What should you use now that the steel brush has been put away? Start with the material of your grill grate and how you want to clean it. Here we compare five concrete alternatives: two nylon brushes, a wooden scraper and two tools with metal spirals. They suit different needs and have different limitations.
For cold cleaning, a nylon brush that the grill manufacturer permits is a practical starting point. If you want to avoid bristles altogether, a wooden scraper that fits your model can be an option. Helix and spiral tools call for an extra check: they lack ordinary steel brush bristles but still contain metal.
Why the steel brush needs replacing
The Swedish Consumer Agency (Konsumentverket) urged consumers on November 5, 2026 to stop using grill brushes with steel bristles. Loose bristles can end up in the food and cause injuries. A brush that looks intact is not enough. Also check the recalls at ICA and Coop if you bought your brush there.
The selection below is based on the manufacturers’ and the seller’s documentation, not on a product test of our own. We have not verified any official approval of the individual alternatives. The words bristle-free and metal-free mean different things.
1. Char-Broil Cool-Clean 140789: nylon for cold cleaning
Cool-Clean, item 140789, is a clear alternative to start with if you have porcelain, chrome or cast iron grates. These surfaces are listed on the Swedish product page. Char-Broil’s description of the Cool-Clean series confirms a nylon brush.
Suits you if you: can wait until the grate is cold and want an ordinary brushing motion without steel bristles. Check that your grill manufacturer also permits the tool.
Keep in mind: use it on a cold grate. Check the item number so you don’t mix it up with the Hot & Cool Clean or another brush with a similar name.
2. Broil King 65643: wide nylon brush for cold grates
Broil King’s triangle brush with nylon, item 65643, is an option for anyone who wants a wide brush. The manufacturer specifies cold grill grates and at the same time warns against use above 120 degrees Celsius. That is an upper limit, not a recommended cleaning temperature.
Suits you if you: want to clean a fully cooled grate with nylon and have checked that the brush fits your grill.
Keep in mind: the Swedish product page we reviewed gives no complete materials list for the grates. So go by the grill’s manual, especially if the grate has a coating. Don’t switch from steel to nylon and then keep the same habit of brushing right after grilling.
3. Traeger Wooden Grill Grate Scrape BAC454: wood without bristles
If you want to avoid bristles altogether, Traeger’s wooden scraper BAC454 is worth checking out. It is made of solid wood and shaped to fit the grooves of the grate. Here the model fit matters more than the promise on the front of the packaging.
Fits according to the manufacturer: Woodridge, Pro, Ironwood generation 1, Timberline generation 1 and the Portable series. It does not fit the new Timberline, Timberline XL, Ironwood or Ironwood XL.
Keep in mind: Traeger’s cleaning guide covers the scraper for cleaning a cooled grate. We give no advice of our own about heating up or burn-off. Check that you have the right generation before buying and follow the instructions for your grill. This is not a universal scraper for all brands.
4. Broil King Baron 65600: stainless steel coil springs
Baron 65600 is the model with stainless steel coil springs. Broil King specifies it for grill grates and griddle plates, with springs that reach between the bars of the grate. It is a different construction from traditional steel brush bristles, but the cleaning part is still metal.
Could be relevant for: anyone who is specifically looking for a spiral tool and can get confirmation that it works with the grill’s material and coating.
Check first: the Swedish product page we reviewed states no temperature range or complete list of grate materials. Ask for the instructions for the 65600 specifically. We therefore don’t recommend it as a general first choice for all grates, and we don’t describe it as risk-free or metal-free.
5. BBQmonster’s bristle-free helix brush: read the usage advice carefully
BBQmonster’s bristle-free grate brush with helix spirals has three rows of metal spirals. The shop describes it mainly for steel grates, especially stainless and chrome-plated, and also lists cast iron. So it is a concrete alternative you can compare with Broil King’s spiral model.
The difference from nylon: here metal spirals work against the grate. Bristle-free does not mean that all metal contact or the risk of loose parts is gone.
Our reservation: the basis we have been able to verify is the seller’s description. We have not been able to document a separate manufacturer instruction with a clear temperature limit and coating compatibility. We therefore don’t present the shop’s safety promises as a guarantee, and we don’t recommend a general approach of a hot grill and water. Ask BBQmonster to confirm what applies to your particular grate before you choose it.
How we would choose
- You want a simple routine on a cold grate: start with one of the nylon brushes and check the grate’s manual. Char-Broil lists three materials on its product page. For Broil King’s brush you need to check the material fit separately.
- You want to avoid bristles altogether: check whether Traeger’s wooden scraper fits your exact grill model. Don’t choose on the brand name alone.
- You want a helix or spiral tool: check both the coating and the usage instructions. If there is no answer, choose a documented tool for your grate rather than taking a gamble.
Before the next grilling session, the grate also needs to be checked after earlier cleaning. Health Canada covers checking tools and grates. That check complements the choice of tool, but it does not replace the Swedish Consumer Agency’s call to stop using the steel brush.
Sources checked on November 8, 2026. Check current product instructions, recalls and availability before buying. Prices and stock are not listed here because they can change.