So whenever I clean a route it spend a lot of time scrubbing with a wire brush, besides from burning the lichen off (which isnt an option I am willing to try) or using a power tool does anyone else have any suggestions to make it easier?

accept that cleaning is hard work.

stiff wire brushes blasts away the lichen well. but careful as too much could polish/glaze the rock. especially the copper brushes.

whisk broom for large areas. great for dirt in cracks.

yeah i know cleaning is hard work and that it is part of the adventure of a new route... i just have been doing more cleaning then climbing lately... i want it the other way around.

yeah cleaning is the grunt work of an FA...dive in and get it done!
sometimes you can just roll the moss off like a carpet...get a blow tube... helps with the smaller key holds and gets the little stuff out of the way....I try to stay away from wire brushes and toilet brushes work amazing for dirty cracks....ha!
:)
have fun!