OK, puns aside. Carrying a nail brush on a backpacking excursion may be thought of as a touch fastidious. However, when attempting to clean up a pair of mud covered trousers or other clothing, or even crud encrusted fingers, a decent brush does prove its worth when attempting to preserve both hygiene and a more presentable appearance.

A handy tool. Nail brush with handle removed

For some years now I have included a small plastic nail brush in my ‘ditty bag’. It originally had a handle but I sawed that off to reduce weight and bulk just a touch. It now weighs 32g and works a treat.

But 32g! I was convinced that I could do better than that.

Wandering around Tiger, an expanding chain of shops in the UK that started life as a Danish pound shop, I came across something amongst the middle-class nic-nacs on offer that may do the trick.

Two plastic nail brushes for one pound. A deal not to be ducked

The little plastic ducks with a small brush set into the base retailed at two for £1, so easily worth a punt. Each brush is made in China (no surprise there) and weighs 19g so an immediate improvement on my previous offering. But I was convinced that I could reduce this weight still further.

Brush part of the duck. 40mm x 23mm x 21mm with 15mm long bristles

I was pretty sure that the brush would be glued into the ducks body but with a little judicious levering with a small tip screw driver I was pleased when the brush part simply popped out. Not glued after all but held in place by indents in the body part. The brush part only weighs 7g. I am pretty sure it will not stand up to much abuse but it should do the trick for a while, and, I have a spare…

Together with a small dropper bottle of Dr. Bronners liquid soap concentrate, this should keep clothes cleaner, together with a cleaner me.