Third up in 3-for-Wednesday Reader Shout-Out: Kristin hunts down toothbrushes to fit old-time porcelain toothbrush holders.
She writes:
hi. i live in a tudor cottage built in 1940. i have 2 full bathrooms that have all original tile work and ceramic accessories including toothbrush holders over the sink. i would love to be able to use these but all the modern toothbrushes have really big and round handles that won’t fit in the holder. do you have any toothbrush brand recommendations for toothbrushes that will actually fit in these holder?
Thanks so much, kristin
I did a little hunting around and sent Kristin a link for Butler Gums. They are available on Amazon (affiliate link below) and other vendors:
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
Often I see vintage toothbrush holders and would like to sell them in my shop, but always thought no one would buy them because of this very issue. Maybe I need to keep a case of them on hand. Buy a vintage toothbrush holder, get four toothbrushes free.
Kelly says
I have a vintage metal toothbrush holder and regular brushes of today don’t fit. Thank you for this!
Mary Squid says
These fit too,from anthropologie. They also have 2 other non-wood styles,tortoise and white I believe.
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=093600&catId=BEAUTY-TOOLS&pushId=BEAUTY-TOOLS&popId=LOUNGEBEAUTY&navCount=12&color=014&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=BEAUTY-TOOLS-BRUSHES&templateType=subCategory
Jan says
I’ve found often that a store’s own brand of generic toothbrush (around me, anyway) tend to have more narrow square handles (easier to hold in my opinioni, too). And it’s not just the ceramic holders. My parents and I both have metal / chrome toothbrush holders like Hall-Mack made and it’s hard to find a toothbrush to fit them, too.
Jenn says
Oral-B fits nicely too
wndl says
I use the cheapo (88 cents each!) toothbrushes from Big Lots, which sound similar to the ones Rob describes from Rite-Aid. Actually, this reminds me that i need to go stock up again.
Patty says
I have a Reach toothbrush; it has a tapered handle with stripes.
Fits perfectly!
Rob says
I used to have the exact same problem! Try Rite Aid Drug Store-they have their own brand of plain colored flat toothbrushes that come in assorted colors & fit very easily in the original ceramic toothbrush holders that were installed in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s & 70’s and they are under a dollar each!!!
scurl says
wow! this drove me crazy too! besides, i dislike the “new-fangled” style toothbrush. They ruined oral hygiene for me when they added the little rubber thing at the bottom of the handles, and it’s only gotten worse since. The toothbrush i’m using now just says “equaline” on the handle and it fits perfectly in our toothbrush holder. My toothbrush before was a “recycline”, it fit ok, but has an odd curve and some ridges that made it sit funny in the holder. Another brush that works really well is made by “fuchs”. that means fox in german. anyways, hope that helps.
Gabbie says
LOL!! Thanks so much for addressing this. It drives me crazy that so many houses have the ceramic tooth brush holders and most of the modern toothbrushes don’t fit!