Think all BBQ brushes are the same? Think again! Choosing the correct brush can make a substantial difference in both the longevity of the grate and also in the efficiency of cleaning your grill.

When choosing a cleaning brush it all comes
down to your cooking grates!


The two most common types of cooking grates are Cast Iron and Stainless Steel. Cast offers exceptional heat retention and non-stick properties (when correctly seasoned!) but at the cost of some additional maintenance. Stainless Steel on the other hand offers the most durable and user friendly grate options while also offering superior protection against rust.

Which is "better" is more of a personal preference, but note that most manufacturers entry level grills start with cast grates and then they switch over to stainless steel for higher end models (Mainly due to the longer lifespan of the stainless).




Cast Iron grates generally appear much darker and usually have a slightly rough texture due to the porcelain coating. Since raw cast iron would likely rust overnight, most grates are protected by a porcelain enamel coating that seals the grate completely to help protect against moisture. The finish is very durable, but care is required in maintaining peak performance. 

* Note that brushes with blade style scrapers are NOT recommended for use with cast iron as it can chip the protective coating leading to premature failure. 




Stainless Steel grates start out as shiny metal and then slowly develop a smoked look after multiple uses. Since most stainless grates are solid steel, you can attack them with a wider range of cleaning tools. 

Metal Bristle Brush Safety:

Most safety related stories we hear about bristle brushes involve either:

A: An old brush way past its useable life. * or
B: A poor quality brush from a discount store.

* We recommend changing your brush at least once a season, twice or more if you're an avid griller. Once the bristles start to heavily deform or if you notice any loose or damaged bristles the brush should be replaced immediately. 

Quality manufacturers like Weber and Napoleon use safety standards and test their brushes for quality control. Many models now twist the bristles between a heavy wire frame or use a mechanical fastener such as a staple to hold the bristles in place as an additional layer of protection.

Brush Types:

Each brush type offers advantages and disadvantages. Learn more below to ensure you make the correct choice for your specific grill type.

  • Stainless Bristle
  • Bristle Free Coil Style
  • Nylon Bristle
  • Palmyra Bristle
  • Mesh style scrubber
  • Scour Pads
  • Wooden Scrapers
  • Pumice Blocks


Stainless Steel Bristle:

  • An Excellent choice for Cast Iron or Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • Maximum cleaning power to sweep down into small areas
  • Some brush designs can be turned on end for detailed cleaning
  • Extremely unlikely but potential exists for saftey concerns

Stainless Steel Wire Bristle Brushes offer superior cleaning ability and last longer than most alternate styles. The individual wires do an excellent job at sweeping down into little nooks and crannies that alternate style brushes can struggle to achieve. Many designs also allow you to scrub with the brush standing on end or flipped over so that you can really get after any grease or grime.  

As noted above, metal bristle brushes can pose a safety risk if not maintained or if purchased from an inferior manufacturer. Always choose a quality brush with a trusted name behind it such as Napoleon or Weber. Replacing your brush 1-3 times per year depending on usage is highly recommended.


Bristle Free Coil-Style Brush

  • A Good choice for straight bar Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • Single wire, bristle free design provides a metal alternative
  • Cleans the top of the grate well but lower sides and tight areas can be difficult
  • Can be challenging on wavy grates such as Napoleon
  • Not recommended for use on Cast Iron grates

Coil style grill brushes are made using a single thread of wire for each coil, providing an all-metal alternative to a traditional bristle style brush. Because of the all metal design it retains durability and can be used on a hot grill unlike many other alternatives. As pressure is applied to the brush, the coils spread around the grate allowing the top and upper part of the grill to be cleaned. The small tradeoff here is that it will be difficult to clean into small areas like the welds etc. This style of grill brush is not suitable for cast iron cooking grates.


Nylon Bristle Brush

  • A Good choice for Cast Iron or Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • Non-metallic bristles will burn off in the grill if dislodged
  • Must allow grill to cool significantly prior to use
  • Wears out faster than a traditional metal bristle brush

Nylon bristle brushes offer many of the same advantages of the metal bristle brush but with a few key differences. Most notably nylon brushes must be used on a cold grill as they are not intended to be used on hot grill surfaces or they can melt. Additionally, nylon tends to wear down faster than a traditional metal bristle brush therefor requiring more frequent replacement. 


Palmyra Bristle Brush

  • A Good choice for Cast Iron or Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • Non-metallic bristles will burn off in the grill if dislodged
  • Must allow grill to cool significantly prior to use
  • Wears out faster than a traditional metal bristle brush

Palmyra bristle brushes have more or less the same functionality as a Nylon brush, but the bristles are made from the all natural stalk of palm trees. This being the case, should a bristle fall out of the brush it should just burn off in the grill leaving next to nothing behind. 


Mesh Style Scrubber

  • A Good choice for Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • All mesh deisgn eliminates the concern for bristles
  • Mesh can pull apart if caught on something sharp
  • Too agressive for cast iron grates

Mesh scrubbers are a happy middle ground between a metal bristle brush and a scour pad style brush. Since the mesh itself is metal it does a great job of grinding off grease and grime while offering an alternate design to traditional style bristle brushes. The tradeoff here is that this style of brush is best suited for stainless steel cooking grates and is NOT recommended for cast. Also be careful not to snag the mesh on a sharp corner as it can start to pull apart and unravel.


Scour Pads

  • A Good choice for Cast Iron or Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • Bristle free design eliminates safety concerns
  • Don't last as long
  • Can get gummed up with grease (sometimes boiling in water helps)

Scour style cleaners are a great alternate if you do not wish to use a metal bristle brush or are looking to clean cast iron a bit more delicately. Although they are slightly more prone to clogging with grease, these metal free alternatives do quite a good job at keeping your grates looking fresh. Keep a couple extra pads on hand in case you run into a really greasy cleanup!


Wooden Scrapers

  • A Good choice for straight bar Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
  • All natural design eliminates bristles completely
  • Must be "setup" to your grill so that it conforms to your grate
  • Can be difficult on wavy grates such as Napoleon
  • Cleans the top of the grate but difficult to reach tight areas

Wooden scrapers are all natural alternatives to the standard grill brush. Most require a short setup or burn in period to allow the wood to conform to your cooking grate. Once dialed in they do a good job at cleaning the top side of the grate but can struggle with detailed cleanups and tight spaces.



Pumice Blocks

  • A great way to fully strip Stainless Steel cooking grates
  • Works like sandpaper to agressivly strip grease and buildup
  • Not recommended for Cast Iron grates
  • Not recommended for daily use - best used for full cleanups
  • Leaves behind a dust which should be blown or rinsed out of the grill

Pumice blocks are an agressive way to fully strip stainless steel grates back down to the metal. They are best suited for deep cleans or if you have really stubborn debris that cannot be cleaned with a standard style brush. The block wears away as its used and leaves behind a dust which should be cleaned out of the grill prior to resuming cooking. 

Still have questions about which brush is best for you? No problem - We are here to help! Feel free to give us a call at the store at (604)-985-0234 or reach out via e-mail to sales@johnstones.com