubles as a storage tower, which partly makes up for the wait.
The other repeated point is fit: lid ridges are too narrow for thick powder brush handles, so those get washed without the lid and are messier as a result. A few holes are also too rigid for larger handles, and the instructions take a moment to decode.
Who this suits best
Owners of a large collection who clean on a schedule rather than on demand. If you have 20 brushes and want them done in one or two loads, batch washing changes the equation, and the LED timer makes a long cycle tolerable.
It is also the strongest option here for bristles you are worried about. The rating in this roundup is the highest of the ten, and no reports of fraying or shedding appear in the reviews.
Where it disappoints
It is not a quick dryer, and no amount of enthusiasm changes that. If you need to reuse a brush within minutes, this is the wrong shape of product.
Thick powder handles are the awkward fit, and the requirement to wash them without the lid partly defeats the clean batch idea for exactly the brushes most in need of a deep wash.
7. OctHope 3-in-1 Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner with Dryer Holder
3 IN 1 Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine With Makeup Brush Dryer-Holder-Portable Automatic USB Cosmetic Brushes Cleaner Tool for All Size Beauty Makeup Brush Set,Eyeshadow, Blush Brush
Cleans dries and stores in one unit
Five-minute cleaning cycle with auto stop
2 hour and 5 hour drying timers
One-button plug-in operation
Pros
- Complete hands-off station with drying tower
- Timed drying means no standing by the sink
- Five-minute automatic cycle with auto stop
- No batteries to buy or recharge
Cons
- Drying takes 2 to 5 hours so no quick reuse
- Spinning head is fiddly to fit at first
- Cleaning solution sold separately
- Some users report inconsistent performance
The OctHope answers a different question from the fast spinners: can a device do the whole job without you standing over it? It cleans on a five-minute automatic cycle that stops itself, then hands the brush to a drying tower with two-hour and five-hour timer settings. You set it going and walk away.
It is plug-in, so there are no batteries to buy or recharge, and the silicone bowl is described as protecting bristle shape and softness. Owners also report it working on sponges as well as brushes, which is more than most three-in-one units manage.
The trade-off is time, and it is not a small one. Five minutes of washing and then up to five hours of drying is a whole-afternoon process, so this suits a weekly deep clean rather than anything urgent.
Fitting the spinning head onto different handle sizes is described as needing patience, and the cleaning solution is sold separately despite the claimed residue removal depending on it. A minority of users report the device stopping mid-cycle or performing inconsistently.
Who this suits best
Anyone who cleans on a weekend schedule and does not need a brush back in their hand that day. Once you stop treating it as a quick tool, the hands-off cycle becomes the feature rather than the flaw.
It suits households with a lot of cream and powder products too, since five uninterrupted minutes is enough to work through a full load properly.
Where it disappoints
Between-client use. Nobody cleans brushes for a living and waits two to five hours for them to dry, so professionals should look at a fast spin dryer instead.
Buying solution separately and fiddly head fitting add friction to a process meant to remove it. Budget for a bottle of concentrate before your first run.
8. Azang Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner Kit with Solution
Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner Kit with Cleaning Solution, 9000 RPM, Pink
9000 RPM automated cleaning motor
Cleaning solution included in the kit
IP65 rinse-safe after use
3.94 x 3.94 x 6.42 inches
Pros
- Cleaning solution included in the box
- Several brushes cleaned in one automated run
- IP65 rated so you can rinse the unit
- Hanging handle makes air drying hands-free
Cons
- Brand advises against high-speed spin drying
- No real spin-dry benefit since air drying is recommended
- Only 175 reviews so the track record is short
The Azang is compact, tall rather than wide, and comes with cleaning solution already in the kit. That last point matters more than it sounds: on most of these machines the concentrate is the difference between one cycle and three, and here it is in the box.
The 9000 RPM motor runs a fully automated process that handles several brushes in one cycle, and the silicone fixed cover is designed to take any brush size without swapping collars. The IP65 rating means you can rinse the unit under running water afterwards.
Here is the interesting part, and it is unusual honesty from a manufacturer. The brand itself advises against high-speed spin drying because it can splay or fray bristles, and recommends natural air drying using the attached hanging handle instead. That undercuts the dryer-in-the-name appeal, but it is the safer advice for natural hair.
With 175 reviews, the long-term record here is short. Durability feedback is limited, and the rating of 4.5 is encouraging but based on a smaller base than any other pick on this list.
Who this suits best
Travellers and anyone in a small bathroom. The narrow body packs easily, it needs no batteries, and the IP65 rinse-safe rating means you can clean it in a hotel sink without worrying.
It is also the choice for bristle-sensitive users who would rather not spin-dry at all. The hanging handle does exactly what a good drying routine asks for.
Where it disappoints
If your priority is speed, this is the wrong pick. You are committing to air drying, which is the whole reason most people buy a machine.
A short review base means you are taking more risk on build quality than with the heavily reviewed models at the top of this list. Buy it knowing the returns window is your safety net.
9. ipalmay Makeup Brush Cleaning Machine
Ipalmay Makeup Brush Cleaning Machine – Automatic Cosmetics Brush Cleaner, Electric Make-up Brush Cleaner and Dryer, Dust-proof Beauty Brushes Organizer, Birthday Gift for Ladies
Vortex water bowl
USB plug and play power
Batch plus handheld cleaning modes
Silicone top doubles as air-dry holder
Pros
- Lowest cost automatic cleaner we tested
- Vortex action cleans several brushes in one run
- Silicone top is an air-dry and dust-proof holder
- No batteries required
Cons
- Enforces a 15 minute cool-down between cycles
- Needs a 5V 2A adapter that is not included
- Long-press on and short-press off is easy to misfire
- Rating has a noticeable share of one-star reviews
The ipalmay is the cheapest automatic cleaner here, and the vortex bowl works the same way as the Alyfini: a high-speed motor spins water at the base of the bowl and brushes clean in the flow. It washes several at once, and large brushes can be run in a handheld mode outside the bowl.
The silicone top flips over to become an upside-down air-dry and dust-proof holder, which is a genuinely useful bit of design on a device this simple. USB plug-and-play means no batteries, and the body is light and small.
The operational friction is what pulls its rating down to 4.0. Load protection forces a 15-minute pause between cycles, so you cannot run a second load straight away, and it needs a 5V 2A adapter or better, which is not in the box.
Touch logic is long-press to start and short-press to stop, which owners report misfiring during normal handling. Around 14% of its reviews are one-star, a higher negative share than any other pick here.
Who this suits best
First-time buyers on a tight budget who mainly use powder. It covers the wash-and-dry job properly for the smallest outlay of anything on this list, and the holder is a real bonus.
If you only own a handful of brushes, this is also a low-risk way to find out whether you actually enjoy using a device before spending more.
Where it disappoints
The 15-minute cool-down breaks the batch promise. Washing one load, waiting a quarter of an hour, then washing the next is tedious for anyone with a full collection.
You will need to source a 5V 2A adapter separately, and the touch controls need learning. Read the manual rather than guessing.
10. Cbsrvmlp Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner with Dryer Holder
Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner Machine, Multi-Functional Cosmetic Brush Cleaner with Dryer Holder, Portable Automatic Makeup Brush Cleaning Tool Type-C Charging
Electric swirling clean in one touch
Automatic and semi-automatic modes
USB-C powered with cable included
2-in-1 bowl and upright drying holder
Pros
- Compact and light enough for a small vanity
- 2-in-1 bowl and upright drying holder cuts sink mess
- USB-C with cable so no disposable batteries
- Two modes give control over larger brushes
Cons
- Cleaning solution not included and recommended
- Extra-thick handles may not fit the slots
- Small review base with an early defective report
- Best on small to medium brushes only
The Cbsrvmlp is the tidiest design here. It is narrow and light, and the bowl and upright air-drying holder are one piece, so the whole thing goes from washing to storage to drying without a separate tower. That is a genuine win in a small bathroom.
It runs on USB-C with a cable included, which removes both the battery problem and the adapter hunt. Automatic mode handles routine cleaning while a semi-automatic mode gives you more control on larger brushes, and the compact base is designed specifically to reduce splashing around the sink.
The limitation is brush size. It works best on small to medium eye, concealer, blush and powder brushes, and owners confirm that extra-thick or oversized handles will not fit the slots and must be cleaned by hand. A few sponges work, but it is not a sponge cleaner.
Cleaning solution is not included and is recommended for best results. With 133 reviews, one early owner received a unit that switched off seconds after starting, so test it immediately and keep your purchase window in mind.
Who this suits best
People with a small vanity and a modest brush set dominated by eye and blush brushes. This is the device least likely to take over a small counter, and the integrated holder keeps it neat.
It is also a good second machine for a second bathroom or for travel, because USB-C means one cable covers everything you already own.
Where it disappoints
If you use big kabuki or foundation brushes daily, the slots are the limiting factor. That is a fit problem rather than a quality problem, but it is still the answer to your cleaning needs.
At 4.5 stars on a small sample, treat the number as encouraging rather than proven. And plan to buy your own cleaning liquid.
Electric vs Hand-Washing: Is a Brush Cleaner Device Actually Worth It?
Honest answer: for most homes, no. The loudest voice on the r/MakeupAddicts thread asking whether an electric brush cleaner is worth it is flatly against them, recommending a tub of professional brush cleaner and hand washing instead. That position is not wrong, and it deserves a proper answer rather than a sales pitch.
Here is where we draw the line. If you own three or four brushes, wash them by hand each week with a soft soap, and dry them bristles-down, a device adds cost and counter space without adding much. One of the strongest arguments for hand washing is that it is gentler: you control the pressure, and a five-minute soak does more for a coated natural hair brush than thirty seconds of spinning.
A device earns its place when at least three of these are true. You own more than about six brushes. You use cream or liquid products weekly and the pigment has built up. Hand washing leaves you with hand cramp and a soaked sink. You need a brush back in service the same day. Or you simply do not get round to washing at all, which is the most common real reason people buy one.
For makeup artists, the calculus changes completely. Cleaning between clients means dry time matters more than anything, and that is where a high-RPM spin dryer earns its cost. A brush that was washed and spun dry can be reloaded within minutes; the same brush air-dried sits unusable for hours. Professionals tend to pair a machine with a familiar cleanser, and one owner on r/MakeupAddicts credits pairing it with a gentle hydrating facial cleanser for being thorough enough that they stopped hand washing entirely.
What a device genuinely does not do is replace cleaning concentrate. A spinning brush throws loose residue out of the fibre; it does not dissolve product that has bonded over years. If the water does not run clear after two or three loads with real solution, no machine on this list will save that brush. It may be time to retire it.
What to Put in the Tank and What Will Strip Your Pigment
This is the most asked question in the forums and almost nobody answers it properly. The short version: use lukewarm water with a small amount of concentrated brush cleaner, follow the dilution on the bottle, and skip anything harsher.
Good choices are dedicated makeup brush cleaner concentrate, which is designed for fibre and ferrule, and a mild facial cleanser, which works well in a pinch. Both appear in real user reports of people pairing a machine with a hydrating facial cleanser and getting good results.
Dish soap raises a fair question. The r/MakeupAddicts and Quora threads both name dish soap as a hand-washing alternative, and it does strip grease and pigment effectively. The risk is that surfactants designed for cookware are harsh on natural hair bristles and on the adhesive inside the ferrule, and repeated use shortens brush life. Use it occasionally for a badly stained brush, not as your default tank liquid.
Fairy liquid falls into the same category: it is a strong degreaser with the same bristle and ferrule concerns. For a monthly deep clean on synthetic brushes it is fine. For your good foundation brush, use a purpose-made cleaner.
What to avoid in the tank: bleach, alcohol-based solvents, acetone and nail polish remover. These will strip pigment from bristles, swell or degrade the ferrule and can cloud plastic bowls permanently. Warm water and a proper cleaner will remove makeup residue without any of that.
How to Clean Makeup Brushes with a Device
Follow these steps in order and you will get more out of any machine on this list. Speed comes from technique, not from a higher motor speed.
Fill the bowl with lukewarm water and a small measure of concentrated brush cleaner. Never hot water, which opens the fibre and dulls it.
Fit the collar that matches your handle diameter to the brush handle. Water running down the handle risks the motor and the adhesive inside the ferrule.
Dip the bristles into the solution and start the cycle. Let it run for the full cycle rather than lifting early, because stopping halfway leaves residue pushed back into the fibre.
Lift the brush out and run the spin-dry. This is the step a hand wash cannot replicate, because centrifugal force throws water out of the bristles rather than just letting it drip.
Rinse with clean lukewarm water until it runs clear. Soapy water needs a second clean pass or the bristles will feel filmy and load product unevenly.
Squeeze the bristles gently with a clean towel, then dry brushes upside down so water drains away from the ferrule. Hanging them upright lets moisture sit under the ferrule, weakens the adhesive and causes shedding.
Clean liquid and cream brushes weekly. Powder brushes every two weeks. A brush whose bristles are fraying, shedding heavily or losing shape no matter how you wash it has reached the end of its useful life.
Cleaning Sponges and Powder Puffs Without a Device
Most brush cleaner devices handle sponges badly, despite plenty of listings claiming otherwise. A sponge needs to be squeezed, soaped, compressed and rinsed repeatedly. A spinning brush head cannot apply that kind of pressure, so a sponge will come out of the machine merely damp.
Two devices here do better. The Alyfini vortex bowl handles sponges reasonably because the moving water works through the foam, and the Genstlooe station is listed as taking sponges in its batch grid alongside brushes. Even then, treat the result as a first pass rather than a full clean.
For a proper sponge clean, use warm water with a drop of cleanser, compress it against the bowl several times, rinse until the water is clear and let it dry completely before storing. Same for powder puffs, which should be washed by hand and dried open rather than folded.
Caring for the Cleaner Itself
A dirty brush cleaner becomes a bacteria source, which defeats the entire purpose. Nobody in the forums mentions this and every hygiene argument for these machines depends on it.
After each session, empty the bowl and rinse it. The splash-guard rims on several models here trap dirty water, so wipe them out rather than just tipping the bowl. Wipe the collars and the top grid too, because they sit right where the residue lands.
Once a month, descale with warm water and a drop of mild detergent, and rinse the whole unit. If your model is rinse-safe, the IP65-rated units here can go under a tap; others should be wiped rather than immersed.
Dry the unit open on a counter rather than storing it sealed, and replace collars that have cracked or gone stiff. Keeping brushes in the dust-proof storage tops that several of these models include is worthwhile, but only if you wipe the inside first.
Buying Guide: What Actually Matters Before You Buy
Before you spend anything, count your brushes and check what you use. Three to four brushes means hand washing. Six or more, or weekly cream product use, means a device will save you real time. That is the whole decision.
Then work down this list. Wash and dry speed matters most for anyone reusing a brush the same day; a 30-second spin cycle is dramatically better than a two-hour air timer, and the difference between the two is the difference between a tool you use and one you ignore.
Collar coverage is the second biggest source of disappointment. Sets covering 3mm to 30mm handle the widest range, but any fixed set will leave gaps. Vortex designs that hold brushes in moving water sidestep the problem entirely, which is worth considering if you own unusual handles or double-ended brushes.
Power source decides convenience more than performance. USB-C with a cable included beats AAA batteries you have to keep buying. Plug-in mains units never need charging. The only real downside of mains is that the machine is fixed to one spot, which is fine at a vanity.
Noise matters more than people expect, particularly in a small bathroom or early morning. Reviews describe one multi-function brush and sponge cleaner as making a noise that sounds like the gears are grinding. That is worth checking in the reviews of whichever model you are considering.
Splash and drainage design determines whether you get water on your clothes. Vortex designs with a splash-proof bowl, or a compact base, handle this better than tall open bowls. And check whether the bowl empties easily, because you will empty it every few brushes.
Finally, look for a machine that cleans several brushes at once if you own many, and ignore any listing that claims it replaces hand washing entirely. The good ones do the tedious part well. None of them make a neglected brush new again. For the same reason we test small bathroom appliances on the same pass/fail basis, our guide to the best at home teeth whitening devices covers another gadget that promises more than it delivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thing to clean makeup brushes with at home?
Lukewarm water with a small amount of concentrated brush cleaner, worked through the bristles by hand or by an electric spinner. For collections of more than about six brushes, a spin cleaner halves the work and dries the brush while you finish. For three brushes, hand washing is faster and gentler.
Are electric makeup brush cleaners worth it?
They are worth it if you own more than six brushes, use cream or liquid products weekly, or need a brush back in service the same day. They are not worth it if you own three or four brushes and already wash them weekly. A device throws loose residue out of bristles but does not dissolve bonded pigment, so cleaning concentrate still matters.
What is the best cleaning machine for makeup brushes?
A bowl spinner with a high-RPM spin-dry is the most useful format for home use. Look for silicone collars covering a wide handle range, dual-direction spinning and a rinseable bowl. Vortex designs are better if your brush handles are unusual sizes, and three-in-one stations with drying towers suit large collections cleaned on a schedule.
What do makeup artists use to clean brushes in between clients?
Professionals use a spin cleaner and dryer that washes and dries a brush within minutes, paired with a proper cleaning solution. Air-drying stations with two to five hour timers are impractical between clients. Professionals also use dedicated cleansing solution rather than dish soap, because harsh surfactants shorten natural hair bristle life.
Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean makeup brushes?
Yes, and it does strip grease and pigment effectively, which is why it is so widely recommended for hand washing. The drawback is that dish soap surfactants are harsh on natural hair bristles and on the adhesive inside the ferrule, so repeated use shortens brush life. Use it occasionally on stained synthetic brushes and a proper brush cleaner as your default.
How long do brushes take to dry after using a cleaner device?
With a high-RPM spin-dry, brushes are usable within minutes rather than hours. Stations with hot-air drying timers need two to five hours. Without any spin or air drying, brushes left wet in a pot take many hours, which is one of the strongest reasons to buy a device at all.
If you want the wider picture on at-home grooming tools, we also tested at home microneedling devices and home cold laser pain therapy devices on the same basis.
The Best Makeup Brush Cleaner Devices for Home Use: Final Verdict
After working through all ten, the RICRIS Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine stays our pick for the best makeup brush cleaner devices for home use, because its 26,000 RPM spin-dry gets a brush back into service faster than anything else here and its 20k-plus reviews give it the most proven track record in the category.
The Luxe is the better made and more controllable option, the Senbowe is the cheapest route into the format, and the Genstlooe station wins for large collections cleaned in batches. If you own three brushes, save your money and wash them by hand with a soft soap. If you own twenty, the savings in time are real.