The wheels are often is one of the worst and most time consuming parts of washing your car. However, you can speed the cleaning process up by investing into a quality wheel brush that is able to withstand tough chemicals.
The best wheel brush is the TAKAVU Master, which is 18 inches in length and has a flexible design for reaching all the difficult areas.
Car wheel cleaning brushes are available in several different types for tackling different wheel designs. If you have multiple spokes, you will require a thinner brush in order to get between all the smaller gaps.
Table of Contents
Best Wheel Cleaning Brush
| Wheel Brush | Length | Bristles |
|---|---|---|
| TAKAVU Master | 18 Inches | Polypropylene Fibers |
| Adams Wheel Woolie | 19 Inches | Polypropylene Fibers |
| Mothers Brush | 12 Inches | Polypropylene Fibers |
| Chemical Guys Wheel Gerbil | 9 Inches | Genuine Sheepskin |
| ABN 3-Piece Kit | 8 - 18 Inches | Synthetic Wool |
It may be tempting to use a household brush but they aren’t suited to the harsh wheel cleaning products or brake dust. Choosing a brush that is designed specifically for cleaning wheels will be more effective, safer and easier to use.
Below is a list of the best wheel brushes that will allow you to efficient clean your wheels in half of the time.
TAKAVU Master Wheel Brush
The TAKAVU Master is the perfect wheel cleaning brush for providing a deep clean to your wheels. It is a 18 inch long brush, which includes a 9.5 inch brush head, rubber ring protector and an ergonomic grip.
Other features of the TAKAVU Master Rim Brush include:
- Flexible design for reaching tight spaces
- 9.5 inch brush head for a deep clean
- Rubber ring to protect your hands
- Can be used for engine or exhaust cleaning
- Soft synthetic bristles
Although TAKAVU is not a large brand in the detailing industry, their wheel brush is certainly one of the best. It allows you to reach all the difficult areas of the wheels and it offers excellent value for the money.
Check it OutAdam’s Wheel Woolie Cleaning Brush
The Adam’s Polishes wheel cleaning brush is fairly unique as it is angled at 45 degrees, which allows you to easily clean behind the wheels. This is the part of the wheels that is most difficult to clean but is solved by this wheel brush.
Other features of Adam’s Wheel Woolie include:
- 19 inches long but available in a smaller size
- 2.5 inch diameter with polypropylene fibers
- Safe bristles that are soft yet dense
- Non-slip rubberized handle
- Made in the USA
If you have been struggling to reach behind the wheels, the Wheel Woolie by Adam’s Polishes is the best option. It does come with a premium price tag but it is built to the highest of standards and will not disappoint.
Check it OutMothers Wheel Cleaning Brush
By far the most popular wheel cleaning brush that is also one of the cheapest is by the reputable Mothers brand. It is available in two different sizes with the standard being 12 inches long from end to end.
Other features of the Mothers Wheel Cleaning Brush include:
- Lightweight and durable design
- Extra soft 2 inch long bristles
- Non-slip comfort grip
- Protective rubber bumper
- Suitable for other applications
Overall, this wheel brush by Mothers is a cheap option that ticks every box and is available in two different sizes. Whether you are using it to clean wheel, fenders or bumpers, the extra soft bristles will effortlessly clean without causing scratches.
Check it OutChemical Guys Gerbil Wheel Brush
The Chemical Guys brush is known as the “Wheel Gerbil” and the bristles are made from real sheepskin. The genuine wool makes it super soft and the brand claim that it is able to hold 8 ounces of soap water.
Other features of the Chemical Guys Wheel Gerbil include:
- Suitable for alloy, chrome, anodized and polished finishes
- Soft and thick sheepskin bristles
- Cone shaped head design
- Easy to grip handle
- 9 inches long
Overall, the Wheel Gerbil by Chemical Guys is a great option but the small length will require you to get your hands deep into the wheel. If you wish to use an engine degreaser, the sheepskin bristles are ideal for cleaning the engine.
Check it OutABN Car Wheel Rim Cleaning Brush Kit
Other features of the ABN 3 Piece Wheel Cleaning Kit include:
- Durable polypropylene handle
- Absorbent synthetic wool bristles
- Flexible brush end to reach difficult areas
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Made in the USA
They are the most expensive brushes within this article but they are the best for an all-round clean. Having access to multiple sizes allows you to efficiently clean all parts of the wheel. The large brush is perfect for the bulk of the dirt whereas the smaller sizes are idea for getting around large rotors.
Check it OutWheel Brush Buying Guide
Cleaning your wheels can involve the most amount of effort and time. Some wheels are relatively easy to clean but those with multiple spokes can involve plenty of scrubbing. Without properly cleaning your wheels, it will always make your car look dirty regardless to the cleanliness of the paintwork.
There are hundreds of wheel cleaning brushes that help you efficiently and safely clean your wheels. To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding wheel brushes.
How to Use a Wheel Cleaning Brush
Before using the brush, you will want to remove any loose debris clinging on to the wheel. The best way of doing this is to use a car pressure washer to blast the debris away. Once you have completely rinsed the wheels, you can begin to use the wheel brush by following the steps below:
- Spray the wheel cleaner and leave for specified time.
- Spray the bristles of the brush with the wheel cleaner.
- Begin to clean the wheels with the brush.
- Wash the brush in a bucket of soapy water before washing the next wheel.
- Repeat for all 4 wheels.
Cleaning your wheel is as simple as that but you don’t have to use a wheel cleaner. Some people prefer to stick with a car wash soap, which is perfectly fine but you may need to scrub harder to remove all the dirt.
Brush Bristles
The main part of the wheel brush is the bristles and they need to be gentle yet effective at removing dirt. If they are too soft, they will struggle to remove dirt but if they are too harsh, the bristle can cause scratches upon the wheel.
This is where paying a premium price for a branded brush that has been thoroughly tested is a worthwhile investment.
The Grip
An anti-slip grip that is comfortable to use is essential whilst cleaning your wheels. Your hands are more than likely going to be wet, which means the grip will need to be designed appropriately otherwise it will be difficult to use.
Hand Guard
The addition of a hand guard to a wheel brush is highly recommended. If you have ever hit your hand on the wheel whilst moving the brush, you will understand the pain. The purpose of a hand guard is to prevent this from happening.
Length
Many brands will offer different size brushes to suit your requirements. Many will even include an angled brush, which means you don’t need to bend over to wash your wheels. The additional length can be beneficial when trying to clean the inside of the wheel, which is often the most difficult to wash.
Which Brush For Your Wheels?
As you can see from the image below, choosing the correct wheel cleaning brush will allow you to reach all the areas of the wheel. Getting behind the spokes and reaching to the other side of the wheel can be very difficult with just a car wash mitt.
The best wheel cleaning brush that suits your requirements will depend upon the width of the wheel and the number of spokes. If there are limited spokes, a thicker brush is ideal but it may struggle with multiple spokes due to the smaller gaps.
Maintenance
To ensure that the wheel brush is safe to use on your wheels, you want to maintain it appropriately. Strong cleaning chemicals and dirt can remain on the bristles of the brush for sometime after using it.
Therefore, you should always clean the brush before putting it in storage. The chemicals can damage the bristles and even cause wear on the handle of the brush.
Benefits of Using a Brush For Wheel Cleaning
No matter how clean your paintwork is, the wheels can ruin the overall appearance if they aren’t fully clean. Investing into a quality wheel cleaning brush will allow you to clean your wheels more effectively than a standard wash mitt.
Using a brush will also reduce the time spent cleaning and are specifically designed to be safe with gentle bristles, which prevents scratches.
Conclusion
Cleaning the wheels of your car or truck is normally the most time consuming part. The purpose of a wheel brush is to allow you to speed up the cleaning process by capturing the dirt with the bristles of the brush. Unlike a regular cleaning brush, the brushes mentioned above are designed for wheels and will not cause any scratches.
All of the recommendations within this article are suitable for a range of wheels and budgets. Once you have started using a brush for cleaning your wheels, you will not want to go back to the old method of using a wash mitt.
