Choose the Right Detail Brush for the Job

Whether you’re a professional detailer or just a passionate enthusiast trying to achieve the perfect finish, choosing the right brush may seem overwhelming. But the nuances of bristle type, brush size, and general shape matter as much as the finish they’re being used on. To help navigate the confusion over these seemingly simple instruments, we have brushed up on our knowledge. Here are the details.

Dusting, Cleaning, or Detailing

Knowing how you are going to use a brush is often the best place to start. Dusting, for instance, should be done with a dry brush to help whisk dust away without scratching or damaging the surface being dusted. Cleaning, on the other hand, generally implies a wet cleaning solution (detergent and water, perhaps a solvent) that must be rinsed away after cleaning. Detailing often involves the precise application of conditioners or other treatments to an already clean surface. Different jobs require different brushes.

Natural or Synthetic Bristles

Bristles are made from either natural fibers – usually animal hair such as horse, boar or goat, or from plant fibers such as grasses – or synthetic plastic filaments such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), or nylon. Each of these polymers has different properties such as elasticity, hardness, and resistance to solvents and high temperatures.

Soft natural fibers like goat hair and horse hair lend themselves well to well to dusting or detailing, reaching into corners and crevices with ease. They can also be useful for cleaning soft materials like paint, leather, and fabric. Stiffer fibers like boar’s hair and plant materials are ideal for mild cleaning on surfaces such as carpet and rubber.

For cleaning and scrubbing heavier dirt and grime – think brake dust on wheels or grease on an engine or chassis – you’ll want to switch to synthetic bristles. Unlike natural fibers, these won’t stain as easily from use or hold onto greasy residue. They’re also more impervious to caustic cleaners and acids.

That’s not to say synthetics can’t be used for dusting and detailing. As long as they’re clean and free from damaging residue, they are safe on paint, leather, and other soft surfaces. Best practice is to dedicate certain brushes to certain tasks and not mix their use.

Size, Shape, and Construction

The job at hand will also dictate the physical characteristics of the brush you’ll need. For automotive detailing, these generally fall into a few specific shapes.

Round brushes include cylindrical ones designed to reach into wheel bolt holes or around narrow openings in an engine compartment. Smaller round brushes are ideal for interior detailing including vents, door handles and other odd-shaped trim. Cylindrical or spiral-wound “corncob” brushes are great for cleaning inside and between deep surfaces like wheel spokes. They can also be bent to conform to different shapes. This makes them  useful for cleaning the inside surfaces of a wheel, for instance.

Blocky, rectangular brushes come in a variety of flavors as well. Larger flat versions are well suited to scrubbing carpets, convertible tops, and tires. Smaller ones, including toothbrush-shaped and flat, paintbrush-shaped variations, are often perfect for crevices and other tight spots where larger brushes aren’t practical.

Another factor often overlooked is the way a brush is constructed. Handles made of plastic or wood are generally considered safest for automotive use. Metal construction should generally be avoided to prevent accidental scratching. This is especially true for the material used on the ferule (the collar or band that holds all the bristles together). When metal can’t be avoided, such as on corncob-style brushes, at least look for a soft tip that covers the end of the metal coil.

There are countless options for selecting the right brush for your cleaning and detailing needs.  The key is to know how you’ll be using them, and on what kind of finish. From there, choose your material type and brush shape. You’ll soon bristle with excitement over how clean your car is.