What's so special about this toilet brush?
23.8.2020
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Toilet brushes are ugly, whether you use one or not. At least the special design of the «Bbb La Brosse» should make cleaning the toilet a more pleasant experience. It works really well and doesn't clump.
I'm giving you the all-clear. You won't scroll down to find any unappealing photos, just photos of the Bbb La Brosse. The brush is made by the French brand Biom Paris, which was founded by Sandra Legel. The design has been available since 2017, but it hasn't revolutionised our bathrooms until now. It might be because going to the toilet is private. It might be because most of the ads are in French. Or maybe the product is a total dud?
Much of a muchness
Whether brush holders are gold, wooden or chrome, they do nothing to hide the fact that the head of a toilet brush always looks the same. The official architecture and design platform «Architonic» lists around 413 designs from international brands. But they rarely differ from each other. The brush heads are always the same in design and handling. Their bristles look like toothbrushes. Water, excrement and toilet paper hang off them. This prevents them from being properly cleaned and means that they have to be replaced in their entirety. Why the majority of brushes are white of all colours is a mystery to me.
What annoys me the most at home is that my brush drips onto the cover or the floor despite shaking the excess water off. The Bbb La Brosse should put an end to this with its bristles made from bio-sourced waste plastic. They look similar to silicone bristles and are larger and thicker than usual. This should keep toilet paper away and prevent drops from forming, making cleaning easier.
As a fan of marble, I opted for the trompe-l’oeil model with a light grey patterned brush holder. Our range also includes white, black and dark grey versions. The flexible brush head is black on all models. It looks more like a sculpture than a toilet brush. According to the description, the design was inspired by a leaf. Its different-sized bristles remind me of a hair brush.
At first glance, the light plastic holder doesn't look as high in quality as my previous ceramic model. But I like what's behind it: according to the manufacturer, the Bbb La Brosse is made from recycled shovels, buckets and garden furniture. This means the bristles in particular differ from mass-produced items, which are often made new from polypropylene.
The brush and holder can be mounted on the wall and out of reach of my crawling niece via a hole in the back. This makes cleaning the floor easier. The susceptibility of the metal cover of my old model to marks and dust bothered me. Now I'm doing my first test run, I'm bothered by the fact that there isn't one. Aesthetically, I'd prefer the brush to be covered.
The first test
Unlike the holder, I stopped missing my old toilet brush after the first use. The scrubbing is unfamiliar, but the slim shape gives me access to previously unreachable areas of the base and sides. On thorough cleaning with a product, I needed more brush strokes than before to clean the whole surface. This is because of the large gaps between the bristles. The coloured cleaning solution showed exactly where I need to revisit.
After several weeks, it still annoys me that the brush is visible in the holder. I can accept it, though, because everything else about this toilet brush is impressive. When I tap it in the bowl, no puddles form on the ring, the floor or the holder. I clean the brush head by rubbing it under the rim of the toilet bowl. I just have to leave it in the bowl and rinse it with toilet cleaner or natural vinegar. The thick bristles prevent clumping and the brush head doesn't lose its shape. It seems to me at least that black hides problem areas, just like it does in the fashion world. Whether it accumulates bacteria and other nasties, however, I can't say. But there are certainly no clumps.
Positive side effects
Biom Paris' descriptions and ads feature buzzwords like «efficient, hygienic and durable» and «eco-designed». It initially struck me as gimmicky. But, in hindsight, I can confirm that the brush removes the need to regularly clean the bottom and side of the bowl. This not only means less work, but also less water usage in the long term and fewer washes of dirty sponges. Another plus is that there is significantly reduced packaging, and the FAQ section of the Biom Paris website offers tips on what you can use the cardboard box for. I can vouch for the brush in terms of reliability, as it looks completely unchanged. And the manufacturer seems to be confident that it will stay that way, as it doesn't sell replacement brush heads.
Verdict
Although I needed some time to get used to it, I wouldn't want to be without the Bbb La Brosse now. It doesn't leave or retain visible marks. It doesn't drip and feels more hygienic than my previous standard toilet brush. It cleans even better when it's dry. Another advantage is that the brush retains its shape and colour. At CHF 46.90, it's one of the «more affordable» designer models. In comparison, a stylish toilet brush set like the «11» by Vipp costs almost 300 francs, while the gold «Charly» brush by Seletti comes in at just over 100 francs. I don't save a noticeable amount of time on scrubbing, as the manufacturer claims, but I find the cleaning process more pleasant. The only drawback for me is the shape of the holder. Design-wise, it's missing a lid, which would prevent dust deposits in the bucket.
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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