While it probably isn't the kind of thing that you love to think about, makeup brushes are a haven for nasty bacteria and germs, not to mention skin oils, dead skin cells and makeup residue. While so many people fail to consider this, makeup brushes have to be cleaned just like everything else. For those who don't know how to clean makeup brushes, or even that they are supposed to, take heed of these quick and easy tips for keeping your prized makeup brushes clean.

Purchase a package of baby wipes from your local drug store. Baby wipes are a great tool for women who put a lot of work into their makeup brushes. While it won't completely eliminate the need for you to have to clean your makeup brushes wiping them down with a baby wipe can slow down the buildup of dead skin cells and oil that collects between brush fibers.

Once every week or so, fill up your bathroom sink with warm water and add a few drops of tea tree oil. Stir it around with your hands until you see suds. Put your brushes in the water and rub the bristles with your fingers for 30 seconds. Then, rinse them with warm water until they rinse completely clean and gently path them dry with a towel. Rubbing them may damage the bristles, so be sure to pat them dry very gently. Then, lay them flat on a towel so that they can continue to air dry. Keep in mind that you may have to reshape the bristles to get them to lay flat and keep their original shape, so be sure to do this while they are still wet for best results.

For those who want a more professional touch, beauty supply stores do offer cleaning solution for those who want a premixed solution to clean their brushes. If your brushes are specialized, they may have specific instructions for cleaning them so be sure to check that out before you clean your brushes.