Why Experts Say to Replace Your Grill Brush

The Finding

More than 10 million wire-bristle grill brushes have been recalled over a hazard that turns a routine cleaning tool into an ingestion risk. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Nexgrill recalled over 10.2 million metal wire-bristle grill brushes on March 26, 2026, after reports that bristles can detach, stick to the grill or food, and be swallowed.

The agency said the detached bristles pose “an ingestion hazard and risk of serious internal injuries that could require surgery.” The recalled Nexgrill brushes were sold at Home Depot stores and online from 2015 through 2026 for roughly $5 to $15.

What the Reports Show

The CPSC said Nexgrill was aware of at least 68 reports of bristles detaching from the brushes. Among those, five consumers reported swallowing metal bristles and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tract or throat.

The recall covers six model numbers, found on the product packaging, for brushes with black plastic or wood handles measuring 18 to 21 inches long. The CPSC advised consumers to stop using the recalled brushes immediately and contact Nexgrill for a refund issued as a gift card.

The reach of the recall is wide. According to the CPSC, the Nexgrill brushes were sold at Home Depot stores and online from 2015 through 2026 for between about $5 and $15, an everyday price point that put them in millions of kitchens and on backyard grills over more than a decade. The Weber brushes had an even longer sales history, sold at retailers including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Target from 2011 through 2026.

The Nexgrill action followed a related recall. The CPSC reported that Weber recalled about 3.2 million wire-bristle grill brushes on February 26, 2026, for the same hazard, citing at least 38 incidents of detaching bristles and four cases requiring medical treatment. Together the two recalls covered more than 13 million brushes.

Why Wire Bristles Are a Problem

The danger lies in how small and hard to detect a stray bristle is. A detached wire can cling to a grill grate, transfer onto food during cooking, and be swallowed without notice. Once ingested, it can lodge in the throat or move through the digestive tract.

Medical experts quoted by TODAY said the issue is more common than many people realize. An emergency physician described cases in which ingested bristles required removal, and noted that a wire that travels further into the body can cause more serious internal injuries. Reporting on the recalls cited research estimating thousands of related emergency-department visits over the past decade.

The scale of the two recalls points to a category-wide concern rather than a single faulty batch. With more than 13 million brushes pulled across two major brands within weeks, regulators and product-safety reporting framed the hazard as a design problem inherent to wire bristles, not an isolated manufacturing defect.

What the Experts Advise

The guidance from regulators and physicians is consistent: stop using affected wire brushes and consider switching tools entirely. The CPSC chair described the problem as a design flaw that allows bristles to detach and be swallowed undetected, and urged consumers to move to non-wire alternatives.

Doctors quoted in the coverage echoed that advice, recommending nylon-bristle brushes, scrapers, sponges, or wipes as safer ways to clean a grill. Weber’s remedy reflects the same logic; the company offered a cold-cleaning nylon-bristle brush as a replacement for the recalled metal versions.

Where Things Stand

The confirmed facts center on the scale and the remedy. The CPSC recall covers more than 10.2 million Nexgrill brushes across six models sold at Home Depot, prompted by 68 reports of detaching bristles and five hospitalizations, alongside a separate Weber recall of 3.2 million brushes.

Consumers who own the affected models are directed to stop using them and follow the recall instructions for a refund or replacement. For anyone heading into grilling season, the practical takeaway from the recalls is straightforward: check the brush, and when in doubt, replace it with a non-wire option.

References: Nexgrill Recalls Over 10 2 Million Metal Wire Bristle Grill Brushes Due to Ingestion Hazard Sold at Home Depot - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Millions Grill Brushes Pulled Market Risk Serious Internal Injuries - Fox Business