Key features of a bottle brush


The bottle brush is a tried and trusted tool to bar owners around Australia. Beyond its namesake—cleaning bottles—these handy instruments can do a whole lot more to streamline your bar maintenance processes.

Now, let’s go into a little more detail about bottle brushes, how to use them, and some key features you should look out for when shopping for bar accessories.

What is a bottle brush?

A bottle brush is a long, cylindrical brush with a handle at one end and a scrubbing surface at the other. Bartenders typically use these tools for scrubbing bottles, jars, containers, surfaces, and appliances.

A standard bottle brush features a long handle and an angled head, allowing the bristles to reach—and thoroughly clean—tight corners and gaps. They’re often made from durable materials like nylon or rubber to withstand high temperatures in dishwashers.

The bristles on the brush are stiff enough to scrub away food particles from the inside of bottles and jars but soft enough not to scratch delicate surfaces.

How to use a bottle brush

Using a bottle brush is easy. Whether you’re polishing up a wine glass or scrubbing a narrow gap between counters, this versatile tool will help you achieve a spotless clean every time.

Here’s how to clean a jar with a bottle brush:

  1. Start by pouring out the contents of the jar.
  2. Squeeze some dish soap and water onto the jar and swirl it around, making sure it’s completely coated.
  3. Place your bottle brush into the jar and use circular motions to scrub away any stains or build-up.
  4. Rinse off with soap and water.

You can also use the same dish soap and water solution to clean pots, pans, cutlery, dishes, racks, counters, and other surfaces.

To clean bottle brushes with natural bristles, use mild soap and warm water and clean by hand. You can wash brushes with synthetic bristles by placing them on the top rack of your dishwasher or with hot, soapy water in the sink.

Key features to look out for

When shopping for bottle brushes for your bar business, look out for the following features:

  • A flexible, twisted rod for reaching tight spaces
  • Ergonomic handles to reduce strain
  • Angled bristles, again for reaching tight spaces
  • Replaceable heads to extend the life of your brushes
  • Colours and materials suited to your application

Bottle brushes are available in various colours, from basic black and white to bright blues and pinks. It’s a smart idea to invest in bottle brushes in a range of different colours. This way, you can colour-code your brushes to avoid cross-contaimination when cleaning—for example, you could use a red brush for cleaning equipment and machinery and a blue brush for cleaning glasses.    

A quick summary

Bottle brushes are affordable and versatile tools that can help you get essential jobs done around your bar quickly and effectively. From rinsing out bottles to cleaning grime and build-up from hard-to-reach spaces, these tools make an essential addition to any bar owner’s arsenal.

The bottle brush is a tried and trusted tool to bar owners around Australia. Beyond its namesake—cleaning bottles—these handy instruments can do a whole lot more to streamline your bar maintenance processes.

Now, let’s go into a little more detail about bottle brushes, how to use them, and some key features you should look out for when shopping for bar accessories.

What is a bottle brush?

A bottle brush is a long, cylindrical brush with a handle at one end and a scrubbing surface at the other. Bartenders typically use these tools for scrubbing bottles, jars, containers, surfaces, and appliances.

A standard bottle brush features a long handle and an angled head, allowing the bristles to reach—and thoroughly clean—tight corners and gaps. They’re often made from durable materials like nylon or rubber to withstand high temperatures in dishwashers.

The bristles on the brush are stiff enough to scrub away food particles from the inside of bottles and jars but soft enough not to scratch delicate surfaces.

How to use a bottle brush

Using a bottle brush is easy. Whether you’re polishing up a wine glass or scrubbing a narrow gap between counters, this versatile tool will help you achieve a spotless clean every time.

Here’s how to clean a jar with a bottle brush:

  1. Start by pouring out the contents of the jar.
  2. Squeeze some dish soap and water onto the jar and swirl it around, making sure it’s completely coated.
  3. Place your bottle brush into the jar and use circular motions to scrub away any stains or build-up.
  4. Rinse off with soap and water.

You can also use the same dish soap and water solution to clean pots, pans, cutlery, dishes, racks, counters, and other surfaces.

To clean bottle brushes with natural bristles, use mild soap and warm water and clean by hand. You can wash brushes with synthetic bristles by placing them on the top rack of your dishwasher or with hot, soapy water in the sink.

Key features to look out for

When shopping for bottle brushes for your bar business, look out for the following features:

  • A flexible, twisted rod for reaching tight spaces
  • Ergonomic handles to reduce strain
  • Angled bristles, again for reaching tight spaces
  • Replaceable heads to extend the life of your brushes
  • Colours and materials suited to your application

Bottle brushes are available in various colours, from basic black and white to bright blues and pinks. It’s a smart idea to invest in bottle brushes in a range of different colours. This way, you can colour-code your brushes to avoid cross-contaimination when cleaning—for example, you could use a red brush for cleaning equipment and machinery and a blue brush for cleaning glasses.    

A quick summary

Bottle brushes are affordable and versatile tools that can help you get essential jobs done around your bar quickly and effectively. From rinsing out bottles to cleaning grime and build-up from hard-to-reach spaces, these tools make an essential addition to any bar owner’s arsenal.

Contact me

Got a tech story you want to share? Get in touch.