Keeping your tongue scraper from becoming a science experiment

I used to go overboard with scrubbing and wiping mine down after every use, but honestly, just a quick rinse and letting it dry seems to do the job.

I wish I could be that chill about it, but honestly, I get so anxious about any hint of tarnish or weird smell. My brain just jumps straight to “germ city,” even though I know copper is supposed to be antimicrobial. Here’s what I do (probably overkill): after each use, I rinse the scraper under super hot water, then dry it off with a paper towel. Every couple of days, I’ll give it a quick rub with a bit of lemon juice and salt - just to be sure nothing funky is lurking.

Water spots drive me nuts too. Sometimes I’ll stand there buffing it like I’m polishing silverware, which is kind of ridiculous for something that spends two seconds in my mouth every morning. But I had one bad experience where I left it damp and came back to greenish gunk, so now I’m extra careful. Maybe I’m paranoid, but better safe than sorry...

Maybe I’m paranoid, but better safe than sorry...

Honestly, I get it. I used to freak out about any hint of green stuff too. After braces, I got weirdly particular about anything that goes in my mouth. That lemon and salt trick is actually pretty smart - never thought of that. I just rinse with hot water and dry it on a towel, but now you’ve got me wondering if I should step up my game... Water spots are the worst though, they make everything look gross even when it’s clean.

I wouldn’t call it paranoid at all. Anything that goes in your mouth should be as clean as possible. Hot water and a towel’s usually fine, but if you’re seeing buildup or weird colors, a deeper clean like lemon and salt can help. Water spots are just cosmetic, not a sign it’s dirty, but I get why they’re annoying.

Honestly, I geek out a bit on cleaning stuff like this. I started running my stainless tongue scraper through the dishwasher once a week - just toss it in with the silverware. Never had any weird gunk or colors since. Lemon and salt is solid, but if you’re lazy like me, the dishwasher’s a game changer. Water spots bug me too, but yeah, they’re just cosmetic... I’ve given up fighting those.

- Dishwasher trick is clutch - been doing that for my electric razor heads too.
- I’m not patient enough for lemon and salt, honestly.
- Water spots drive me nuts, but after a while I just stopped caring.
- Once tried scrubbing with vinegar… didn’t really help, just made everything smell weird.
- Stainless steel’s tough, so I figure as long as it’s not crusty, it’s good.