Can You Put a Grill Brush in the Dishwasher?

If you love grilling, you know how important it is to keep your grates clean.

A grill brush is one of the most common tools for this job.

But after a few heavy cookouts, the brush itself can get greasy, sticky, and coated in burnt-on residue.

That raises the question many backyard chefs ask: can you put a grill brush in the dishwasher?

The short answer is: it depends on the type of brush you’re using. 

Let’s break it down so you can keep your tools safe and your grill spotless.

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Why People Want to Dishwasher Clean Their Grill Brushes

A dishwasher feels like the easiest solution.

It uses hot water, soap, and pressure to blast away grease and food particles.

That’s great for plates and silverware, but not always the best choice for grill brushes.

Some brushes can warp, shed bristles, or even damage your dishwasher if put inside.

So before you toss your brush into the machine, it’s worth knowing the pros and cons.

For a more detailed breakdown, you can also check out our guide: Is a Grill Brush Dishwasher Safe? Find Inside.

Can You Wash Bristle Grill Brushes in the Dishwasher?

Traditional grill brushes use wire bristles.

These seem tough, but they’re also risky.

Bristles can bend, loosen, and even come off inside the dishwasher.

If that happens, a stray bristle could stick to dishes, which is dangerous if it ends up in your food.

The hot water and detergent may also weaken the glue or metal holding the bristles in place.

Over time, this makes the brush less effective and shortens its life.

For these reasons, most experts don’t recommend putting bristle brushes in the dishwasher.

A safer method is soaking the brush in warm soapy water and scrubbing it by hand.

What About Bristle-Free Grill Brushes?

Bristle-free designs use coils, scrapers, or thick wire pads instead of thin bristles.

These are safer since there’s no risk of tiny metal strands coming loose.

Some bristle-free brushes can handle a dishwasher cycle, but only if the handle material is dishwasher safe.

If the handle is wood, skip the dishwasher.

The hot water will dry it out and cause cracks.

If it’s stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic, you might get away with machine cleaning, though hand-washing still helps your brush last longer.

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Buy Easy Function Bristle Free Scraper Brush - Amazon Canada

Wood Grill Scrapers: Dishwasher Safe or Not?

Wood scrapers are a growing alternative to grill brushes.

Instead of bristles, they form custom grooves as you use them on hot grates.

These grooves scrape away debris effectively without any risk of bristle shedding.

But wood is very sensitive to water.

If you put a wood scraper in the dishwasher, it will likely warp, split, or lose its smooth surface.

The best way to clean wood scrapers is simply scraping off any loose debris, then wiping them down with a damp cloth.

👉 For example, the Easy Function Wood Grill Scraper is designed to be long-lasting without bristles.

Keeping it dry and hand-cleaned helps extend its life.

Buy Easy Function Wood Grill Scraper - Amazon USA

Buy Easy Function Wood Grill Scraper - Amazon Canada

Best Way to Clean Your Grill Brush

Instead of relying on the dishwasher, try these simple methods:

• Hot soapy water soak: Soak your brush in warm water with dish soap for 15–20 minutes, then rinse and air dry.

• Boiling water dip: For extra grease removal, dip the head of the brush in boiling water for a few minutes.

• Vinegar soak: If you want a natural degreaser, let your brush sit in a mix of vinegar and water overnight.

• Scrape after use: Knock off food and ash while the brush is still warm (but not hot) from use.

If you want an even easier method for cleaning your grill grates themselves, take a look at this guide: Clean BBQ Grill with Dishwasher Tablet: Easy Tips & Tricks.

It shows you how dishwasher tablets can be used for the grill, even if they’re not great for brushes.

Final Thoughts

So, can you put a grill brush in the dishwasher?

It’s usually not the best idea.

Bristle brushes can lose bristles, bristle-free brushes may wear down faster, and wood scrapers should never go in.

Hand washing keeps your tools safer, cleaner, and more durable in the long run.

If you want to skip the hassle of worrying about loose bristles, a bristle-free or wood scraper is a smart choice.

Click the image below to check out our range of BBQ cleaning tools and grilling accessories from Easy Function.