Seven Smart Ways to Use a Grill Brush (No Grill)
Even if you no longer use a wire brush to clean your grill, you may still need one or more for other household tasks and projects. I’ve found that these durable, stiff-bristled brushes can come in handy when removing flaking paint, getting rid of rust, and other similar tasks that require a little effort.
How to Decide Which Grill Brush to Use
Most grill brushes have stainless steel, brass, or nylon bristles. Stainless steel is the hardest and most abrasive of the three, followed by brass and finally nylon, each best suited for specific uses and applications. I usually have one with nylon bristles and one with stainless steel or brass bristles for different projects.
Like any utility brush, grill brushes don’t last forever: over time, the bristles can fall out or break, so keep an eye on how yours holds up. Also, keep in mind that the bristles of a grill brush, especially those made of stainless steel, can easily scratch the surface, so don’t use it on softer materials.
How to use a grill brush at home
Always use proper safety precautions when handling a wire grill brush, as it will leave behind debris such as dirt, bits of rust, or flakes of paint. If you’re concerned about scratches, you can start with a test patch on a less noticeable area. Generally speaking, brass or nylon grill brushes tend to be the most versatile since they are not as harsh on surfaces.
I bought my first grill brush to scrape chipped paint off a metal window frame, but quickly realized it wasn’t a one-time use item. It soon became my favorite tool for cleaning and restoring some pieces of antique furniture, as well as removing light rust from some metal surfaces.
Here’s how to use a grill brush for non-grill related tasks:
Scraping off peeling or flaking paint
Try a grill brush if you need to remove flaking paint from your house, fence, deck, piece of furniture or, of course, window frame. If you’re concerned about scratches, choose a brush with brass or nylon bristles and test an inconspicuous area first. It is important to note that grill brushes should only be used if the paint has already begun to flake due to blistering, blistering, flaking or flaking.
In addition to the window frame, I also used a grill brush to remove flaking paint from an old wood stool I was restoring.
Removing rust from metal furniture and parts
Whether it’s a rust stain on a metal bed frame or one side of a metal filing cabinet that’s been pressed against a damp wall for years, a brass or nylon grill brush can help. For example, I used a grill brush to remove light rust from the legs of an antique metal stool. Although most of it came off right away, I sprayed some WD-40 on a particularly tough spot, let it sit for a few minutes, and then lightly brushed it off.
Likewise, I used a grill brush to remove rust from my ancient shower curtain rod holder. Here’s a before and after shot of me giving it a quick (less than one minute) brush with a grill brush:
It’s not perfect, but it’s better than it was.
Curious about what else I could do with a grill brush, I found a few more uses for this tool, courtesy of Merry Maids :
Cleaning fireplace screens and tools
Grill brushes can be used to remove layers of soot and ash from steel or wrought-iron fireplace tools, as well as from metal or wire mesh fireplace screens. Always start with a test area to make sure the grill brush won’t cause any damage.
Deep cleaning of floor and door mats
Sure, you can pull dirty floor mats out of the car and hose them down, but that doesn’t always get rid of stuck debris. Use a brass or nylon grill brush to scrub them, then rinse and air dry. This also applies to rubber and synthetic door mats. Be a little careful with items made from natural fibers such as coconut fiber and jute: if they are woven, it is best not to touch them with a grill brush.
Cleaning Your Brushes
Use a grill brush to remove dried paint from the bristles of your brush. First, soak the brushes in warm water and/or cleaning solution, then brush the bristles with the stiffer bristles of a wire brush.
Cleaning the solution
While there are many foaming cleaners that promise to clean grout, some stains require a little more effort. This is when a brass or nylon grill brush can come in handy. If you have a narrow wire grill brush that looks like a large toothbrush, that’s even better.
Before you begin, make sure that the brush will not scratch the tile or remove glaze or paint. Use a light touch: A few strokes with the brush are often enough to get rid of the stain without removing the grout. My bathroom has standard white subway tile, and my grill brush made easy work of grout stains that bathroom cleaner alone couldn’t remove.
Cleaning garden tools and hand tools
Shovels, rakes, hoes and spades can become crusty over the course of the season due to accumulated dirt and debris. Or, if you haven’t used your tools for a while, you may notice rust starting to form. Either way, a grill brush can help you get your gardening tools back to their original shape.
Likewise, a grill brush can help remove dirt and rust from hand tools like hammers, saws, and screwdrivers.