House Grail is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

10 Best Pool Brushes of 2024 – Top Picks & Reviews

a pool brush

a pool brush

Finding the right pool brush can be a tall challenge. While many models feature similar prices, some are made more cheaply than others and don’t live up to our hopes and expectations. It can be hard to tell which are the winners and which won’t last long when you’re shopping online. Misleading product descriptions and confusing terminology can make the process more difficult than it needs to be.

We want you to be able to quickly and easily tell which products are worth using when you shop online. Our reviews show you the good and the bad about each of the best pool brushes so that you know exactly what you’re getting when you buy. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide to help you think through the buying process, so if you’ve never owned a pool brush before, you can buy with confidence.

Divider 4

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2024)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Wall Whale Algae Pool Brush Wall Whale Algae Pool Brush
  • Grips the side of the pool
  • One-hand use
  • Compatible with any pole
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Blue Devil Wall Pool Brush Blue Devil Wall Pool Brush
  • Metal-reinforced frame
  • Compatible with any pole
  • 18-inch width
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Milliard 18″ Hybrid Pool Brushes Milliard 18″ Hybrid Pool Brushes
  • Dual wire-nylon brushes
  • 18-inch width
  • Curved edges
  • Poolmaster 18″ Algae Pool Brush Poolmaster 18″ Algae Pool Brush
  • Steel bristles
  • 18-inch width
  • Metal-reinforced frame
  • Aquatix Pro Pool-Brush Head Aquatix Pro Pool-Brush Head
  • Metal-reinforced frame
  • 18-inch width
  • Curved edges
  • The 10 Best Pool Brushes

    1. Wall Whale Algae Pool Brush – Best Overall

    The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Algae Pool Brush

    The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Algae Pool Brush is easily the best pool brush on the market today for getting rid of algae. This model features a unique tail on the brush, which creates downforce as you push it down the side of the pool, force that normally you’d have to provide yourself. That makes it extremely easy to use and enables you to clean your pool using only one hand. If you’re tired of breaking your back cleaning your pool, then you’ll love this brush.

    The downforce makes it the best pool brush for pebble tec pools with their rough, textured finishes which can be hard to clean with traditional brushes. This model is also compatible with any pole, so you can use one you already own or get a new, lightweight model. Plus, the bristles are made from nylon which lasts far longer than regular plastic bristles. While the fin makes this a poor choice for cleaning steps, it will clean the rest of your pool in record time. This is the best overall pool brush on the market today and one that will leave everyone happy with their buy.

    Pros
    • Grips the side of the pool
    • One-hand use
    • Compatible with any pole
    • Nylon bristles
    Cons
    • Not great for steps

    2. Blue Devil Wall Pool Brush – Best Value

    Blue Devil B3518 Wall Brush Deluxe

    The Blue Devil Wall Brush Deluxe is a good choice for the shopper who’s looking to save a little money on their next purchase, but who also wants to get a great deal. It comes with a metal-reinforced frame, so it’s going to stand up to use far better than many of the models on our list. It’s also compatible with any pole, so you’ll be able to use it with one you already own, furthering your savings. Plus, it comes with an 18-inch width, so you’ll be able to clean your pool in fewer strokes than you’d need with a narrower pool brush.

    You can get this model for half of what you’d pay for the top model on our list, making it the best overall value for the money. If you’re looking for great cleaning performance and a low price to boot, you won’t be dissatisfied with this model. The one downside to it is that it isn’t great on rounded surfaces, which will make it the wrong choice for some pools. Still, if you’re looking for a great deal, you’ll be really happy with this model.

    Pros
    • Metal-reinforced frame
    • Compatible with any pole
    • 18-inch width
    • Great price
    Cons
    • Not great for rounded areas

    3. Milliard 18″ Hybrid Pool Brushes

    Milliard 18

    The Milliard 18″ Heavy Duty Hybrid Brush is designed for people who want the power of a wire brush but are looking for the weight and gentleness of a nylon pool brush. This model comes with both wire and nylon brush tips, giving it superior cleaning relative to nylon brushes, while still leaving it lighter and softer than a full-wire brush. It comes with an 18-inch width, allowing you to cover the same area in record time. It also comes with curved edges, which makes it good for cleaning around curves and corners.

    However, due to the wire bristles, there are some situations in which you can’t use this model. It will definitely rip vinyl pool liners. The Milliard also seems to deteriorate rapidly when used in a saltwater pool. Overall, this is a good brush with a novel design, but it’s not going to be the right option for all pools, even though the price isn’t that high.

    Pros
    • Dual wire-nylon brushes
    • 18-inch width
    • Curved edges
    Cons
    • Can’t use with vinyl pool liners
    • Not great for saltwater pools

    4. Poolmaster 18″ Algae Pool Brush

    Poolmaster 20183 18

    If you have bad algae stains that other brushes can’t touch, the Poolmaster 18″ Aluminum-Back Algae Brush could be the model for you. It comes with steel bristles, which are the strongest cleaning material you’re likely to find on any pool brush. The brush itself is 18-inches wide, so you’ll be able to clean your pool quickly and efficiently relative to the narrower configurations. It also comes with an aluminum-reinforced frame, which is both strong and lightweight and helps offset the heavier bristles on this model.

    However, you can’t use this model with vinyl liners or on fiberglass surfaces. You’ll scratch them badly, and there’s a chance that you’ll end up ripping through them altogether, which is a huge pain to deal with. This model is also too hard to use on pools that have soft finishes, so this is a brush that’s only going to be useful in very limited circumstances. Though it certainly isn’t a bad pool brush, it’s one that only certain users will be able to use effectively.

    Pros
    • Steel bristles
    • 18-inch width
    • Metal-reinforced frame
    Cons
    • Can’t use on vinyl or fiberglass
    • Can’t use on soft finishes

    5. Aquatix Pro Pool-Brush Head

    Aquatix Pro Pool Brush Head

    The Aquatix Pro Pool Brush Head is one of the cheaper models here, but it has enough issues that it falls to last place on our list. This model does come with a frame reinforced with aluminum. This gives the frame some durability, while also keeping total weight down relative to some of the other models. It also comes with an 18-inch width, so you’ll be able to keep your pool clean with fewer strokes than you would need with those that have narrower brushes. It also comes with curved edges, which in theory should allow you to clean around corners.

    However, this model ships with bristles that remain parallel to each other, even as the body of the brush curves. This makes it a poor choice for people who genuinely need to clean around curves in their pool since the bristles won’t reach into the gap like they would on other models. Plus, the Aquatix suffers from heavy shedding issues, which leads to more cleanup work and makes for a poor overall deal. While the low price may make this model worth it in some consumers’ eyes, you can get better value for the same price with other models on our list.

    Pros
    • Metal-reinforced frame
    • 18-inch width
    • Curved edges
    Cons
    • Shedding issues
    • Misaligned bristles

    6. Daveyspa 18” Swimming Pool Brush

    Daveyspa Light

    At a mere eight ounces, this is one of the lightest full-size pool brushes that we used. Thanks to its poly-carbon construction, it’s not just light but strong as well, though not as strong as some of the aluminum models. The bristles go all the way up the curved ends of the brush. Interestingly, both ends are detachable, which leaves you with a straight, albeit slightly shorter, swimming pool brush.

    The bristles seemed softer than on competing brushes. While we appreciated that they were gentle on the flooring and didn’t create and scratches or marring, we also thought they were slightly less effective than some of the harder bristles. In all, we thought the Daveyspa Light poly-carbon swimming pool brush was a very adequate performer, though a wing to help it stay on the floor while in use would have helped it move up a few more rungs.

    Pros
    • Bristles up the curved ends
    • Detachable ends
    • Lightweight
    Cons
    • Not as strong as metal frames
    • Not the stiffest bristles

    7. Daveyspa 18” Pool-Brush

    Daveyspa Heavy Duty

    Our first impressions of the Daveyspa aluminum swimming pool brush were initially positive. At 18 inches wide, it’s suitable for pools of any size and will allow you to speed through the cleaning process. An aluminum backing is attached to a plastic frame. The total weight of 15 ounces isn’t the lightest, but it’s manageable.

    This brush seemed pretty sturdy but didn’t want to stay attached to the pole. This wasn’t a major issue, more of just an annoyance. The biggest issue was with rust. In just a few weeks, this brush had started showing signs of rust. Although it held up better than many competitors, we were dismayed to see the oxidation and it holds back this otherwise adequate brush.

    Pros
    • 18” wide
    • Aluminum back with hardened plastic frame
    Cons
    • Shorter than advertised length
    • Difficulty staying on pole
    • Rusts

    8. Braoses Swimming Pool Brush

    Braoses Swimming Pool Brush

    The Braoses swimming pool brush is a cost-effective way to keep your pool clean at less than half the price of many competing brushes. Similarly, it features a plastic frame with aluminum backing for strength. What we noticed first was that the brush bristles do not extend all the way to the ends of the frame. The result is that the actual brush is more than an inch shorter than advertised. We wouldn’t have been too concerned though if that was the only issue.

    After sweeping, we came out the next day to find tons of brush fibers in the pool. We thought they may be loose bristles from the factory, but the problem continued. This brush sheds too many of its bristles to hold up to long-term use. We also discovered rust after just a few weeks. Despite the affordable price, we think your money is better spent on a brush that will last many seasons rather than just a few weeks.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Aluminum backing and handle attachment
    Cons
    • Shorter than advertised
    • Brush fibers fall out
    • Rusts quickly

    9. HydroTools Pool Floor & Wall Brush

    HydroTools by Swimline

    Small pools and hot tubs may not need the larger brush required in a bigger pool. In fact, a brush that size may become a hindrance. The HydroTools pool floor and wall brush solves this problem with a 10-inch wide brush that will fit easily into any nooks and crannies. At just 5.6 ounces, it’s by far the lightest and easiest to use brush we tested. Of course, that size and weight are only an advantage in a small pool, becoming a disadvantage in any larger sized swimming pools which would take ages to clean with this brush.

    Accompanying the small form factor is also a small price tag. This is one of the cheapest pool brushes available. All plastic construction helps keep the weight and price low, but it doesn’t aid in strength or durability. After many uses the plastic has a hard time holding up. The bristles also seemed to wear down too quickly compared to the other brushes. Luckily, replacing this brush isn’t a big deal, though we’d still recommend a more durable and larger brush for most pools.

    Pros
    • Very light 5.6 ounces
    • Inexpensive
    Cons
    • Bristles wear down quickly
    • Very small – cleaning takes longer
    • All plastic construction isn’t very strong

    10. U.S. Pool Supply Pool Brush

    U.S. Pool Supply Professional

    Initially, we liked the adjustable angle of the U.S. Pool Supply Professional floor and wall pool cleaning brush. Being able to push a button and gain some leverage is very useful, though it also makes for a much weaker attachment. In the end, that’s the major problem with this brush. When it works, it’s very convenient. It’s just not strong enough to hold up to the regular duties of pool cleaning. The adjustable handle broke on ours in just a few weeks.

    We did appreciate the extra-wide 20 inches of cleaning surface this brush provides. The ends curve up to make cleaning stairs and corners easier, but the bristles are softer than the main brush bristles and they wore down very quickly. Plastic was used for the whole frame so it won’t rust, but it’s also not the strongest. Despite the issues, this is one of the higher-priced models on the market. We suggest saving your money and picking a more robust brush that will last much longer.

    Pros
    • Adjustable angle handle
    • 20” width
    • Bristles up to the ends
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Cheap plastic doesn’t last
    • Handle likely to snap
    • End bristles wear too quickly

    Divider 3

    Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Pool Brush

    When it comes to choosing the best pool brush, there are three things that you need to consider in order to get a model that you like using.

    Cleaning power is the most important of these. Some models, like the first one on our list, come with special features to increase the downforce and make the cleaning job far easier. Others use steel or aluminum bristles to increase the cleaning power over that provided by nylon or plastic bristles. Of course, those stronger materials have the potential to scratch pools, so it’s a good idea to only use them on durable pool surfaces.

    A big part of a pool brush’s value stems from its durability. The longer it lasts, the better value you get. Brushes with metal bristles will last longer, but they also tend to cost more out of the gate. It’s also important that you don’t get a model with shedding problems, as those can prove unusable in just a few months, and can put extra strain on your filtering system in the meantime.

    Width is an underrated factor. While smaller brushes are cheaper, being able to clean a wider area per pull will get the job done much faster. Over the course of a season, that could result in saving you dozens of hours of work, which you can then spend relaxing in your pool, instead.

    Divider 5

    Conclusion

    Our picks for the best pool brush is The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Algae Pool Brush, which grips the side of the pool, uses superior nylon bristles, and can be used with just one hand.

    The Blue Devil Wall Brush Deluxe is another good option that comes with a metal-reinforced frame and an 18-inch width. You can get this model for about half of what you’d pay for the top model on our list, making it the best overall value for your money.

    In third is the Milliard 18″ Heavy Duty Hybrid Brush, which comes with a dual wire-nylon brush configuration and curved edges, though its incompatibility with vinyl pool liners and saltwater pools keeps it out of the top two.

    The Poolmaster 18″ Aluminum-Back Algae Brush comes with steel bristles and a metal-reinforced frame, but its incompatibility with many kinds of pools drops it to fourth place. The Aquatix Pro Pool Brush Head is wide, but some odd design choices and shedding problems mean it can only take last place.

    We hope that our reviews have helped you learn more about pool brushes, and we hope that you’ll find the model that is right for you.

    Other pool cleaning equipment we’ve reviewed:

    Contents

    Related posts

    OUR categories

    Project ideas

    Hand & power tools

    woodworking

    Garden

    Automotive