Rutland Products 16906 6-Inch Poly Chimney Cleaning Brush, Black

Why it's worth it

Rutland has been making chimney supplies since the 1860s, and this 6-inch poly brush is built for the stainless and insulated metal pipes where wire bristles are off-limits. It's a brush only, so you'll need rods.

If you have a wood stove venting through 6-inch double-wall or stainless pipe, this is the safe choice. Liner manufacturers routinely warn against wire contact on these surfaces, and poly sidesteps that entirely. Owners cleaning stainless-lined stove pipe consistently report it knocking creosote loose without scratching anything.

The bristles are aggressively stiff — that's deliberate, and it's also the most common complaint. Owners describe real resistance pushing it through 6-inch pipe. That friction is what does the scrubbing, but if your flue is exactly 6 inches with no slack, expect to work for it. A few owners wish it were slightly softer.

From our review of 7 chimney sweep brushes, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +If you have a wood stove venting through 6-inch double-wall or stainless pipe, this is the safe choice
• +The bristles are aggressively stiff — that's deliberate, and it's also the most common complaint
• +It threads on with a 1/4-inch fitting, so it pairs with Rutland's own rod kit or most standard fiberglass rods

What to know

• –No rods, no accessories
• –Six inches only. Rutland makes other sizes, but this listing is one diameter — measure your inner pipe before ordering
• –Acid-resistant poly is the right call for metal flues, but it's the wrong tool for heavy stage 2 tar