The Best Pool Brushes of 2023

Our top pick is the Lalapool Swimming Pool Brush

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Best Pool Brushes

The Spruce / Michela Buttignol

Pool brushes are a must-have tool if you want to keep your swimming pool clean, as they help remove algae and dirt from the floor and walls. As we researched pool brushes, we evaluated them based on their size, materials, and pole attachment, as well as any special features they offer. 

Here are the best pool brushes.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Lalapool Professional Pool Brush

4.8
Lalapool Swimming Pool Brush

Amazon

What We Like
  • Affordable price

  • Reinforced with aluminum

  • Curved edges

  • Fits standard pool poles

What We Don't Like
  • Does not clean dirt out of pool

The Lalapool Swimming Pool Brush may be simple, but it’s well-made, durable, and gets the job done quickly—and it’s affordably priced. After using this brush in her pool for several weeks, our at-home tester said she thinks every pool owner should have one. This brush is 18 inches wide, allowing you to cover more area per sweep, and its curved ends allow you to sweep out algae from the corner of your pool. The aluminum finish reinforces its ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic head, helping to ensure the brush doesn’t bend or break as you clean. Our tester also appreciated how this brush's densely packed bristles make quick work of any dirt or algae on your pool's floor or walls. 

This pool brush attaches to most standard-size poles with a simple snap, and its metal handle is angled at 45 degrees, making it easy to push along the pool floor. However, this brush head does not come with a pole, so you'll have to purchase a pole separately, if you do not already own one. While this pool brush doesn't remove dirt from the water, our tester enjoyed using it to free chemical and algae build-up from her pool's walls.

You can use this brush on any type of pool surface, including vinyl, concrete, and tile. We recommend using a gentle pressure when using it on vinyl to avoid unintentional tearing. This brush doesn’t have a soft bumper around the edges, so there is a chance it may scratch your pool's lining if not used properly. However, this brush's simple, yet effective and affordable design make it our top pick, despite a few minor design concerns.

Price at time of publish: $21

Brush Width: 18 inches | Material: Aluminum and ABS plastic with nylon bristles | Pole Included: No, fits most standard poles

Best Budget

Intex Curved Wall Brush

Intex Curved Wall Brush

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Inexpensive

  • Extremely lightweight

  • Curved edges get into corners

What We Don't Like
  • Doesn’t fit standard poles

The Intex Curved Wall Brush is crafted from plastic and features several rows of bristles that help remove algae and scum from your pool. While the design is extremely basic, the Intex is an effective, budget-friendly choice for those with small pools or spas. The brush head measures 16 inches wide, and it curves up slightly at the edges, allowing you to get into corners more easily and brush dirt away. 

The Intex Pool Brush's simple plastic tab allows it to clip into a compatible pole. However, it’s designed to be used with a pole that has a 1.19-inch inner diameter, which isn’t the most common. If you’re shopping for a pole, the manufacturer recommends its 110-inch Telescoping Aluminum Shaft for use with this brush.

Price at time of publish: $12

Brush Width: 16 inches | Material: Plastic | Pole Included: No, fits 1.19 inch poles

Best for Above-Ground Pools

Milliard 17.5 inch Extra-Wide Nylon Pool Brush

Milliard 17.5 inch Extra-Wide Nylon Pool Brush

Amazon

What We Like
  • Affordable price

  • Designed for vinyl liners

  • Curved edges help get into corners

  • Reinforced with aluminum

What We Don't Like
  • Sheds bristles

If you have an above-ground pool with a vinyl liner, the Milliard Extra-Wide Nylon Pool Brush helps keep it pristine, thanks to its stiff nylon bristles. In fact, this pool brush is specifically designed for above-ground vinyl pool liners, and its 17.5-inch-wide head makes quick work of even the largest pools. The brush even has a slight curve on both ends, allowing you to easily get into corners to remove tough dirt and algae. 

This pool brush is designed to clip into standard 1.25-inch poles, and the head is reinforced with aluminum for durability. The 45-degree-angled handle makes it easy to push along the bottom of your pool, and its gentle bristles shouldn't damage vinyl or painted surfaces. This pool brush occasionally sheds bristles, but overall, it’s a well-priced tool for above-ground pool maintenance.

Price at time of publish: $12

Brush Width: 17.5 inches | Material: ABS plastic, aluminum, nylon bristles | Pole Included: No, fits 1.25-inch poles

Best for Vinyl Liners

Poolmaster Deluxe Heavy Duty Pool Brush

Poolmaster Deluxe Heavy Duty Swimming Pool Brush

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Soft bumper protects against scratches

  • Withstands high temperatures

  • Curved edges

What We Don't Like
  • Not reinforced with metal

There’s always a chance you can scratch—or worse, tear—a vinyl liner with a sharp edge of your pool brush, but the Poolmaster Deluxe solves this problem with its soft edge bumper. A non-abrasive rubber bumper around the brush head prevents the 18-inch brush from damaging your vinyl liner, and it allows you to quickly clean the pool floor and walls. The edges of the polypropylene bristles curve up slightly, allowing easy access to the corners of your pool. 

This heavy-duty pool brush is made from heat-resistant materials, so it doesn't deteriorate if you leave it out in the sun. You can connect it to standard pool poles—though the exact measurements aren’t listed—and it works well on other pool materials, including tile and concrete. The only potential negative of this pool brush is that it’s not reinforced with any type of metal, so it may not be quite as durable as other options.

Price at time of publish: $22

Brush Width: 18 inches | Material: Polypropylene and rubber | Pole Included: No, fits most standard poles

Best for Corners

SEPETREL Pool Step & Corner Brush

Pool Brush for Step & Corner, Rotatable Hand Scrub Brush

Amazon

What We Like
  • Curved brush head gets into corners

  • Can be used by hand or with pole

  • Rotating handle

What We Don't Like
  • Not ideal for large areas

If you struggle to get stubborn dirt out of the corners of your pool, the SEPETREL Pool Step Brush has a unique shape that’s perfect for the task. The front edge of this brush curves up at a 90-degree angle, allowing the stiff bristles to get into corners with ease. It’s also extremely useful for cleaning steps and other small features in your pool. 

This pool brush is only 8 inches long, so it’s not ideal for cleaning large areas, but you can wield it by hand or attach it to a 1.25-inch pool pole. The handle rotates 90 degrees in either direction, allowing you to change its alignment to suit the job at hand, and its EZ Clip handle prevents your fingers from being pinched as you attach it to a pole. The stiff bristles are ideal for cleaning any type of pool surface. Overall, this small brush is a must-have addition to your pool maintenance tool kit.

Price at time of publish: $14

Brush Width: 8.3 inches | Material: Plastic | Pole Included: No, fits 1.25 inch poles

Best for Walls

The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Pool Brush

The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Pool Brush

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Automatically applies pressure to pool walls

  • Easier to push than other options

  • Adjustable pressure

  • Curved edges

What We Don't Like
  • Metal can corrode

The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Pool Brush is ideal for cleaning the walls and floors of your pool, as its unique fin design applies extra pressure to the surface—without you straining your arms. The brush measures 18 inches wide, with slightly curved edges to get into corners, and its “tail” works similarly to a spoiler on a car, helping to hold the brush against the pool walls with 10 times the normal force. Not only does this help remove more dirt and algae per pass, but it also makes the brush significantly easier to push. 

The Wall Whale Brush attaches to most standard pool poles, and the tail is adjustable, allowing you to change the pressure to suit your cleaning needs. The nylon bristles are gentle enough to use on any type of pool liner, and while the brush is slightly pricey, it makes pool maintenance quicker and easier. Just be aware that the metal reinforcement can rust, so rinse the brush after use and store it in a dry area.

Price at time of publish: $36

Brush Width: 18 inches | Material: Plastic with nylon bristles | Pole Included: No, fits most standard poles

Best with Pole

AgiiMan Swimming Pool Brush with Pole

 AgiiMan Swimming Pool Brushes with 16ft Pole

Amazon

What We Like
  • Two available pole sizes

  • Rotating handle

  • Brush has curved edges

  • Retractable pole

What We Don't Like
  • Brush head not reinforced

If you don’t have a pool pole, this bundle from AgiiMan comes with an 18-inch pool brush and a telescoping pole. You can choose between a 12.3- or 16-foot pole; both shrink to around 4 feet for easy storage, and the set is a great value for two must-have pool cleaning tools. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the brush and pole not fitting together, as might happen when you buy products separately. 

The heavy-duty plastic brush curves up on both ends, allowing you to get into tight corners of your pool. Additionally, you can rotate the brush’s handle up to 90 degrees, making it easy to adjust the angle to suit your needs. It also has two holes in the handle for draining water and preventing a siphon effect, making the brush easier to use.

Price at time of publish: $50

Brush Width: 18 inches | Material: Plastic brush and aluminum pole | Pole Included: Yes

Final Verdict

In value and performance, it’s hard to beat the Lalapool Swimming Pool Brush. This inexpensive pool brush has a reinforced head for durability, and its curved edges allow you to sweep along the edges of your pool with ease. Or, if you’re willing to spend a little more, The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Pool Brush has a unique design that uses a fin to automatically apply more pressure to the surface you’re cleaning, giving you a more thorough clean with just one pass. 

What to Look for in a Pool Brush

Materials

Pool brushes can be made from a variety of materials, though the most common are ABS plastic, aluminum, and nylon. ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic is commonly used for the body of pool brushes because it holds up well outdoors. Some brushes also have aluminum reinforcement to prevent them from breaking. However, the downside of having a pool brush with metal components is they’re prone to rust.

Also, consider the bristle material. "There are a variety of different pool brushes on the market, either using bristles with nylon, a combination of nylon and natural bristles, or stainless steel," explains Stewart Vernon, COO, and founder of America’s Swimming Pool Company. "Nylon brushes are the most common and, in my opinion, the best material for almost any pool. These bristles are resilient to frequent brushing, yet gentle enough on all pool surfaces." Some heavy-duty pool brushes use stainless steel bristles instead, but these are only suitable for concrete or gunite pools. 

Design

Most pool brushes look fairly similar, featuring a wide row of bristles and a handle that attaches to a telescoping pole. However, certain brushes have special features for specific tasks. For instance, it’s common for pool brushes to have curved edges, as this allows you to get into the corners of your pool more readily. Other brushes have rubber bumpers around the edges to prevent them from scratching the liners, and some have special fins that help apply pressure to the walls and floors for a more thorough clean. 

Pole Attachment

Unless you’re purchasing a hand brush, chances are, you use your pool brush on the end of a telescoping pool pole. Some brushes come with matching poles—ideal for first-time pool owners—while other poles are sold separately. Most brushes list the pole size they can be used with; the standard size is 1.25 inches in diameter. 

FAQ
  • How do you brush a pool?

    To brush your pool, start with your pole relatively short, and brush down the walls. Use one hand to hold the brush against the wall and the other to push the bristles down towards the floor. Repeat all the way around your pool, cleaning stairs and other features as you go. From here, lengthen your pole and start brushing the floors. If your pool has a drain, brush the debris towards it; for above-ground pools, you may have to brush the sediment into one area before going in with a vacuum. 

  • How often should you brush a pool?

    "For pools with a working pump, brushing once a week should be sufficient," Vernon says. Not only does this help remove large and small debris, keeping the water sparkling clean, but it also helps prevent algae growth, remove scale buildup, and avoid etching caused by chemicals. 

  • Do you brush or vacuum a pool first?

    "Always brush your pool first," Vernon recommends. "This will break up the algae and debris, making it easier for your vacuum to pick up." From there, you can go in with a pool vacuum to suck up the debris, which your pool’s filter then traps. 

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer, and product reviewer who has contributed to The Spruce since 2017. While researching pool brushes, she spoke to Stewart Vernon, COO, and founder of America’s Swimming Pool Company, for expert tips on what to look for when shopping. Using his advice, she evaluated different products based on their materials, design, and overall value. She prioritized pool brushes that offer some reinforcement on the head, as well as options that can be connected to standard-sized telescoping poles.