The Best Grill Brushes

Weber 12-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush

Licensed to Grill

From one of the first names in grill products comes the grill brush that sets the standard for others.

Best Overall

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For over 130 years, Weber has been the name that consumers could trust for quality grilling products, and their three-sided grill brush is no different. With an ergonomically-designed, 12″ handle, the brush is comfortable to grip and provides maximum leverage for tough scraping jobs. The triangular head features thick, stainless steel bristles across its surface, providing three different cleaning angles, including an edge cleaner that fits between most standard grill grates. It’s also just the right size for easy and convenient storage.

Pros:

• Rust-resistant
• Comes with convenient hanging strap
• Won’t scratch porcelain enamel

Cons:

• Handle is too short to use over a very hot grill
• Bristles are small and hard to see if dislodged

Grillart Bristle-Free Grill Brush and Scraper

The Art of Grilling

Using a single, wire-mesh coil and a sharp, grooved scraper, this grill brush makes bristles a thing of the past.

Best Bristle-Free

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If you’re tired of bristles breaking off from your current grill brush, Grillart’s patent-pending, bristle-free design is something to behold. Start with an extended, 18″ molded-plastic handle. Add five stainless-steel twist wires surrounded by three mesh coils at the head, then top that with a thick, metal scraper, and you’ve got one durable and efficient grill brush. The broad head of the brush cleans large swaths of your grill at one time, while the grooved edges of the scraper are designed to fit into each individual grate to clean really tough spots. Flip the brush on its edge, and you can even clean those hard-to-reach spaces in between the grates.

Pros:

• Scraper won’t rust
• Longer handle protects your hands from heat
• Aluminum storage ring on the handle

Cons:

• Not designed for mesh grills
• Wiring can lose its rigidity over time

Poligo Grill Brush With Deluxe Handle

The Big Brush-Off

Bigger really is better, especially when it comes to the handle and head of this deluxe grill brush.

Most Heavy Duty

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Everything about the Poligo grill brush is bigger: a full, 18″ handle to help protect your hand from hot grills; 6 stainless steel, interwoven wires that form the base of the brush head; and extra thick, triple-wire brushes. It’s even 3 oz. heavier than similar models. The seamless, reinforced-steel ring at the handle’s base helps assure against breakage, while the thick, metal scraper affixed to the top is tough enough for the harshest cleaning jobs.

Pros:

• Even the holding ring is stainless steel
• Wire frames prevent bristle break-off
• Bristles positioned for 360-degree cleaning

Cons:

• Arc cutouts on scraper only work on tubular grates
• Bristles can become discolored

Char-Broil Nylon Bristle Grill Brush

Not a Scratch

For porcelain, chrome and enamel grills, this nylon grill brush prevents scratching while scraping.

Best Nylon Bristle

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If you’re concerned about wire bristles, the Char-Broil nylon grill brush is your answer. Its thick, bright nylon bristles are perfect for use on porcelain or chrome grill grates, and it even features a multi-blade scraper for tough-to-remove carbon deposits. The head is removable for easy cleaning and can be replaced with a new one. And don’t worry about the durability of nylon bristles — the Char-Broil was laboratory-tested to 15,000 cycles with no breakage or fallout.

Pros:

• Angled bristles effectively clean between and under grates
• Heavy-duty tool hook doubles as a grill lifter 
• Replacement heads are easy to install

Cons:

• For use on cool grill surfaces only
• Short handle at only 7″

Cave Tools Bristle-Free Grill Scraper

Don't Just Scrape By

It scrapes your grill and it opens your beer. What more can we ask?

Best Scraper

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If you’ve cleaned a grill before, you know that the big chunks are the worst and need to be scraped off first. For this job, there’s the Cave Tools grill scraper. It’s a 7″ tool with specially crafted grooves that create a universal fit for scraping clean any grill grate. Its extended leather handle provides a superior grip and keeps your hands away from the heat when cleaning the grill, yet it’s still small enough to fit in your back pocket. Best of all, the other end of the tool is a bottle opener, so you’ll always have one handy while you grill.

Pros:

• Should not be used when grill is very hot
• Leather handle not flame-resistant

Frequently Asked Questions

It looks like there’s rust on my grill. Is it safe?

If you clean your grill regularly with a grill brush, it should remove all the loose particles of rust. Leftover discoloration won’t affect you or your food, but a grill with loose rust is not safe. While ingesting rust will not likely cause harm from one grilling session, continuous ingestion may cause problems for the intestinal tract. If you’re disturbed by the rust color, soak your grill in white vinegar for a few hours and then scrub again. You can also wipe it down with a rag soaked in vinegar.

How do I clean a wire grill brush?

A wire grill brush should be cleaned once or twice a month. If you have two wire grill brushes, stick them both in a bucket of soapy water and brush them together. If you don’t have two brushes, a good trick is to stick the brush in the oven on self-clean mode. This dries out the grease and makes it easy to clean with a soft brush.

Should I clean my BBQ grates even though I brush them regularly?

Like a seasoned cast-iron skillet, you don’t want to clean your BBQ grate with cleansers very often, if at all. Some experts say you should clean your grates every year, however, so if you choose to do so, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. This is a messy process, but the reaction helps to break down the carbonized food particles really well.