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Wheel brushes are a car washer or detailer’s best friend. Unlike microfiber towels and other car applicators, wheel brushes tend to have the right design to get in between the spokes and behind the wheels; places where other applicators have a hard time reaching. Since there are so many different sizes and designs of wheel brushes, we’ve created this handy guide to help you find the right one.
When you’re giving your car a regular cleaning, you can’t skip the wheels. You can give them a scrub with your mitt and soap just like the rest of your vehicle’s exterior, but to get them truly clean and debris free, you’re going to need a wheel brush.
While a mitt, sponge, or cleaning cloth can wipe away dirt, mud, and other road debris, your wheel’s nooks and crannies can be tricky to reach. The bristles of a brush are better able to scrub away the dirt hiding in your rims. It’s a must-have tool if you’re detailing your wheels. We found the best wheel brushes for getting your rims sparkling once again, and we’re highlighting our top picks.
Our Methodology
The best wheel brushes are those that are both comfortable to work with and effective at sweeping away dirt in small, cramped spaces. In order to name my top picks, I sought out brushes that offered good reach, a slim cleaning head to slip into the spaces of your wheels and rims, and bristles that are safe for various types of finishes. I also considered comfort and ease of use by looking at user reviews, which provided insight into what it’s like to work with each product in hand and with various rim styles. And I also considered the bristle material, durability, and effectiveness on different kinds of dirt.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Chemical Guys Red Rocket Brush
- Best Value: Chemical Guys Wheelie All Exterior Brush
- Honorable Mention: Woolywormit All-In-One Brush
- Most Secure Grip: Mothers Car Wash Brush
- Best Sheepskin Brush: Chemical Guys Wheel Gerbil
- Honorable Mention: ABN Wheel Cleaning Kit
Best Wheel Brushes Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Chemical Guys Red Rocket Brush
Pros
- Stiff yet gentle bristles
- Easy to maneuver
- Built-in knuckle guard
- Plenty of reach
Cons
- End cap can come loose
- Must be used gently
Specs
- Total length 18 inches
- Bristle material Nylon and polypropylene
- Safe for Chrome, polished, painted, and matte finishes
If you’re trying to clean wheels with many spokes or small deep pockets, the Red Rocket makes the job relatively easy. The long coned shape fits in tight spaces and the bristles are just stiff enough to remove brake dust and dirt without scratching your wheel’s finish. The backbone of the brush can also be bent to get into those really hard to get spots.
The Red Rocket comes in two sizes, a 9 and 5.5-inch version. Except for the wood handle and the bristles, everything else is rubber coated. It isn’t going to scratch your paint. It even includes a hand guard so you won’t bang your knuckles during vigorous cleaning. This also works well on grilles and vents. If you have wheels with a mostly flat face and big wide openings, this probably isn’t the best brush for you. But, anything with tight gaps and grooves, this will be your best friend.
Best Value: Chemical Guys Wheelie All Exterior Brush
Pros
- Non-slip handle
- Feathered bristles
- Chemical-resistant bristles
- Gentle on delicate finishes
Cons
- Large handle can be awkward
- Bristles may scratch or swirl
Specs
- Total length 9.37 inches
- Bristle material Synthetic
- Safe for Chrome, polished, powder-coated, wrapped, and custom finishes
This wheel brush from Chemical Guys features flagged bristles for gentle cleaning. The feathering also helps the bristles to hold more soap. The bristles are chemical resistant and can remove grime and grease that has caked on wheels, rims, tires, and undercarriages.
The brush has a rugged, non-slip plastic handle for a perfect grip even when you are wearing gloves. It’s safe for chrome, polished, powder-coated, wrapped, and custom wheels. However, its biggest downside is the short but wide handle, making it hard to move the brush behind the rims or clean through tight spaces.
Honorable Mention: Woolywormit All-In-One Brush
Pros
- Soft on all surfaces
- Includes replacement sponges
- No exposed metal parts
- Bends to get inside wheels
Cons
- Small lug-nut cleaner
- Not tough on caked dirt
Specs
- Total length 16 inches
- Bristle material Chenille microfiber
- Safe for All finishes
We included this option for a safer way to clean your wheels without damaging them. This Wollywormit cleaner features thick chenille microfiber, which provides an easy way to remove grime and brake dust from your wheels without scratching the surface. It has a long 13-inch body with a patented handless design. You can grab anywhere along its body, and it can bend to reach behind the wheels.
Where you’d expect the handle to be is a patented lug nut cleaner with cavity cleaner attachments. Also, you can throw out any part that wears out since you get an extra lug-nut cleaner of a different size and three replacement chenille microfiber sponges. From the overall design, you will notice that there aren’t any exposed metal parts, making it safer for cleaning painted or polished surfaces.
While it has a clever design to it, the lug-nut cleaner is a bit small and can be difficult to hold for large hands. Also, it’s not the best for removing caked-up dirt on the barrels of the wheels.
Most Secure Grip: Mothers Car Wash Brush
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fits into tight spots
- Grippy, rubberized handle
- Ergonomically designed
Cons
- Bristles struggle with stubborn dirt
- Best for light cleaning
Specs
- Total length 12 inches
- Bristle material Synthetic
- Safe for All finishes
The Mothers Wheel brush is one of those small items you can use to reach all remote and tight areas in your vehicle. Thanks to the lightweight design, the brush is easy to move around and handle. You won’t feel hand fatigue even after extended use, and the protective rubberized bumper on the handle will ensure a superior grip.
Overall, this brush is ideal for cleaning wheels, fenders, and bumpers. It has soft bristles that come through tight spots and pick up even the smallest particles. Therefore, an ergonomically-designed product like this feels good in the hand and lasts throughout many cleaning processes.
The main downside to this product regards the soft bristles. The brush is not stiff and sturdy enough to efficiently remove heavy dirt and debris off tires. If you need something for excessive cleanups, we recommend you to check out other options on our list. The Mothers Wheel brush is more suitable for light and quick dusting and cleanups.
Best Sheepskin Brush: Chemical Guys Wheel Gerbil
Pros
- 100 percent sheepskin
- Holds more than eight ounces of water
- Easily cleans tight spaces
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Not the most durable
- Handle is short
Specs
- Total length 9.84 inches
- Bristle material Sheepskin
- Safe for All finishes
Chemical Guys never fails to deliver high-quality cleaning products and accessories. This time, we have a compact wheel brush ideal for cleaning tight and hard-to-reach areas. The 100 percent sheepskin bristles are soft and durable at the same time. They pick up the dirt efficiently and hold more than eight ounces of soapy water.
The Chemical Guys brush cleans all kinds of wheels, including alloy, chrome, anodized, and polished ones. You don’t have to worry about scratching or damaging wheels and rims on your vehicle. This brush cleans gently and keeps the surface lubricated. It also packs easily due to its small size, and the narrow tip on the head reaches those tight spaces that collect all the road dirt.
Unfortunately, the brush is not that durable. Although it holds up well for the price, it might fall apart after heavy daily use. You’ll have to add a few more bucks to get a brush with a sturdier head. Also, the handle is not very long, so you probably won’t be able to reach deep into the rim to clean brake dust.
Honorable Mention: ABN Wheel Cleaning Kit
Pros
- Includes three brushes
- Sturdy, long handles
- Covers all wheel crevices
- Easy to wield
Cons
- Expensive
- Brush heads and handles don’t bend
Specs
- Total length 8, 12, and 18 inches
- Bristle material Synthetic wool microfiber
- Safe for All finishes
If you’re looking for tools that will help you clean wheels and other hard to reach spots, we recommend checking out this three-piece kit. It includes three brushes that will help you get the job done quickly. On top of that, these brushes are built from quality materials and have an impressive lifespan.
The ABN three-piece kit includes a woolie and two brushes with bristles. All of them range in size to provide better reach and give better cleaning results. They remove everything from light dust to road grime without damaging the wheels. Additionally, all three brushes come with sturdy and long polypropylene handles, which makes them easy to operate and prolongs the lifespan of the brushes.
Although the kit contains three brushes, it’s still a little expensive. Those who are on a limited budget might want to get only one brush, even if these three provide a thorough cleanup. Another thing to keep in mind before the purchase is the design of the handles. They don’t bend and lack a rubber coating for a firmer grip.
Our Verdict
Our pick for the best overall wheel brush is the Chemical Guys Red Rocket Brush, which offers great reach and length plus a solid level of effectiveness for even the toughest kinds of dirt and debris. If you’re hoping to find a good combination of affordability and effectiveness, the Chemical Guys Wheelie All Exterior Brushis another option that’ll deliver.
What to Consider When Buying Wheel Brushes
At first glance, wheel brushes can kind of all look the same. But when you dive into the details, there are some key considerations you’ll want to think about. From handle length to bristle material and style to durability, don’t overlook the smaller aspects of each brush.
Size
The size of the wheel brush affects your cleaning rate and the efficiency of your work. Select a brush that’s a decent size so that you don’t have to stay too long cleaning one spot. For example, it would take too long to clean your wheels if you use something that resembles a toothbrush. However, you don’t want something that’s so large that it feels heavy in your hand.
Material
Your brush’s performance is largely affected by the material used to make the bristles. You need something that’s neither too hard nor too soft. The type of wheels you have will affect your buying decision. For example, if you have shiny, polished wheels, then you need a brush with softer bristles to ensure you don’t scratch them. Some wheel brushes have metal bristles and, while they may be more effective at removing heavy dirt buildup, they can scratch the wheels if you scrub too hard.
Design
When it comes to the design, we are talking about the flexibility of the brush and how well it can clean tight spaces. You will have an easier cleaning experience if you have a brush with a body that can bend and long bristles to clean the largest of wheel openings. However, brushes with smaller and softer bristles are the best for removing the dirt left behind by the larger brushes.
Pricing
For less than $10, you can find a selection of wheel brushes with short handles. You won’t get much reach or comfort, but these budget-friendly brushes can get the job done (without scratching up your rims). Spend $10 or more, and you’ll find a wider selection of options, including more ergonomic brushes and wheel brushes with high-strength soft bristles. You can even choose more varied brush materials.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
The good ones don’t. The bristles of the brush need to be soft enough to flex against the surface so they don’t dig in and scratch the metal.
Most of the time, a basic water rinsing is enough. You can also use soapy water to get any dirt or grime clinging to the bristles.
If you want to take the hard work out of cleaning your wheels, you can opt for a brush that’s powered by your drill. It’s easy to find brush heads that fit onto power drills. Just make sure you opt for bristles that won’t scratch your wheel material.
Cleaning your tires typically requires a tougher, stiffer brush. That kind of brush could potentially scratch up your wheels, especially if they’re a softer or more delicate material. You want to opt for a wheel-friendly product — not a tire brush — to prevent damage.
