If you've decided to upgrade your interior car cleaning methods, a good set of drill brush attachments makes a huge difference. Brushes are marvellous things for cleaning in general, they add mechanical cleaning for a better overall result. The only downside is that stubborn stains require a fair amount of elbow grease to penetrate and break them down.
You might have seen some therapeutic videos on the internet of detailers using handheld machines to make a corner of a car crystal clean. Essentially, a powered drill with a brush on the end carries exactly the same principle.
If you can imagine a handheld power carpet cleaner, that's essentially what they are. If you can imagine yourself scrubbing away your seats with a leather seat brush, only turbocharged, then you're pretty much on the right lines.
The best drill brush attachments at a glance:
Editor's pick: Chemical Guys Heavy Duty Spinner - buy from eBay.
Best on a budget: Streetwise 3-Piece Drill Brush Set - buy from Euro Car Parts.
Best drill brush for cleaning small surfaces: Sonic Scrubber Pro Detailing Set - buy from Amazon.
Whether it's cleaning car carpets, upholstery, or even stripping away dirt from the exterior, the right drill brush attachment will speed up the cleaning process and yield better results, all without you breaking a sweat. All you need is an electric screwdriver, impact driver or drill to unlock this next-level performance before treating your cabin to an air freshener.
The best drill brush attachments for car cleaning:
Editor's pick
Via Chemical GuysWith the ability to attach to any standard drill, the Heavy Duty Spinner from Chemical Guys will do a great effort to clear the hard dirt and grime from your car's interior.
The heavy-duty bristles work hard to remove the caked-in dirt trapped throughout the carpets of your vehicle. Chemical guys say that it's perfect for anything from cars to motorhomes and even your own home. So, it must be a great tool for the job.
Pros
- Incredible at removing dirt from carpeted surfaces
- Tough bristles
Cons
- Only one brush included
Best drill brush set on a budget
Via StreetwiseThis pack of three drill brush attachments from Streetwize will give you one brush for your exterior, wheels and interior. The toilet brush-looking head is rounded and, therefore, perfect for scrubbing the contours and folds of an alloy wheel, all without damaging it.
The exterior brush is a 5cm disc and is best suited to smaller areas that are hard to clean with a standard brush, like door mechanisms and around the fuel filler cap. Finally, the interior is taken care of with a 10cm disc, which features softer bristles for upholstery and carpet.
Pros
- Three attachments included
- Each brush has different purposes
Cons
- Not the best quality out there
Best drill brush for cleaning small surfaces
Via SonicScrubberResembling an electric toothbrush, the Sonic Scrubber Pro Detailer is different from the other options as it includes a small motor, which means there's no need for a drill. It features four heads for different surfaces, including a soft head for carpets, two still brushes for exteriors and a tapered brush for cleaning awkward spaces. It's the perfect tool for when a detailing brush simply won't cut it.
Pros
- Ideal for precise work
- Variety of brush attachments for different jobs
Cons
- Won't have the power of a full-on drill
Best polisher brush attachment
Via Detailers UnitedA novel way of repurposing a machine polisher is to attach a brush head to it and use it to clean your car. This brush features a velcro back and fairly stiff bristles to allow you to effortlessly clean bodywork without leaving any scratches or swirl marks. A word of warning, however: make sure not to get any cleaning chemicals or excessive water on the polisher.
Pros
- Great for polishing tasks
- Won't leave swirl marks or scratches
Cons
- It's not that large
Best drill brush for polishing
Via Chemical Guys
Ideal for deep cleaning your wheels, exhaust tips, or maybe even other areas of your vehicle, the Ball Buster is an immensely powerful attachment. The main cone is made from foam, so clearing away dirt, brake dust, or any other hard-to-reach grease is treated with very gently.
There is even an insulation handle so you can safely guide the cone to the desired area. It is an expensive item, considering it doesn't come with any other extras, but when it comes to sheer cool factor, the ball buster is a neat item.
Pros
- Soft and very effective at cleaning dust, dirt, or grease
- Attaches to a standard drill
Cons
- Doesn't have anything else included
Why should I use drill brushes when cleaning my car?
It may seem a little unconventional at first glance, but really, it's a way of making your life easier. Car cleaning can sometimes require a load of elbow grease, especially when, for instance, using conventional carpet cleaners. So, finding ways to speed up the process is always a bonus.
Products like barrel brushes and interior dressings are super effective at keeping your car grime-free. But splashing out on the Chemical Guys Ball Buster can go places where your wash mitt has never gone before.
Should I worry about the brushes scratching the bodywork?
If you're looking at heavy-duty bristles, then yes. However, these aren't recommended for bodywork jobs. If you plan to scrub up your car's interior, they're very useful for clearing up caked-in dirt from the carpet. The SonicScrubber set is especially useful for tiny little detailing jobs such as radiator grilles or vents. However, soft bristles shouldn't be a problem if you intend to clean parts of your bodywork. But when it comes to applying upholstery cleaner or similar interior cleaning products, a spinning brush may become incredibly beneficial.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he's not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.
For verdicts, scoops, news and analysis from the team, delivered direct to your inbox, subscribe to the CAR newsletter.
You can enjoy CAR in its traditional print format, or one of the swelling number of digital editions, optimised for Apple iPhones, Android devices, iPads, tablets and desktop computers.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.