Convenience and cleanliness are two big factors for me when it comes to buying travel accessories. If something requires a lot of maintenance or special care, it just won't make the cut. One essential item always drove me nuts and I knew there had to be a better way. This essential item is the toothbrush.
If you really stop and think about what your toothbrush goes through when you travel, it can be horrifying. Where do we set our brush down when we are done using it? On the counter, of course! And what, most likely, do hotels use to clean that counter? A rag that probably was also used to wipe down the shower and the back of the toilet. Spoiler alert: this kind of stuff happens in every hotel.
Couple the counter germs with all of the different types of water you encounter when traveling and things can get pretty icky. If you're the type that has one of those fold-able travel toothbrushes, stop and ask yourself when you actually bought that thing. Chances are, it was quite some time ago because you don't use it all that often. The longer you've had it, the longer things "marinate." Blech!
Recently, commercials kept coming up on TV about this new toothbrush that's called Quip. They came up so frequently, that they finally wore me down and I decided to make the purchase. Welp, I love it so much that it made the TWA Holiday Gift Guide and here's why:
1. I was reducing my plastic waste
Because of all of the reasons mentioned above, I was frequently throwing out regular toothbrushes after trips. With Quip, I don't have the throw out the whole toothbrush, I simply replace the brush head which shows up automatically at my door every 3 months with the subscription service. I can cancel it at anytime and it has a lifetime warranty which is amazing.
2. It has a cover
Slide the toothbrush in and out of the plastic cover to keep your toothbrush free from germs and protected during travel. It's slim enough that it doesn't add much more bulk to the whole thing.
3. It suctions to the mirror
This is one of my favorite features of the whole thing. On the cover, there is a thin strip that looks like it might be sticky, but it's not. Instead, it is the strip that suctions into the bathroom mirror to allow for counter free toothbrush storage. How cool is that?! It's so great to be able to free up counter space!
4. The timer
Once turned on, Quip will stay on for 2 minutes which is a standard feature for electric toothbrushes. What's different about Quip, however, is that it pulses every 30 seconds to remind you to change the location of your mouth that you're scrubbing away at. There aren't different settings, strictly just "on" and "off" which is super easy.
5. The bristles are soft
If your toothbrush is so hard it's like brushing with a Brillo pad, you are a psycho. The bristles on Quip are soft enough to not cause severe gum bleeding and has thicker silicone bristles around the edge to stimulate the gums. My mouth has never felt cleaner after a brushing.
6. It looks cool
Admittedly, I am a sucker for anything that looks cool. With a slew of different metals and plastic colors to choose from as your base, you can pick the toothbrush you'd like. With my bathroom having gold fixtures, my toothbrush fits right in and doesn't look like just another appliance sitting out.
7. It's so much smaller than a regular toothbrush
Having never owned an electric toothbrush before, I did a side by side comparison with a friend's and Quip is so much smaller and thinner than the standard ones - by a long shot! It's small size makes it easy for me to fit it into my travel pouch next to my deodorant and moisturizer.
8. You don't have to plug it in to charge
Seriously. There are no cords or charging bases to worry about. The brush runs off of one AAA battery that needs to be replaced every 3 months. The best part is that along with your brush head refill, they include a AAA battery for you to change at the same time. How easy is that?
It's funny to say, but the look of this toothbrush is so striking that people keep asking me to give them all the details about it. I could never go back to a regular toothbrush now, let alone a bulky electric one. Give it a try for yourself and keep your teeth and bathroom counters happy. By using this link, you'll get a free $5 refill credit!