Everyone loves a clean car. Most people don’t love the time it takes to clean them, though. You drive through a local car wash, but the brushes are a serious risk to your paint, and brushless ones never do a good job. Also, they are expensive, especially if you like having your car clean for more than one month out of the year.
For those looking for a better option, there’s good news! There are a ton of great brushes that can speed up the car cleaning and detailing process, and most of them cost less than a run through a gas station carwash.
A Quick Guide to Brush Types
Believe it or not, there are many different types of brushes for washing your car. Choosing the right one usually depends on how big your vehicle is and how much you want to spend. We’ll go through the different types so you can find the one that fits your needs. We’ll also list our favorite brushes on the market to help make your shopping as easy as possible.
Why Use a Brush?
The obvious reason is that it makes reaching all parts of your ride easier. Tall truck? A long pole will get right up to the roofline. Deep crevices in the bodywork and wheels? A long brush will get into those tight spaces where a sponge or mitt wouldn’t fit.
The other reason is that it’s safer for paint than most other methods while still being inexpensive and convenient. Pressure washers are great, but they are costly (check out our favorite pressure washers here). Sponges are very cheap, but unless you buy a dedicated soft sponge, they carry a high risk of scratching the clear coat. Brushes are inexpensive and when used properly have very little chance of damaging your paint.
Kinds of Brushes
There are two parts to every brush, the handle and the brush itself. There’s a bit of variety in form and function concerning each component. There’s really no such thing as the best brush, there are only the best brushes for specific purposes. Let’s talk about the types of brushes first.
Bristle
A bristle brush is your standard everyday brush. They look like shop brooms and can either be fixed in place or swiveling. When you are washing cars, you want to make sure to get soft bristles. The softer, the better. It makes it slightly harder to scrub the dirt off, but it lowers the risk to your paint.
Bristle brushes are better for large areas and lots of grime. There’s really no substitute for a good brush if you need to clean grease or mud off.
Mop
Mop-style cleaning brushes look like the mops you use for cleaning hardwood floors. They hold water better but have a more difficult time with curves and complicated geometry. Many people like using cotton mops because you can use them dry as a duster.
Microfiber
Most bristle brushes are synthetic–the days of horsehair are gone, but there are two main styles when it comes to mops. Standard cotton mops retain more water and are less likely to collect debris that can scratch things. Microfiber is softer than cotton but can sometimes pick up debris that will cling to the fabric like Velcro.
Handles
Generally, you will choose a handle based on how far you need to reach. If you have a lifted 4×4, there’s no reason to get a short-handled brush that won’t reach the roof, but there are other attributes to a handle that are worth considering.
Material
The material that the handle is made from is usually a minor consideration. Aluminum handles are the most durable, but plastic is inexpensive. Wood is less durable than either and doesn’t play well with water. It does look good, though.
Length
- Short Handle Brushes are perfect for getting into places that a larger brush won’t, getting in between wheel spokes and around mirrors, etc. Even if you already have a long brush, getting a dedicated short handle brush for wheels is a good idea.
- Long Handle Brushes are good for general cleaning. They won’t increase your reach much, but you shouldn’t have any issue washing most cars’ entire surface.
- Poles are long enough to reach across the roof and up to high places. Most poles are telescoping, so they can adjust to any length you need. A 4ft pole is usually enough to reach across the average vehicle. If you have an RV or big rig, you’ll need at least a 6ft pole.
Flow-Through
Flow-through handles hook up to a garden hose and allow water to pass through them. It can make washing your car faster since you can scrub and rinse away debris simultaneously. Some brushes even have soap reservoirs that automatically add the soap to the water as it passes through the brush.
Other Features
Innovation is the name of the game in the modern world. The companies that make brushes are no different; there are a ton of little features that get added to brushes to do all sorts of things that are supposed to make cleaning easier. Some are mostly a gimmick. For instance, the Fochutech brush on our review list spins when water flows through it. Some features are far more useful, though, like brushes that swivel in every direction, or brushes with novel.
Top 10 Best Car Wash Brushes 2020
1. Best Overall Brush: Carrand Deluxe Car Wash Dip Brush
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Super soft bristles
- Handle type: Aluminum pole
- Handle length: 36” – 65”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
The 10” brush head and the long pole make it perfect for most situations. The Carrand Deluxe is really just a good general-purpose tool. It’s not quite long enough for RVs, and it’s not small enough for detailed work, but for giving your car a weekend scrub, you can’t go wrong with this product.
Standout Features
Like we said previously, there isn’t anything that really stands out other than this product being a fantastic, general-purpose option. The pole is a great length and made of aluminum, so it’s not likely to break, and the brush head can be unscrewed and replaced if need be. That’s not unique to this brush, but it’s a good feature to have.
Our Thoughts
Sometimes simplicity is a tool’s greatest asset. When you wash a car, a stout brush to clean the dirt off that can reach the entire surface is really all you need. The Carrand is exactly that. It’s inexpensive, it has soft bristles, and extends to 6ft. Take care of it by rinsing and drying the brush immediately after using it, and it will last years.
The only thing you might miss are some of the features found on more fully-featured brushes. A swiveling head, like the one found on DocaPole brushes can help a lot, making it really easy to keep the bristles on the car no matter where you stand. No swiveling isn’t a deal-breaker by any means, and most people will be very happy with the value they get from the Carrand brush.
Pros
- Super soft bristles are very unlikely to scratch your car
- Aluminum pole is long enough for most situations
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Low on features
- Brush head does not swivel
2. Best Dry Brush: California Car Duster
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Cotton mop
- Handle type: Wood handle
- Handle length: 26”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
Every car can benefit from dusting from time to time. Most cars and light trucks are small enough that you can reach all the way across them with the California Duster. If you have a big truck, though, you might find the reach lacking. You’d be better off with a long-range duster like the one Matcc offers.
Standout Features
The California Duster doesn’t need any water or cleaner to work. You just drag it over the surface of the car, and it picks up dust. The brush head is big enough, and the fibers are long enough that dusting only takes minutes, so keeping your car clean between washings is best taken care of by another tool.
Our Thoughts
If you already have a Carrand brush and a wheel brush like the Mother’s long-handled one, then the final piece of kit you need for general car care is the California Duster. Dirt and dust collect on your car constantly, and most of the time, you don’t have the time to give it a wash.
This duster only takes minutes to wipe down your entire car, so it’s perfect for maintaining cleanliness. You use it dry, so you don’t even need access to water. Just throw it in your car and keep it around for a touch up at any time.
The only thing that might give you pause is the price. It’s a bit expensive for a bit of wood and some cotton, and you can get other dusters like the Mattcc mop for less. The California Duster quality is unrivaled, though, which is why we rate it so highly.
Pros
- High quality
- Works dry, and works fast
- Long fibers make it perfect for any surface
Cons
- A tad on the expensive side
- Short handle isn’t suited for large vehicles
3. Best Small Brush: Mother’s Long Handled Brush
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Soft bristle
- Handle type: Plastic handle
- Handle length: 18”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
Every vehicle has nooks and crannies where a large brush can’t fit. For detailing, we have two small brushes in our recommendations list, this one and the Chemical Guy’s short-handled one. The Mother’s has a long handle, which makes it more suited for scrubbing hard to reach places that are up high or deep inside the car.
It also makes a great wheel brush if you have an RV or dually. The bigger wheels found on larger vehicles are easy to clean with the long handle and soft brush.
Standout Features
The long, no-slip handle is what sets this Mother’s product apart. You can use it as a giant toothbrush to clean details. The non-slip rubber is a nice feature for a handle, especially since soap and water tend to make things hard to hold on to.
Our Thoughts
If you already have a large brush, it’s good to have a second smaller brush for details. If you already have a detail brush, it’s good to have a separate brush for wheels and tires so you don’t risk contamination and scratching paint.
The Mother’s brush can easily fill either of those two roles. A smaller brush like the Chemical Guy’s short handle might be better for wheels and tires that are shallow, but you can’t beat the Mother’s brush for general cleaning. The long handle price is a bit steep though, the Mother’s is almost twice as much as its shorter counterpart.
Pros
- The long handle makes it perfect for recessed areas
- The non-slip handle is easy to hang on to
- Soft bristles make it perfect for any surface
Cons
- Expensive compared to other detail brushes
- Long handle might get in the way
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Microfiber bristles, cotton mop, and cotton mitts
- Handle type: Aluminum pole
- Handle length: 5’ – 12’
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
It’s an entire car care system, but the ultra-long pole makes it perfect for large vehicles. The squeegee attachment can allow you to quickly clean the windows of even the biggest trucks, and the swiveling duster is perfect for general purpose cleaning inside and outside of large RVs. The kit even includes wash mitts for detail work, making this a single purchase and complete cleaning system.
Standout Features
There are many great features that the DocaPole offers, but the two that stand out are the variety of attachments and the high quality, ultra-long pole.
First in line are the attachments. In the kit, you get a soft bristle brush, a squeegee, and a mop that can be spun onto the pole. That gives you the hard scrubbing power of a brush, the dusting and polishing of a mop, and easy window cleaning of a squeegee all in one box.
Second, the high-quality pole. Unlike other telescoping poles, the aluminum DocaPole uses metal locks and has a swiveling head. That makes it durable and great for general cleaning, but what really makes it a standout is the length. The standard pole is 12ft long, and you can get ones up to 30ft. There’s nothing you can’t reach with that kind of height.
Our Thoughts
Let’s start with the bad. First off, it costs a lot. If you don’t need the length, it’s cheaper to source each part separately than buy the entire kit. The second thing that’s a bit of a con is the size. 12ft is actually too long to be useful for detail work and even collapsed, the pole is still 5’ long. That means scrubbing low areas of your vehicle will require you to either take the head off and use it by hand or awkwardly fight with a long pole.
If you are willing to pay the price, though, it’s a really great kit. The quality is top-notch, and the included parts can tackle any job. You get the best parts of the Carrand Brush and the long reach of the Matcc Mop.
Pros
- High Quality
- Can reach up to 12ft
- Has attachments for any job
Cons
- Pole is too long to be used on smaller vehicles
- Very expensive
5. Best Budget Brush: House Day 2-in-1 Car Wash Mop
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Microfiber mop
- Handle type: Aluminum pole or nylon strap
- Handle length: 21” – 44”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
The microfiber mop is great for both dry dusting and cleaning with soap water, and the pole extends to 4ft. That’s great for most cars; you’d have no problem reaching every part of a Civic or small truck like a Ranger.
You will need more reach for taller vehicles, and the shape of the mop head makes it hard to get into detailing. It’s nothing simply adding a small brush like the Mother’s brush can’t fix, but it is hard to get the big mop head around mirrors and other protruding objects.
Standout Features
The microfiber mop head swivels on the pole and can be detached and handheld with the simple nylon strap. Since it can be used dry as a duster or as a wet brush, it’s a great buy if you just want an easy tool for cleaning your car and don’t care too much about getting a perfect shine.
Our Thoughts
The House Day Brush is the microfiber mop equivalent of the simple Carrand brush. It does have a few advantages over the Carrand. The mop head swivels, and it can be detached easily to scrub things down by hand. The soft microfiber mop can be used as a duster too, so if you think you will be doing a lot of dry dusting, this one is a better buy.
The plastic parts are not as durable as the more sturdy spin on heads, so they might wear out if you use it a lot. It’s so cheap that it’s easy to replace in case it does break, though. Just be sure to avoid rocks and twigs. They will stick to the microfiber strands and can scratch your clearcoat if you drag them across the paint.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Mop head swivels for easy out of position scrubbing
- Converts into a handheld pad
Cons
- Mop head has trouble getting into details
- Not as sturdy as other brushes
6. Best Inexpensive Flow-Through: Camco RV Flow-Through
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Soft bristle
- Handle type: Flow-through aluminum pole
- Handle length: 43”-78”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
As the name suggests, this is perfect for RVs and large trucks. The 6ft handle makes it easy to reach up high on the larger vehicles, and the flow-through design means you don’t have to awkwardly dance with the long pole to dip it into a bucket.
The flow-through design can be convenient for any application, but the 4ft minimum length can get in the way if you are washing smaller vehicles. Take a look at the Carrand flow-through instead if you have a small car.
Standout Features
Like other flow-through brushes, the biggest feature is the flow-through design of the brush and handle. You hook it up to a garden hose and turn the water on. You can adjust the pressure in the handle, and the water will flow through the brush head, making it easy to scrub and rinse at the same time.
Our Thoughts
The Camco’s length is convenient if you have a large vehicle, and the soft bristle is great for general purpose cleaning, even without the water flowing. It’s with the flowing water that the real benefits of this brush reveal themselves. You can easily scrub and rinse simultaneously, making the entire cleaning process fast and effortless.
Quality is the Achilles heel of the Camco. It’s inexpensive, which is good, but the lower cost compared to other flow-through designs comes from slightly weaker materials. The Carrand flow-through is more durable and extends nearly as long, but it’s more expensive.
Pros
- Inexpensive for a flow-through
- Good length for large vehicles
- The flow-through design makes washing faster
Cons
- Some plastic parts are weak compared to other brands
- Handle does not collapse far enough to be convenient for small cars
7. Best Wet or Dry Brush: Matcc 62” Car Wash Mop
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Microfiber mop
- Handle type: Aluminum pole
- Handle length: 20” – 62”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
The Matcc has all the benefits of the House Day mop we mention but extends to a full 5-foot length, meaning you can reach to the top of larger vehicles. Since they are otherwise identical, it’s fair to say that the Matcc is for larger cars and trucks, and the House Day is for smaller ones. Simple.
Unfortunately, it suffers from the same drawbacks as its sibling product. It’s not good for detailed work, as the mop head covers a large area that cant contour to curves or tight spaces.
Standout Features
As a microfiber mop, so you can use it dry as a duster or as a wet mop, which is always handy. The mop head can be detached and used as a hand sponge, so it’s easy to get up close and personal with things. The thing that sets the Matcc apart is the long pole it’s attached to.
Our Thoughts
A microfiber mop is still the best thing to buy if you just want some general-purpose cleaning from time to time. The Matcc has everything else you could want too. The head swivels to conform to any angle, and the long handle can get the mop anywhere.
It is a bit on the expensive side. If you don’t need the extra length, there’s not much reason to buy the Matcc over others.
Pros
- Length is good for large vehicles
- Good for dry dusting or soap and water
- The mop can be detached for easier work on small surfaces
Cons
- A little expensive for a simple mop
- Not good for detail work
8. Best Wheel Brush: Chemical Guy’s Body and Wheel Flagged Tip
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Soft bristle
- Handle type: Plastic
- Handle length: 6”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
Anything with wheels benefits from a good short handle brush. The size makes it perfect for touching up and scrubbing detailed areas. You won’t want to wash an entire car with it, just get the Carrand brush for that, but this is for everywhere that bigger brushes can’t reach.
Standout Features
The small size and brush head shape make it perfect for getting into small areas. There’s not much more to it. The plastic handle isn’t likely to break down, and the soft bristles won’t scratch even the shiniest metal.
Our Thoughts
Unlike the Mother’s brush, the Chemical Guys brush is small enough to really get anywhere with its short handle. That makes it a perfect second brush. It’s still soft enough for paint, and it’s durable enough to last a long time. Plus, it costs less than $10, so there’s practically no reason not to grab one.
The short reach can almost be too short for a lot of scenarios, though. You’ll have to really reach in to clean deep-set wheels, and there are other cheaper products that can serve ‘dirty job’ purposes.
Pros
- Compact and perfect for cleaning wheels
- Inexpensive
- Soft bristles are perfect for any surface
Cons
- Might be too short to stay dry during car wash day
- Not good for large areas
9. Best High-Quality Flow-Through Brush: Carrand Flow-Thru
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: 3-sided soft bristle
- Handle type: Flow-through aluminum
- Handle length: 48” – 71”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
Like the other Carrand product on our list, the Carrand Flow-Thru is a great general-purpose tool that is good for a wide range of vehicles. The near 6ft reach can get just about anywhere, and the tri-head brush makes it easy to attack a problem from any angle.
Like with other long poled brushes, though, it does not collapse far enough to be good if you do a lot of detailed work. You can take the head off and awkwardly scrub at things by hand, but at that point, save yourself the embarrassment and just by the Mother’s brush we listed.
Standout Features
In addition to all the benefits a flow-through handle can bring, the Carrand Flow-Thru has one of the most versatile bristle brushes on our list. It has bristles on 4 sides, so even though it doesn’t swivel, you can still brush from any angle. You can also scrub multiple surfaces at once, like between the spoiler and the car’s body. Washing a car with this brush will allow you to be about as fast as is possible without going through a giant mechanical wash.
Our Thoughts
Carrand makes great cleaning products, which is why they have the honor of appearing twice on our list. Their Flow-Thru brush here is likely the fastest and most versatile car wash tool here. You can scrub in any direction, and the water flow will keep the surface clean as you go. The length is great too. It’s nearly as long as the other flow-through product on our list made by Camco.
It’s just a lot more expensive than the Camco, and even though it does collapse a little shorter, it’s still too long for detailed work. The quality is quite a bit higher, though, and that shows in the finishings. The plastic parts are made of higher quality material than similar products. If you are having trouble deciding between this Carrand flow-through and the Camco brush, choose the Camco if you plan on doing a lot of detail work. With the money saved, you can buy a small brush to go with it. Choose the Carrand if you need something that can withstand abuse.
Pros
- High-quality
- One of the most versatile brushes out there
- Makes cleaning fast
Cons
- Expensive
- Still not great for detail work
10. Best High Tech Brush: Fochutech Car Wash Brush
Editor’s Rating:
At a Glance
- Brush type: Spinning soft bristles
- Handle type: Plastic flow-through
- Handle length: 47”
What Vehicles Is This Brush Best For?
Even though it works really quickly, the small size makes it annoying for large vehicles. The brush head itself is only about six inches in diameter, making it smaller than even the tiny Chemical Guy’s detail brush, so it takes ages to clean large areas.
It can be faster than a larger brush just because of the power washing feature, but the truth is you are probably better off just buying a larger standard brush like the Carrand bristle brush if you need to wash large surfaces. Carrand even makes a flow-through brush if you want the hose hookup.
Standout Features
There are so many components to this thing that it is hard to know where to start. First, you can attach it to a hose to let water flow through the brush head, or you can take the brush head off and just spray soapy water at your car. It has a detergent bottle so you can automatically add soap to your wash, and it has a reach of nearly 4ft. But all of that pales in comparison to the coolest feature: the brush head will spin as water passes through it. It’s like a giant electric toothbrush for your car.
Our Thoughts
The Fochutech Car Wash Kit is gimmicky and those just looking for a single solution will have a hard time justifying the high price. At the end of the day, the spinning brush really doesn’t add anything to the washing experience. The bristles are too soft to really scrub hard, so anything that isn’t washed away with a simpler brush won’t be persuaded by more scrubbing. Which is good, don’t get us wrong. You don’t want to scrub off the clear coat.
It’s a really cool tech gadget, though. If you love crazy gadgets and funky tools and already have some workhorse products, you might really enjoy having a big automatic toothbrush for your car.
Pros
- The detergent bottle makes adding soap to your car easy
- The brush spins while water flows through it
- 4ft reach is adequate for most applications
Cons
- Expensive
- The high-tech features aren’t really worth it unless you like high-tech gadgets
Tips, Tricks, and Accessories
Now that you’ve chosen a great tool for keeping your car sparkling, check out some of our favorite tips and tricks for getting the most out of your brush.
Brush Tips
Like any tool in a garage, there are things you should do to make sure your brush stays in good working condition. If you’d like tips on actually cleaning your car, The Mighty Car Mods put out a great video on the topic here. Otherwise, follow these tips.
- Keep an eye out for debris: Brushes that pick up sticks, leaves, and rocks become a hazard for your paint, getting stuck and scratching pristinely maintained clear coats.
- Let brushes dry after use: Water will break down bristles over time. They are great for use in the short term, but if you let them sit in water for long periods, they will tangle and become useless.
- Use a separate brush for tires and wheels: Tires and wheels pick up a lot of chunks and grease. That grease contaminates the brush and can be harmful to paint.
- Rinse the brush before and after using: Rinsing it prior to use will make sure you aren’t adding dirt to your wash, and rinsing after will make sure the soap doesn’t dry and harm the bristles.
- Store it upright out of the sun: Don’t let the bristles get smashed by storing with the weight on top of them. If you can, store it out of the sun to avoid damage caused by UV rays
- When using a brush, be aware of the handle: It’s easy to get lost in the moment and accidentally hit an antenna with the handle. Don’t do that, they will bend.
- Don’t overdo it: If you are having an issue getting a dirty spot clean, the answer isn’t more scrubbing. A gentle scrub across the entire vehicle is the best method to wash a car. If it needs deeper cleaning, it’s better to let it soak and wipe it down. Too much scrubbing can lead to micro-abrasions.
Brush Alternatives
Brushes aren’t the only way to clean a car, but they might be the most convenient. Still, it’s good to know the alternatives and why you might keep them around as well.
Wool Pad
A wool pad is great because it carries very little risk of scratching if it’s new. The problem with a wool pad is the very thing that makes it great at cleaning also makes it a hazard, it’s very good at picking up debris. Sharp debris can scratch paint, and that’s bad, although there are products that help fix scratches.
Cleaning Mitts
Cleaning mitts are usually either microfiber or wool and offer a great way to get very close and personal with your car. The DocaPole kit we recommend even comes with them, and many microfiber mops like the House Day Car Mop can be used as a sort of pseudo-mitt. You will get wet, though, and lots of people prefer to avoid that whenever possible.
Sponge
Sponges make a great cleaning tool, especially large ones like grout sponges. They do carry a slightly higher risk of contamination because they can absorb dirt and mud, but they are much easier to maintain than a brush. Just like with a cleaning mitt, you will get messy.
Dish Rag
It’s the tried and true tool of the average driveway car wash. There’s nothing wrong with using a rag to clean a car. It’s just that there are a ton of better options. A rag has all the downsides of a sponge and none of the upsides.
Great Brush Accessories
Great car care doesn’t just stop at a quick scrub. There are some great accessories to make your car wash experience great.
- A good tray: Some brushes won’t fit into a standard 5-gallon paint bucket, so getting a washing tray like this one can speed up the process greatly.
- Microfiber rags: A good lint-free rag is perfect for drying, detailing, and applying wax. Getting a pack of them like these are great to just have on hand.
- A good car wash soap: If you’re in a pinch, dish soap works great at removing mud and grease. A dedicated car wash soap like this will work better and be safer for the plastics and paint.
- A chamois or drying towel: You should always dry your car after washing to avoid spots. A chamois like this one can last the lifetime of your car.
- A spray wax for that ultimate shine: We wrote all about them here, so take your pick. A good spray wax will complete the washing process and make your car’s shine the envy of your neighborhood.
- A step stool: Even if you have the gigantic DocaPole brushes we talk about, there are times where having a ladder will come in handy.
Have Fun, Stay Clean
Cleaning your own car can be a zen experience, and it leads to a sense of accomplishment. No one likes a dirty car, so add fun convenience to the experience with a good brush. Unless you hate cleaning your car, then it’s probably not a zen experience. But even then, a good brush will still help; the extra speed will let you get it over with faster. It’s a win-win, so get scrubbing.
Source: Tools - autoquarterly.com
