How to choose best brush - buying guide

Cleaning brushes form a wide assortment among professional cleaning accessories. In domestic conditions, two or three brushes that we use for many purposes are enough, but in the case of cleaning companies or places such as industrial plants, chemical plants, food processing plants, or professional kitchens, the staff responsible for maintaining cleanliness should be equipped with brushes that can handle cleaning hard-to-reach places and equipment. Each cleaning brush aims to remove dirt, but it's worth choosing the right one for our needs because brushes differ significantly in their properties. In the case of brushes from Aricasa, we are talking about very high quality and a variety of applications.

What are the properties of cleaning brushes?

Bristle thickness

The thickness of the bristles is closely related to its purpose. Aricasa brushes have bristles in three thicknesses: 0.25 mm (soft), 0.5 mm (semi-soft), 0.75 mm (hard). For very tough dirt or rough surfaces, hard bristles are required to remove contaminants. For delicate surfaces, soft bristles are sufficient, while hard ones are not recommended to avoid scratching. Semi-soft bristles are universal and can be used for cleaning various surfaces.

Bristle length

The bristles should not be too long as they will bend, making it difficult to remove dirt. They should not be too short either, as this would result in scrubbing with the brush base, causing bristles to fall out. Therefore, Aricasa brushes have bristles of varying lengths depending on the brush's purpose.

Bristle color

Aricasa brushes have bristles in five colors, which is very useful for cleaning staff, especially in places with a high risk of cross-contamination. Color coding allows specific tools to be used only in designated areas, reducing the risk of using the same brushes in different areas that pose critical threats to each other. It is not necessary to use all colors, as the number of separated areas depends on the HACCP guidelines and may only require separating two or three areas.

Material

Aricasa brushes, being cleaning brushes for professional use, are made of polypropylene and polybutylene, which are materials resistant to high temperatures (up to 130°C), moisture, and abrasion. Since these are inorganic materials, they do not provide a hospitable environment for bacteria growth. Additionally, the brushes are made of solid plastic, not porous material, so even if the surface is damaged, the brush remains easy to clean and does not become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Shape

As a tool for intensive work, the brush should be ergonomic and lightweight, and Aricasa brushes are designed this way. Brushes for various applications have different shapes and handles to facilitate the work. Moreover, some brushes can be used manually or with a stick.

Types of brushes

Brushes can be divided into hand-held and stick-mounted brushes. Among Aricasa hand-held brushes, we distinguish:

• pipe brushes
• bottle brushes
• dish brushes
• hand brushes
• scrub brushes
• ergonomic hand brushes
• brushes with a large bristle angle
• multi-purpose brushes

Among Aricasa brushes mounted on a stick, we distinguish:

• pipe brushes
• brushes for hard-to-reach places
• floor brushes
• tank brushes

In addition to professional brushes, Aricasa also offers other cleaning accessories such as squeegees, scrapers, and mixers and, of course, brush handles.

Cleaning brush procedure

1. First, remove all visible dirt under a strong stream of running water.

2. Then clean the brushes in a cleaning solution with a pH of 9 or higher to remove chemical and organic deposits. The best way to do this is to use a dishwasher.

3. After washing, rinse the brushes with clean water. 

4. If there is a limescale deposit on the brushes, it can be removed by washing the brushes in a cleaning solution with a pH of 5 or less, then rinsing them with water. 

5. If necessary, brushes can be disinfected with standard tools and surface disinfectants.

6. In special cases, brushes can be sterilized in an autoclave at temperatures up to 121°C. 

7. After washing or disinfecting, brushes should be stored in designated clean areas, preferably hanging on holders.

Ryszard Kurek