Brushes for Fruit and Vegetable Washing, Polishing and Grading

1. Brushes along a packing line

DuPont's filament bulletin notes that staple-set construction (tufts anchored into holes in a core) is commonly used for the cylindrical brushes in the fruit and vegetable industry, because it keeps filaments flexible; it also notes tuft retention needs attention in this construction.

2. Filament choice: nylon, PP or horsehair

For washing, nylon and polypropylene dominate. Nylon 612 keeps its stiffness when wet because it absorbs only about 3% water at saturation, and food acids such as vinegar have very little effect on nylon. In the US, nylon 612 resins are listed in 21 CFR 177.1500 for repeated food contact at up to 212 °F. PP is lighter and lower in cost, with weaker bend recovery than nylon.

For polishing coated produce, natural horsehair has a measurable edge. A 2013 study published in LWT compared horsehair and nylon brushes on coated red peppers, run at 100, 200 or 300 RPM for 1 or 10 minutes, and concluded that the horsehair brush gave better results than the nylon brush.

3. Matching stiffness to the produce

• Thick-skinned produce such as potatoes, carrots and citrus tolerates firmer washing brushes.
• Thin-skinned or easily bruised fruit such as stone fruit, tomatoes and berries needs softer, finer filament and lower brush speeds.
• Skin thickness varies with variety and growing area, so a brush that works for one season's crop may need adjusting for another.
• Trim length and fill density matter as much as filament diameter; see trim length and fill density explained.

4. Cleaning and sanitising brushes

Waxing brushes are the hardest to keep clean. A research project on waxing roller brushes, listed in the USDA National Agricultural Library food safety research database, notes that Listeria monocytogenes has been recovered from waxing areas, that horsehair brushes tend to be harder to clean than other materials, and that built-up or hydrolysed wax makes brushes even harder to clean and sanitise. It also notes that packinghouse cleaning methods vary widely, from overnight ammonia soaks to branded detergents or hot water alone.

Practical steps: clean washing and waxing brushes on a set schedule rather than when they look dirty, remove wax build-up before it hardens, check the chemical and temperature limits of the fill (DuPont data shows alkalis start to degrade nylon above 38 °C), and replace brushes that can no longer be cleaned properly.

5. Maintenance and replacement

• Check for flattened or matted fill; flattened brushes polish unevenly and convey produce poorly.
• Look for missing tufts and bare patches, especially on staple-set brushes.
• Check shafts and bearings for wear and alignment so brushes run true across the bed.
• Replace brushes in sections rather than one at a time so the bed keeps a uniform height.
• Keep spares for the waxing and polishing section, which usually wears fastest and is hardest to clean.

6. What to send for a quote

Browse food processing roller brushes and roller and cylinder brushes, then send your details through Request a Quote.

• Packing line make and section (washer, waxer, polisher, grader).
• Brush outside diameter, face length, shaft diameter and end details (flats, keyways, threaded ends).
• Fill material and stiffness, or a sample of the current brush.
• Produce handled and coatings or cleaning chemicals used.
• Quantity per section and annual replacement volume.

Frequently asked questions

What brushes are used to polish fruit?

Usually horsehair roller brushes, sometimes soft fine nylon. A 2013 study on coated red peppers found horsehair brushes restored gloss better than nylon brushes.

What material is best for vegetable washing brushes?

Nylon 612 or polypropylene. Nylon 612 keeps its stiffness when wet and is listed for repeated food contact in 21 CFR 177.1500; PP is a lower-cost option for lighter duty.

How do you clean waxing brushes on a packing line?

Remove wax build-up regularly before it hardens, then clean and sanitise with chemicals that are compatible with the fill. Research listed by the USDA notes horsehair is harder to clean than other materials and that built-up wax makes sanitising more difficult.

How often should fruit washing brushes be replaced?

Replace on condition: flattened fill, missing tufts, uneven diameter or brushes that can no longer be cleaned properly. Replacing a full section at once keeps the bed level.

Related products