Detailing Brushes

Detailing brushes clean where a wash mitt cannot reach: badges, grilles, window rubbers and panel gaps. The range covers natural boar hair brushes from Better Detailing and Alchemy, Maxshine ultra-soft synthetic and horsehair brushes, and firm and chemical resistant brushes, with more from Mammoth Microfibre and Mothers. Interior detailing brushes for vents, seams and switches, and brush sets from Alchemy, are here too.

How to choose

• Bristle: boar hair and horsehair are naturally soft and hold soapy water well, so they suit paint, badges and gloss trim. Ultra-soft synthetics do the same job and dry faster. Firm synthetics are for tyres, textured plastics and engine bays.
• Chemicals: strong wheel cleaners and degreasers wear out natural bristles. For those jobs a synthetic brush, or the Better Detailing chemical resistant brush, lasts longer.
• Size: a large brush such as the 17cm Maxshine horsehair covers grilles quickly. A small one gets into badges, lettering and vents.

Good to know

• Use Wheel Brushes on wheels: brake dust caught in a paint brush scratches paint.
• On paint and gloss trim, pick a brush with a covered metal band. Bare metal marks the surface.
• Rinse after use and dry bristles down. Water left in the handle loosens the bristles.

What brushes are best for car detailing?

It depends on the surface. Soft boar hair, horsehair or ultra-soft synthetic brushes suit paint, badges and gloss trim. Firm synthetic brushes are for tyres, textured plastics and engine bays, and wheels get their own wheel brushes so brake dust never ends up in a paint brush. On paint, choose a brush with a covered metal band.

Related: Brushes & Applicators, Brush Sets, Interior & Leather Brushes, Citrus Pre-Wash. Popular brands here: Better Detailing, Maxshine, Alchemy, Mammoth Microfibre.