Using the right tool for the job is important, and one of the keys to effective cleaning is having the right. This article will review how to choose the correct size and style of a cleaning brush from the common styles available.
Cleaning brushes used in healthcare are designed specifically to remove soils from often delicate instruments/devices used during surgical procedures. Soils can range from easy to wipe off blood or mucus, to harder to remove bone chips or burnt on surgical lubricants.
Depending on the instrument/device you are cleaning, the brush you need may vary. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for manual cleaning, so the first step is to understand what you're cleaning. There are specific brushes designed to do specific tasks, and improper brush selection may lead to challenges for patients and providers including infections or instrument/device damage. Brush types include general, toothbrush, burr, channel, valve, and acetabular reamer brushes, to name a few.
When cleaning lumened instruments/devices, you need to be able to clean the interior and exterior of the device. Channel style brushes support effective cleaning inside lumened instruments/devices, letting you guide the brush through the lumen while the bristles dislodge bioburden from hard-to-reach interior channels. Channel Cleaning Brushes are available in standard, acrylic or fan tip, flexible, heavy-duty, tapered, looped end, curved, and reusable handle channel brush options for your specific cleaning needs.
Fan Tip vs. Acrylic Tip
Channel Cleaning Brushes
Fan Tip brushes are specifically designed to clean the distal end of a close-ended lumen
Acrylic Tip brushes provide an extra level of protection against internal lumen scratching
For most basic lumened instruments/devices, standard channel brushes are effective at removing soils from the interior of the device. This is the most common channel style brush; ranging in size from 7 to more than 50 inches in length, with a variety of diameters available to fit your reprocessing needs.
Fan tip channel brushes have fanned bristles to help reach the ends of closed lumened instruments/devices.
Similar to fan tip channel brushes, acrylic-tipped channel brushes provide an added level of safety against potentially scratching the instrument/device. This type of brush is commonly used on laparoscopic suction tubes or any straight lumened item.
Flexible brushes let you guide through angles and bends of suction tubes and reach the ends of open and closed-ended instruments/devices with an extended 25-inch length. Curved shaft brushes are already bent into a curve, while flexible channel brushes feature kink-free shafts and pull-through ability.
Heavy Duty, Polypropylene Channel Brushes are
Chemically Resistant to Bacterial Growth.
When maximum control is needed to effectively clean your most difficult lumened instruments/devices, such as scope ports, heavy-duty channel brushes are the right choice. Adding more protection, polypropylene brushes use chemically resistant, synthetic filament materials providing the bristles resistance to bacterial growth.
The tapered channel style brush offers a twisted wire-end design to ensure all parts of narrow tapered lumens can be reached.
The Sterile Processing Department (SPD) doesn't only clean delicate surgical instruments/devices. General/all-purpose instrument cleaning brushes help address larger surfaces on items including bowls, and basins.
Easily the most popular general instrument cleaning brush, the toothbrush cleaning brush offers single and double-ended options and is the "jack of all trades" when it comes to handling instrument/device exteriors including forceps, retractors, and box locks. The bristles can be metal or nylon and are designed for effective cleaning, with nylon being used on fine surfaces of delicate instruments/devices.
A specialized brush is recommended for cleaning the valves and ports of instruments/devices. Used most often for cannulas, the valve brush lets you exercise the control gained by using a shorter brush length.
Bone reamers are unique orthopedic instruments that require specialized cleaning. Using a reamer cleaning brush provides control and maximum cleaning coverage during manual cleaning.
The difference is the handle — burr brushes are built to withstand a high amount of force during manual cleaning. Unlike toothbrush style, the plastic used in a burr brush is extremely resistant to breaking/cracking under pressure.
After cleaning, devices should be dry before being packaged for sterilization. Pipe cleaner brushes can help wick away moisture.
Choosing the right size and right brush is key to successful surgical instrument/device cleaning.
“When decontaminating devices with lumens, personnel should soak and flush the lumen according to the manufacturer's written instructions for use...brush the lumen with a brush that is the correct size (diameter and length) and bristle type and material for the lumen, then rinse it.” ANSI/AAMI ST79: 2017, section 7.6.2
How do you know what size brush is correct for your instrument/device?
There are several tools available to confirm the correct brush size for your instrument/device, and knowing the right size is important when choosing a channel style brush.
Choosing the Right Fit
Too Small
Bristles will not make sufficient contact and surfaces may go untouched
Too Large
Applies unnecessary pressure on bristles and may cause brush to get stuck in device
JUST RIGHT
Bristles make sufficient contact with the instrument
French Catheter Scale (PR450003)
French Catheter Scale/Brush Gauge
(STERIS Part Number PR450003)
Tools like a French catheter scale offer a convenient way to determine the instrument/device diameter and help you select the most appropriate brush size for your needs. Using a tool like this, determine the diameter of your device then add 3mm: this is the ideal channel style brush you will need.
To know what length of brush you need, take the total length of the channel you are cleaning and add 5cm. This is the minimum length brush you should use, but you may end up using a longer one if that's what is currently available. The key is to not to use too short a brush.
STERIS Instrument Brush Selector Tool
When you're unsure which brush is best, the STERIS digital brush selector tool will guide you through a series of questions to identify the right size and type of instrument cleaning brush for your needs.
First, determine whether the device you are cleaning is lumened. Following this selection, answer simple questions to narrow your selection in order to find the ideal brush. For example, answer “Are you cleaning ports and valves?” For lumened devices, enter the length and diameter. After your selections are made, the optimal cleaning brush(es) are recommended.
Use the STERIS Instrument Cleaning Brush Selector Tool
Brushes should only be used to reprocess a single instrument/device set. While brushes can be single use/disposable, some facilities may choose to clean, decontaminate, and reuse their instrument cleaning brushes.
What Do the Standards Say?
“Reusable brushes should be cleaned and decontaminated at least daily or when heavily soiled. Brushes that show wear should be discarded.” Standards of Practice for the Decontamination of Surgical Instruments, Association of Surgical Technologists.
“Brushes used for decontamination need to be cleaned themselves and disinfected or sterilized. Brushes that show wear will not clean thoroughly. Prompt cleaning of brushes and other cleaning implements reduces or eliminates biofilm-forming microorganisms and thus minimizes the formation of biofilm.” ANSI/AAMI ST79:2017, section 7.4.1
The standards followed by Sterile Processing Departments don't specifically say when a brush should be replaced. So how can a facility determine that a brush is “worn” or “damaged”?
Inspect brushes for:
Ineffective removal of soils and biofilms may result in patient harm or damage to instruments/devices. Having the right brush for the instrument/device you are processing will help optimize your cleaning process and ensure effective cleaning. When a brush is damaged, broken bristles or stems left behind in the instrument/device can cause costly repairs or damage, as well as additional time for re-cleaning instruments/devices.
Explore STERIS Instrument Cleaning Brushes
You've got Questions, Drillbrush has Answers!
Invented in 2005 by Anthony LaPolla, the Drillbrush Power Scrubber has been helping homeowners and professional cleaners around the world clean faster and easier. While we’re striving to become a household name, there are still plenty of people that haven’t heard of us, or are completely unaware of the concept of a drill-powered scrub brush.
Because it is a relatively new field with a somewhat unconventional premise; questions, concerns, and misconceptions get thrown around by novices looking to pick up a Drillbrush for the first time.
That’s why today, we’re going to clear the air and answer some common questions and concerns we get from customers about Drillbrush!
1 - Does Drillbrush come with a cordless drill?
Nope. They don’t.
Ever since we started selling online, one of the most common questions we are asked is if Drillbrush comes with a cordless drill.
As of this writing, Drillbrush does NOT come with a drill. A Drillbrush is just a cleaning brush attachment FOR cordless drills. We do not have a bundle that includes a drill with the brushes.
There are a couple of reasons why people get confused. Many Drillbrush customers have said that their experience with Drillbrush was their first time using a drill and our guide on inserting a brush into a drill features many comments from people who were unaware of how a drill worked.
Naturally, if you’re unfamiliar with Drillbrush or cordless drills, you may think that Drillbrush is like one of “As Seen on TV” scrubbers that are essentially a wand with a small motor and some brush heads. Some may also be unaware of the cost of a cordless drill, and not bat an eye at the fact that if it did come with a full-sized cordless drill, the price of a kit would be substantially higher than it is.
This is why we have guides on seemingly obvious topics because even though it may seem simple, there’s always someone who’s never done it and needs a helping hand!
Not everyone is familiar with cordless drills...
Additionally, our listings for each kit include an image of the brushes in and around a cordless drill. We do this because, based on our experience, people who have never heard of the Drillbrush before had a hard time imagining how a drill-powered brush worked, but including a picture helped them understand the concept. However, despite our bright red disclaimer of “Drill Not included” on the pictures, some people will skip it and assume the drill is included.
Even though we’ve made many attempts to highlight this fact on listing images and product descriptions, in an age of impulse buys and one-click purchases, we anticipate this question still being a common fixture in our inboxes.
2 - Will Drillbrush ruin my drill?
>Drillbrush is completely safe to use and will not damage cordless drills!
While not the most expensive device in the world, a decent cordless drill can still cost a pretty penny. Naturally, someone new to Drillbrush would want to make sure their drill won’t be harmed if they use it for something other than its intended purpose.
Cordless drills typically run off of rechargeable batteries, meaning you can easily charge them up after a long cleaning session and they're good as new! These batteries are also well sealed, so they won’t have issues if they get sprayed with a little water.
That being said, one thing you should not do is use Drillbrush in a corded drill. As it uses an electrical cord and plugs into an outlet, water could cause an electrocution hazard. Along with not having proper speed controls and being somewhat finicky to use, we recommend just avoiding corded drills in their entirety when it comes to drill-powered scrubbing.
3 - Does Drillbrush scratch surfaces?
For the vast majority of surfaces, no!
On the other side of the coin, inexperienced drill users may look at this big bulky power tool and assume “well, since that thing is used for drilling holes, that can’t be safe for my counters and tables.” However, in most cases, using a dill with one of our brushes is perfectly safe for surfaces!
There are a few caveats, however. Drillbrush products shouldn’t be used on extremely delicate surfaces like car paint and spray chrome. While the bristles themselves won’t scratch them, dirt particles can cling to the bristles and create micro scratches. This article goes more into detail on this phenomenon.
Some surfaces can also be damaged if the wrong stiffness is used. This is why we recommend our Soft White brushes for upholstery, rather than our Ultra Stiff Black brushes.
However, so long as you follow the Color Chart, run your drill at a manageable speed, and stay away from ultra-delicate surfaces, Drillbrush will not cause any damage.
4 - Is the black bristle tip on Original brushes stiffer than the rest of the brush?
The black bristles on a bullet-shaped brush are the same stiffness as the rest of the bristles on the brush./i>
[Picture of Original brush cleaning / W-O_rims.jpg]
Drillbrush products come in a variety of colors and stiffnesses. The Drillbrush Color Chart offers up information on which color equates to which stiffness and application. Traditionally, those are Soft White, Medium Yellow, Green, and Blue, Stiff Red, and Ultra Stiff Black.
However, astute individuals may notice that our Original, Original Mini, and Jumbo Original brushes have two colors of bristles on them, a black tip with the rest being a different color (or black.) Does this mean that a Soft White brush has an Ultra Stiff nose?
We understand why this is confusing, though. We added a black tip to the brushes to help mark where the rounded bristles begin, as well as for aesthetic reasons. You have to admit, the black and yellow combo on the Medium Yellow Original looks pretty classy.
So if you’re ever faced with a bullet-shaped Drillbrush with a black bristle tip, just know that those bristles are the same as the rest of the bristles on the brush.
Speaking of bristles:
5 - Are the Medium Yellow, Green, and Blue brushes the same stiffness?
[Picture of Y, G, and B Originals]
“Corporate needs you to find the differences between these three brushes.” “They’re the same brushes.”
A quick glance at our Color Chart will show that the Yellow Bathroom, Green Kitchen, and Blue Marine and Pool brushes all have the same stiffness; Medium. With three unique colors and three unique applications, are all three the same stiffness, or is there a slight difference between the three?
Despite their different applications; all three brushes are the same stiffness, and can theoretically be used interchangeably. This begs the question, though, if they are identical, then why do they have different uses?
Medium brushes are the most versatile brush we sell. It can handle general purpose scrubbing on a variety of surfaces. It can clean tile, tubs, sinks, and showers in the bathroom, countertops, stovetops, and appliances in the kitchen, and canoes, kayaks, boot trays, and floor mats outdoors.
The Yellow, Green, and blue Medium brushes on the color chart with disclaimer.
However, you wouldn’t use your toilet brush on your kitchen counters, nor would you use your dish sponge to scrub algae off your fishing boat. The reason we separate our Medium brushes into three categories is to prevent cross-contamination when cleaning. By keeping them separate and color-coded, you can tell at a glance what each brush is used for. This distinction is also written below the three colors on the Color Chart.
So if you feel our Blue Medium brush would look nicer in your bathroom, you can use it there without issue. Just make sure you keep it in the bathroom.
6 - Are all drill-powered scrub brushes on Amazon the same?
Not quite the real deal!
Like with all great ideas, there’s bound to be some copycats. While Drillbrush was the first, many Amazon sellers have hopped on the drill-powered bandwagon and are selling their own Drillbrush-inspired brushes. Some are so inspired that they even use OUR pictures in their listings 🙄.
With so many options that look somewhat identical and some being offered for a suspiciously low cost, you might think that it doesn’t matter which one you pick, so long as you get the lowest price.
The fact is, not all drill-powered brushes are the same. It’s actually quite imperative that you check who you’re purchasing from.
What can happen to non-Drillbrush products!
We’ve been making drill-powered scrubbers for over fifteen years and have put in the work to make our brushes strong and durable. Meanwhile, many of the cheaper brands struggle with shafts spinning out, broken blocks, and missing items. We tested this with the leading knock-off brand, Holikme’s Dr. Brush, and found it couldn’t stand up to the same stress as a Drillbrush product.
Some, as we alluded to above, even steal our images and masquerade as us to try and mislead customers. Make sure you always check the seller name before you make a purchase.
We go into more detail on our Counterfeit guide, but to keep things short, save yourself from wasting money on a low quality product by sticking with trusted brands.
Questions Answered!
Did we answer all of your questions? Then check out our catalog of products to find the best brush for you!
If you have any questions that weren’t addressed here, you can check out our FAQ page for additional info on our brushes and storefront.
We also have the Drillbrush Power Blog, our blog for all things Drillbrush. We’ve written articles on a variety of topics, from drill recommendations, to bathroom cleaning guides. and even a blog about what exactly these brush attachments are!
If all else fails, feel free to contact us with your questions, either by emailing us at info@drillbrush.com, calling us at 315-527-1817, or messaging us on social media.