The debate over synthetic vs. natural chimney brushes is getting old, but I just saw something crazy

I cleaned a flue last Tuesday in an old house near downtown that hadn't been swept in like 6 years, and the before photo showed a thick black crust. After using a steel wire brush for 20 minutes, the after shot was spotless with no scratches or damage. Is it really worth the risk of metal bristles scratching the liner, or is the extra cost of a poly brush just not justified for that kind of work?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_patel22d ago

Feel for you, poly brushes just don't clean that deep.

quinnbailey22d ago

Found myself staring at my bathroom sink for a solid 10 minutes last week, trying to figure out why my toothbrush felt like it was just pushing plaque around instead of actually cleaning. Ended up grabbing a cheapo manual brush from the drugstore and it honestly did a better job. Sometimes the fancy stuff just isn't worth the hassle, you know? My dentist told me once that bristle stiffness matters way more than the brush shape or brand. Might be worth trying a different brush just to see if it changes things for you.