Top 5 Best Wheel Cleaning Brushes
The wheels on a car can be extremely frustrating to clean, since they come in a variety of finishes and many have intricate designs filled with tiny crevices and hard to reach areas. Multi-spoke or mesh design wheels are notoriously difficult, especially if you’re just using a standard hand mitt for cleaning. Do yourself a favor and get a quality wheel cleaning brush, this way every inch of your wheels are spotless after a wash, without requiring a significant amount of effort.
As you can imagine, there aren’t a whole lot of factors to consider when shopping for a wheel brush. You’ll just want to make sure the brush features soft bristles that are safe on every finish, so you don’t damage your wheels while cleaning them. Look for something that’s comfortable and easy to hold, especially if the handle gets wet. Most wheel brushes on the market will appear to check all the right boxes based on their product descriptions, but you might be surprised by what you actually receive.
If you go with one of our recommendations, the only surprise you’ll get is when you see the results and how easy it was to clean your wheels. These are quality products that are built to last, and when used properly, won’t damage your wheels.
For more information on the best wheel cleaning brushes, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
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We drive the latest new cars, trucks, and SUVs, but did you also know the team at AutoGuide.com tests tires, waxes, wiper blades, and pressure washers? Before we recommend a product as a top pick in one of our popular product lists, our editors put it to the test. We run through all its features, test the claims that the brand makes about each product, and then give an honest opinion on what we like and don’t like from our personal experience. As experts in all-things automotive, from minivans to sports cars, and from portable jump starters to ceramic coating, we want to make sure you buy the product that’s right for you.
1. Editor's Pick: Chemical Guys Wheelie Brush
After months of testing and evaluating the Chemical Guys' Wheelie Brush, it's now my favorite to use. While it can be used on all exterior surfaces, I strictly use mine just for getting the dirt and grime off my wheels. The brush features medium-duty bristles and while its handle is on the shorter side, it's ergonomic and comfortable to use. It also ensures you have better control of the brush to minimize the risk of causing any damage to your wheels.
The reason why I have this brush at the top of the list is how durable it has been over the last few months. The bristles aren't frayed and the handle hasn't cracked or faded.
Product features:
- Best for gentle light/medium duty cleaning
- Gets deep into wheel wells
- Soft flagged-trip bristles are versatile and can help clean other parts of the vehicle
- Ergonomic, hard plastic handle
2. Runner-up: Mothers Wheel Brush
Our top recommendation comes from one of the most recognizable brands in the car care industry. This wheel cleaning brush features a comfortable, non-slip grip to go with its soft and gentle bristles. It's designed to reach tight spots and you don't have to worry about any accidental damage since there's a protective rubberized bumper surrounding the head of the brush.
We prefer using this brush over other options because of the simple, yet effective, raised dimples found on the handle. These dimples make the brush easier to grip when the handle gets wet. There's also an option for an extra long handle if you want to use the brush on other areas of your cars, such as the fender lining.
Product features:
- Popular brand in the car care industry
- Comfort, non-slip grip with raised dimples
- Soft and gentle bristles
- Rubberized bumper
- Available with an extra long handle
3. Adam's Wheel Woolies Car Detailing Brush Bundle
This bundle of 2 brushes comes from one of our personal favorite car detailing brands. If you don't need both brushes, they are sold separately. Featuring a 45° angle, these brushes are designed to make cleaning behind your wheels easier. The small brush measures 13" while the large brush is 19". An easy grip handle offers a comfortable grip while using these brushes.
Both brushes have 100% polypropylene black and red wool carpet fibers that are durable and resistant to chemicals. Soft and dense, these fibers clean better and last longer than some nylon bristles found on other wheel brushes.
Product features:
- Available in 2 sizes (13" and 19")
- 45° angle
- Easy grip handle
- 100% polypropylene black and red wool carpet fibers
- Durable and chemical resistant
- Soft and dense
Recent Updates
April 5, 2024: For a better shopping experience, we have reduced the number of recommendations to three. In additional, we have a new editor's pick based on months of testing and evaluating the recommended product.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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