# toothbrush--store it in open air, or in a drawer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 2, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630 "2011-07-02T15:29:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/1 "2011-07-02T15:29:36Z")
here’s a life-changing question: After brushing your teeth, should you leave your tootbrush hanging in a rack in the open air to dry, or toss it into the drawer just below the sink? In most of my various apartments, there was a slotted rack for toothbrushes, or a cup on the shelf that held the toothbrush. But my current apt has all these things…plus a cat who attacks them. \*\* So I toss the toothbrush into a drawer under the sink. Will the toothbrush get mildewy or icky? Will the drawer develop a funny smell? Should I be concerned about growth of mold? Also: will the cat get confused and start licking the drawer? (\*\*yeah, I love my [putty-tat.](http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h168/chappachula/?action=view¤t=P1010455.jpg) But I’d prefer that she not lick my toothbrush. ) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/2 "2011-07-02T16:13:57Z")
I lay it flat on the toothbrush holder. I also wash it daily before use. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/3 "2011-07-02T16:39:07Z")
I can’t imagine storing a wet brush in a drawer. Open air for me. Fortunately, neither of my cats are interested in it. ---
**Author:** ![JoThrive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@JoThrive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoThrive)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/4 "2011-07-02T17:42:08Z")
We have a couple of cats, but we don’t share our toothbrushes with them. We don’t plan to, either. 🙂 Our toothbrushes hang in the toothbrush holder by the bathroom sink so they can air-dry. I would be hesitant to stick them in a drawer - the very thought of doing that makes me shudder. You could buy your cat his own toothbrush? Or maybe not. When we used to go camping we would pack our toothbrushes in little plastic holders with air vents so they could still air dry but be protected. A little plastic holder might keep your cat from attacking the toothbrush. Cats are such individuals, each with its own interests and habits, it would be hard to figure out a solution to your problem. There must be something fascinating about your toothbrush to entice the cat to attack it. Are you using catnip-flavored toothpaste perchance? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/5 "2011-07-02T18:09:30Z")
Open air - but the sink and toilet are not in the same room. We flush with the lid down so I guess it wouldn’t matter anyway. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/6 "2011-07-02T18:25:53Z")
My manual toothbrush and tube of toothpaste stay in a glass inside the medicine cabinet. The brush stays upright and air dries that way without touching anything and is protected from toilet flush spray (even with lid closed) better than if it were on the sink. My electronic toothbrush is plugged in the hall since there isn’t a good spot in the bathroom. I remove the brush head and place it in the covered tray/charging base, with slats for drying but protected from curious felines. If your medicine cabinet doesn’t have a tall enough place for an upright toothbrush, maybe just a travel case would do the trick, as mentioned above. I would feel weird about my brush bristles just being loose inside a drawer, rattling around and picking up loose stuff in there. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/7 "2011-07-02T22:55:02Z")
> [@JoThrive](#): > > There must be something fascinating about your toothbrush to entice the cat to attack it. Are you using catnip-flavored toothpaste perchance? One of my cats is absolutely _insane_ for anything mint-scented. Maybe switch to cinnamon toothpaste? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/8 "2011-07-03T05:22:09Z")
> [@JoThrive](#): > > When we used to go camping we would pack our toothbrushes in little plastic holders with air vents so they could still air dry but be protected. A little plastic holder might keep your cat from attacking the toothbrush. That’s what I use - I just put half of it over my toothbrush in the holder. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Tone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Lucas\_Tone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Tone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/9 "2011-07-03T07:42:13Z")
I toss my toothbrush into a basket in the cupboard next to the sink. The toothbrush shares it’s space with the toothpaste, combs, and my glasses’ case. No mold as of yet, and surprisingly no hairs on it either, but then the combs are little used. Just rince it off quickly before use and you’re good to go, far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/10 "2011-07-03T15:54:05Z")
We use toothbrush holders that have a couple of holes that still help them dry out. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrush-store-it-in-open-air-or-in-a-drawer/587630/11 "2011-07-03T18:22:05Z")
open air. i’ve heard a recommendation to have two or threee brushes so that the brush might dry for a full day. also train the cat. place cookie baking sheets hanging off the edges of places you want to keep the cat off of. when they leap up the edge of the pan in the air gives no support, they fall with unpleasant loud noise, hopefully develop a dislike for the location.