A pipe cleaner is a type of brush intended for cleaning smoking pipes. A typical pipe cleaner is made of two or three lengths of wire about 6 to 12 inches long, twisted together with bristles of some absorbent material, usually cotton. This helical shape allows the pipe cleaner to translate twisting into linear force - much like an auger. Sometimes bristles of stiffer material are added to better scrub out pipes. Unlike many other brushes, pipe cleaners have no handle. They resemble thin, fuzzy pencils.

Pipe cleaners are useful for cleaning many other things besides pipes. Children are quite fond of bending pipe cleaners into various shapes and for this reason, one may find pipe cleaners at craft stores. However, these are usually made with nylon bristles or some other non-absorbent material and are frequently longer, thicker, and available in many different colors.