Photo: ALL WONDER
For you to enjoy swimming in your pool, it has to be clean. Apart from the filtration and water circulation systems, the most basic tool that you need for this job is a pool brush.
Regular pool brushing also gives you the benefit of lower maintenance costs since the process keeps the surfaces clean, eliminating regular water treatment and pool shocking.
However, you need to get a good brush for the job in order to enjoy these benefits and this article gives an in-depth review of 10 of the best pool brushes so that you can have an easier time picking the one that is most suitable for your pool.
In this post:
- 10 Best Pool Brushes – Review
- 1. Balance Living Curved – Best Budget Pool Brush
- 2. Milliard Heavy Duty Nylon and Wire Hybrid – Best Pool Brush for Algae
- 3. Milliard Heavy Duty Wire Algae – Best Pool Brush for Stubborn Spots
- 4. Aquatix Pro Heavy-Duty – Best Pool Brush for Tiles
- 5. Poolmaster 20160 – Best Pool Brush for Vinyl
- 6. CJ S8002 – Best Pool Brush for Pebble Tec
- 7. SweepEase 654367706282 – Sticky Pool Brush
- 8. U.S. Pool Supply BS-854 – Good Pool Brush
- 9. SwimLine 8220 – Multi-Purpose Pool Brush
- 10. The Wall Whale Classic – Easy to Use Pool Brush
- How to Buy the Best Pool Brush
- FAQs
- Conclusion
10 Best Pool Brushes – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Balance Living Curved (Best Budget) |
| |
 | 2. Milliard Heavy Duty Nylon and Wire Hybrid (Best for Algae) |
| |
 | 3. Milliard Heavy Duty Wire Algae (Best for Stubborn Spots) |
| |
 | 4. Aquatix Pro Heavy-Duty (Best for Tiles) |
| |
 | 5. Poolmaster 20160 (Best for Vinyl) |
| |
 | 6. CJ S8002 (Best for Pebble Tec) |
| |
 | 7. SweepEase 654367706282 (Sticky Pool Brush) |
| |
 | 8. U.S. Pool Supply BS-854 (Good) |
| |
 | 9. SwimLine 8220 (For Multipurpose Use) |
| |
 | 10. The Wall Whale Classic (Easy to Use) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Balance Living Curved (Best Budget)
2. Milliard Heavy Duty Nylon and Wire Hybrid (Best for Algae)
|
3. Milliard Heavy Duty Wire Algae (Best for Stubborn Spots)
|
4. Aquatix Pro Heavy-Duty (Best for Tiles)
|
5. Poolmaster 20160 (Best for Vinyl)
|
6. CJ S8002 (Best for Pebble Tec)
|
7. SweepEase 654367706282 (Sticky Pool Brush)
|
8. U.S. Pool Supply BS-854 (Good)
|
9. SwimLine 8220 (For Multipurpose Use)
|
10. The Wall Whale Classic (Easy to Use)
|
1. Balance Living Curved – Best Budget Pool Brush
Photo: Balance Living
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Nylon
- Weight: 7.2 ounces
If you are short on cash, you can still get a good pool brush such as this one from Balance Living. Despite its low price, the unit has a wide body that is 18 inches long, with 5 rows of white nylon 1.5-inch bristles and curved edges for easier reach along the corners.
Even though the brush does not have a metallic backing, its blue plastic frame is fortified and this makes it capable of holding the bristles firmly in place as you drag them along the floor or wall.
This robust construction gives the brush multipurpose use such as in brushing off excess plaster, scrubbing algae and pushing dirt.
Other features include a 1.25-inch diameter handle that has a wing-clip retainer and fits most standard telescopic poles.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Wide 18-inch body
- 5 rows of soft white 1.5-inch bristles
- 1.25-inch diameter handle with wing-clip retainer fits most standard telescopic poles
Cons:
- No metallic backing
- Pole not included
2. Milliard Heavy Duty Nylon and Wire Hybrid – Best Pool Brush for Algae
Photo: Milliard
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Nylon/Wire
- Weight: 15.5 ounces
Milliard’s piece is the top-rated pool brush in this review, and this is due to a number of reasons. First, the brush has stainless steel wire/nylon combo bristles, which are less aggressive than all wire strands, but tougher than pure nylon.
This design makes the unit highly effective at scrubbing out stubborn algae from the pool wall and floor without being too abrasive. However, it cannot be used on vinyl pool liners.
These bristles are stapled in a long 18-inch ABS plastic frame, which is wide enough for covering wide areas easily and has curved edges for easy brushing along corners.
The plastic frame is then supported by a heavy-duty aluminum back that has a 45° angled handle, which can fit standard pool poles. This angled position gives the brush an ideal position for easy pushing and effective cleaning.
On the downside, the product is quite expensive but with the features above, it is worth the money.
Pros:
- Tough but less abrasive stainless steel/nylon combo bristles
- Wide 18-inch design
- Curved edges for easy brushing along corners
- ABS plastic plus heavy-duty aluminum frame
- 45° angled handle for easy pushing and effective cleaning
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Not suitable for scrubbing vinyl pool liners
3. Milliard Heavy Duty Wire Algae – Best Pool Brush for Stubborn Spots
Photo: Milliard
- Brush Size: 5 inches
- Bristles: Stainless Steel
- Weight: 8.5 ounces
If you need a pool brush for detail work or stubborn dirty spots, then this unit from Milliard is your best bet.
Although quite small, the 5-inch wide scrubber requires significantly less effort to use than the wider units, making it better at pressing down on stubborn spots. The brush also fits easily in tight spaces and crevices to get rid of stains that don’t respond to other brushes.
To make it even better at scrubbing off the dirt, this brush features stainless steel wire bristles that are very tough, and are ideal for concrete or gunite pool surfaces. The small size also makes it very light, which means it is easier to handle during the scrubbing process.
Other features include a plastic frame that is supported by a heavy-duty aluminum back and a handle with an angled design that fits standard pool poles.
Pros:
- Requires less effort to use
- Fits easily on crevices and tight spaces
- Sturdy stainless-steel wire bristles
- Lightweight
- Fits standard poles
Cons:
- Not ideal for brushing wide areas
- Not suitable for vinyl liners
4. Aquatix Pro Heavy-Duty – Best Pool Brush for Tiles
Photo: Aquatix Pro
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Stainless Steel
- Weight: 12.3 ounces
Aquatix Pro’s pool brush is a heavy-duty grime buster that is equipped with tough stainless-steel bristles, which provide great scrubbing power against algae and stubborn stains while cleaning pools with hard surfaces such as the tiled variety.
The unit is also built with durability in mind, having a sturdy aluminum top and an aluminum attachment handle, which is angled for easier pushing and cleaning. This handle is designed to fit most standard pool poles but these must be bought separately.
Other features include an 18-inch size for wider coverage and curved edges for easier scrubbing around corners.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty design with a sturdy aluminum top and attachment handle
- Tough stainless-steel bristles
- Angled handle for easier pushing and cleaning
- Large 18-inch size for wider coverage
- Curved edges for easier brushing along corners
Cons:
- Not suitable for vinyl-lined or fiberglass pools
- Pole not included
5. Poolmaster 20160 – Best Pool Brush for Vinyl
Photo: Poolmaster
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Polypropylene
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
If you have a vinyl-lined pool, then you should be looking towards Poolmaster’s Deluxe pool brush because it is specifically designed for such surfaces.
This is because the unit has soft polypropylene bristles that are very gentle to the soft vinyl material. In addition to this, it has a smooth, non-abrasive bumper all-around its 18-inch wide frame, which protects the pool surface from scratches.
That said, the brush features a polypropylene body frame that is designed to withstand high temperatures for durability purposes. This frame also has curved edges for easy scrubbing along corners and an angled handle that fits a standard pool pole, which is bought separately.
Other features include a lightweight design due to its all polypropylene body, which makes it easier to handle.
Pros:
- Soft polypropylene bristles make it ideal for vinyl-lined pools
- Smooth non-abrasive bumper prevents scratches
- Wide 18-inch size for extended coverage
- Lightweight polypropylene body frame
- Curved edges for easy scrubbing along corners
Cons:
- Does not come with its pole
6. CJ S8002 – Best Pool Brush for Pebble Tec
Photo: ALL WONDER
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Nylon
- Weight: 14.4 ounces
Pebble Tec pools also require soft brushes to clean because their rough textured surfaces can easily wear off when scrubbed using abrasive bristles such as stainless-steel wire.
For this reason, CJ Lifestyle’s crystal pool brush qualifies for Pebble Tec pools because it has soft nylon bristles, which gently brush off algae and other debris without corroding the underlying surface.
The brush also features a sturdy metal handle that supports the bristles via a molded plastic frame, which holds all the strands firmly and permanently in place.
This plastic frame is curved upwards on the edges for easy brushing on the corners of your pool and has an angled pole insert for easy use and effective brushing.
Pros:
- Universal use soft nylon bristles
- Sturdy metallic handle
- Molded plastic frame holds the strands firmly and permanently in place
- Curved edges for easy brushing
- Angled pole inserts for easy use and effective cleaning
Cons:
- Pole not included
7. SweepEase 654367706282 – Sticky Pool Brush
Photo: SweepEase
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Stainless Steel/ Poly
- Weight: 16 ounces
SweepEase’s AquaDynamic pool brush is a sticky one because it features a patented spoiler design that creates downforce as a result of pushing water away as you push it forward.
This spoiler actually creates 5-10 pounds of pressure, resulting in a powerful brushing action that pushes the bristles down for a one-time scrub.
That said, the included bristles are made from stainless steel and poly, and these are tough enough for scrubbing off persistent algae, calcium, and sodium from pool walls and floors with ease. However, it should not be used in vinyl or fiberglass pools.
Even though the brush is quite expensive, it also has a durable aluminum handle with a quick one-finger release for fitting standard sized poles, plus a high impact poly plastic for holding the bristles firmly in position.
Pros:
- Patented spoiler design for pushing the bristles with 5-10 pounds of pressure to the pool floor or wall
- Tough stainless steel/poly bristles
- Durable aluminum handle
- High impact poly plastic holds the bristles firmly in position
- Quick one-finger release for fitting standard sized poles
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- Cannot be used on vinyl or fiberglass pools
8. U.S. Pool Supply BS-854 – Good Pool Brush
Photo: U.S. Pool Supply
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Nylon
- Weight: 12.8 ounces
This pool brush has a sleek design that features a plastic frame with curved edges and a shiny aluminum back that stretches across the entire 18-inch width over the plastic frame. Apart from reinforcing the plastic, this shiny look improves the brush’s appearance and looks.
The aluminum back includes a quick one-finger release for fitting any standard sized pole quite easily, and this part is angled to present the brush in a way that is easy to push and clean.
For the actual scrubbing, 5 rows of durable nylon bristles are used and these are ideal for sweeping debris off floors and walls in all kinds of pool surfaces.
If you need a more aggressive scrubbing brush, there is a stainless-steel bristle option with the same design, as well as a 20-inch option with an adjustable angle handle, stainless steel bristles on the edges and nylon bristles at the middle.
Pros:
- Sleek design due to its shiny aluminum back
- The 18-inch wide frame makes it easy to clean large areas
- Angled handle with a quick one-release for fitting any standard size pole
- 5 rows of durable nylon bristles
- Stainless steel as well as SS/nylon combo options available
Cons:
- Pole not included
- No spoiler
9. SwimLine 8220 – Multi-Purpose Pool Brush
Photo: SwimLine
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Nylon
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
With thick nylon bristles on its side, the HydroTool by SwimLine can be used to clean a wide array of pool surfaces, ranging from concrete to vinyl and fiberglass. This is because the strands are strong enough to scrub off stubborn dirt, but still smooth enough for delicate surfaces.
Other than that, the brush has an 18-inch wide molded plastic frame for holding the bristles, and it gives a wide sweep on every pass to cover a large area in very little time. Additionally, it has curved edges that make it possible to scrub along corners.
Other features include a sturdy die-cast aluminum back for reinforcing the plastic and a Snap-Adapt quick-release handle that fits all standard sized poles.
Pros:
- Thick nylon bristles for scrubbing stubborn dirt on all kinds of pool surfaces
- 18-inch wide frame for extended coverage
- Curved edges for easy brushing along corners
- Sturdy die-cast aluminum back
- Snap-Adapt quick-release handle fits any standard sized pole
Cons:
- No built-in spoiler
- Does not come with its pole
10. The Wall Whale Classic – Easy to Use Pool Brush
Photo: The Wall Whale Classic
- Brush Size: 18 inches
- Bristles: Nylon
- Weight: 22 ounces
This pool brush lives up to its name by having an additional fishtail to its structure, which is designed to act like a car bumper, providing “downforce” that pushes the bristles with more than 10 times the force of a normal brush to the wall for easy one-time scrubbing.
Though this makes the entire piece quite heavy, the design provides an effortless and powerful brushing action that reduces strain to the user and quickens the cleaning process.
For the bristles, nylon material is used and this makes the brush suitable for multiple swimming pool surfaces, ranging from soft vinyl to hard concrete and gunite.
The nylon bristles are designed to last up to 4 times longer than normal plastic ones and are held in place by a plastic and professional grade metal frame, which has an angled handle for easy pushing.
On the downside, this product is very expensive but the whale tail convenience makes it worth the money.
Pros:
- Whale tail design provides up to 10 times the force of a normal cleaning brush
- Nylon bristles make it usable on a wide range of pool surfaces
- Durable bristles last up to 4 times longer than normal plastic ones
- Strong plastic and professional grade metal frame
- Angled handle for easy use
Cons:
- Costly
- Heavy
How to Buy the Best Pool Brush
Photo: Aquatix Pro
1. Pool Surface
The pool’s surface plays a big role in determining the type of pool brush that you will buy. Most hard surfaces such as tiles, concrete, and gunite can be scrubbed using wire, nylon, polypropylene or stainless steel/nylon combo brushes because they can handle all.
Smooth brushes are obviously usable, but it is recommended to use the wire brush on such surfaces because the abrasion power makes it easier to scrap off all grime, algae and all stubborn stains without causing any damage.
On the other hand, when dealing with a soft pool surface such as vinyl or fiberglass, you cannot use a stainless-steel wire brush because the resulting abrasive action will deeply corrode the surface and destroy the pool.
The only remaining options are either nylon or polypropylene brushes, which are all basically plastic, and are tough enough to scrub off the debris but still smooth enough not to cause damage.
2. Size
When it comes to size, the bigger the pool, the wider the brush that you will need. For large pools, 18-inch or wider brushes are ideal because they will help you cover the entire surface much faster than if you were using a small brush.
However, this does not discard small brushes as being useless. They are ideal for spot cleaning and also for clearing out dirt on crevices and hard to reach areas.
3. Bristles
As stated earlier, stainless steel or wire brushes are better for pools with hard surfaces and should not be used on softer ones such as vinyl or fiberglass.
However, regardless of the bristle material, there is one important safety factor to consider, and that is wear and tear. As soon as you spot your brush is beginning to shred bristles, replace it immediately with a new one.
This is because bristle strands on the pool floor can be very dangerous, and can even prick your feet, especially if they are the stainless-steel type.
4. Handle
This is an important component of the brush as it is the part that attaches to an external pole, which is then used to push the brush as you hold the other end.
In considering this part, for easier fitting, it should be sized in such a way that it can accommodate standard pool poles, which can then be switched from one brush to the other, for instance when your bristles wear out, and you buy a replacement.
The part should also be angled for easy pushing, and for easier installation, it should have a quick release mechanism for convenient fitting and removal of the pole.
5. Construction
Another important factor to consider is how the pool brush is built. Of course, the ones with metallic backings are better because of their durability factor and should be highly considered over their fully plastic counterparts.
However, there is one unique design that can make your work easier, and that is the inclusion of a spoiler. Though expensive, such brushes create some sort of downforce that pushes the bristles towards the pool surface, making it easier to clean on the walls.
This is because they stick to the surface, thereby reducing the effort required in removing stubborn stains during the cleaning process. Also, the sides of the brush should be curved for easy cleaning along corners.
FAQs
1. Why Should I Brush My Pool?
Pool brushing is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps you maintain the cleanliness of your pool’s water, as well as on its floor and walls.
In the process, this also reduces chemical damage to the surfaces because these chemicals (such as calcium) cause pitting.
Lastly, this manual cleaning helps to lower maintenance costs by reducing the rate of water treatment and pool shocking.
2. How Often Do I Brush My Pool?
If you have a new plaster pool, brush it at least twice a day for the first two weeks to open up the pores to allow for better cement curing. This process also helps to get rid of loose plaster dust so that it can be filtered.
However, for other older pools, they should be brushed at least once weekly with regular use or twice weekly if under heavy use.
Generally, the process should take less than 20 minutes but this depends on a number of factors such as the size of the pool, design, and even the size of the brush.
3. When Should I Replace My Pool Brush?
As is the case with every other product, wear-and-tear is inevitable in pool brushes. Whether it is a wire, poly or nylon unit, some bristles will start to fall off after some time, and this depends on the frequency of use and handling of the brush.
When you spot some bristles are missing, the time has come for you to look for a replacement and this should be done immediately because the more the bristles that fall into the pool’s floor, the riskier it will be to swim there due to the prickly nature that they have (especially wire bristles).
Conclusion
To summarize, with pool brushes, basically, what you see is what you get. There are those that have metallic wire brushes while others have softer plastic ones, and all these differences are clearly visible just by taking a visual of the product.
All you need to do is to make sure you know exactly what you want by identifying your pool’s surface and size, then pick the one that is within your budget from the best pool brushes listed above.
You should also consider some additional convenience features such as spoilers because they simplify the cleaning task for easy use.